Interview with Nazar Gulyk - Founder and CEO at Empat

Today, we're excited to introduce Nazar, a visionary leader behind Empat, one of the standout companies in the tech scene. With a background in a family of entrepreneurs and a love for technology from a young age, Nazar’s journey is inspiring. From creating his first website banners as a child to leading a thriving company through challenges, Nazar’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and an unwavering drive for success. Join us as we dive into his journey, the growth of Empat, and the insights he has gained along the way.

Hello Nazar! Good to have you today with us. Thanks for accepting our interview, and welcome to TechBehemoths! To set the mood, please tell us a little about yourself. We would love to hear about your childhood, your educational journey, and the path of your professional growth that has led you to where you are now.

I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and got my first computer at a very young age. I clearly remember diving into creating website banners using Macromedia Flash as soon as I could. I was also really into math and computer science, so I took part in school competitions in these subjects. I’ve always had a strong sense of direction, which has led me to live an active life, surrounded by interesting people and ideas that I bring to life.

I was involved in a scouting organization and have always been passionate about sports—from rugby to extreme sports, and I've been running for about 15 years now. I’m driven by goals and love to push myself. If it's snowboarding, I aim for a 360. If it's running, I’m all about completing all six World Marathon Majors.

I once embarked on a business world tour with the mission of promoting Ukraine and forging new connections. We helped startups secure investments, and along the way, I built my own startup and web agency.

Empat was born from the amazing teams of devs and designers I had in my startups and the web agency team. I realized that these were the people I wanted to continue working with. Now, there are 120 of us, and we’re still growing.

What inspired you to launch Empat, and what's its story of the previous endeavors? What is the underlying philosophy and core values of your business?

I have a pretty varied background. I managed digital for Red Bull, firstly in Ukraine and then for the CIS region, where my hobbies and professional skills really came together. I never set out to start my own business because I was tired of working for someone else—it just kind of happened as I got involved in different projects. My main focus has always been on company culture, putting people first. Right now, I’m studying at Stanford, and it's really pushing my thinking. It’s a chance to connect with some amazing people and see how they approach decision-making from totally different perspectives.

As one of the leaders and CEO of Empat, tell us more about it. The team behind it, what made it successful, and the real challenges you faced over the years.

The most important part of any team is the people. It’s thanks to an incredible team—or rather, the combination of several amazing teams—that Empat was born. Before the escalation of the war in Ukraine, the company’s vision was quite different: 80% of our revenue came from Ukraine, and we mostly worked for the Ukrainian offices of big international brands. But when the full-scale invasion began, our revenue came to a halt. However, I didn’t want to lay anyone off, and I managed to save the team as the most important thing. The team is a priority for us, and even during the toughest COVID times, we didn’t lay off anyone. In the first year of the full-scale war, we completely changed our approach, and now 80% of our revenue comes from international projects. This was also made possible with the support of TechBehemoths. But our team remains entirely Ukrainian.

In your opinion, why has Ukraine become such a strong tech hub in the last two decades?

Ukraine has incredible potential as a large country with a strong technical education system, making it a great place to build talented teams of professionals. Our biggest strength is our people—their mindset, their drive, and their commitment to building a better future. Ukrainians are responsible and deeply invested in their professional growth. Ukraine's startup ecosystem is really taking off, with strong support from the government and a highly digitalized country overall. Compared to other countries, Ukrainian services offer great quality at competitive prices. The startup scene is growing so fast that Kyiv is often dubbed the 'new Berlin.'

Okay, but what aspects of its tech ecosystem are still lacking and need improvement? How does Ukraine compare to other leading tech countries, if at all?

In today’s competitive landscape, we have to go the extra mile to win contracts, offering something better than what our competitors provide. The ongoing war is a significant factor in decision-making. While everyone knows a team can be top-notch, the war brings constant challenges. But we've adapted, learning to work calmly and effectively even under these tough conditions. However, investment is still lacking. Ukraine has tremendous potential, but for various reasons, it isn’t receiving the level of investment it truly deserves.

About AI. Being honest, to what extent do you see its applicability and market adoption? Is it a bit overhyped like the previous hot trends (Blockchain, NFT, ICO, etc) or maybe even underrated? Please elaborate.

I believe AI is a long-term trend that will keep growing. In the future, AI will become a commodity. Just as we now choose cloud service providers (CSPs) with different strengths and areas of focus, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), we will select which AI tool to use. There are already many popular AI tools designed for a wide audience, and we can expect even more to pop up. Unlike blockchain, which has a more niche use, the possibilities with machine learning are incredibly broad. AI in the future will likely be far beyond what we see today—something much more impressive.

Talking to many other tech service providers, I see a common struggle in closing a project lead. What is your successful secret sauce? What are your steps in closing a deal?

When I started Empat, I already had a solid network, so I took on the role of project lead myself. I had the experience, so it made sense. But as the company grew, it became clear that this approach wasn't enough. Now, we even have a dedicated New Business department, though I’m still very much involved.

Our secret is going above and beyond what’s expected. We build friendly relationships and treat every project like our own investment, because we’re truly invested in their success. Over the years, we’ve built a strong portfolio across various industries and tech stacks. We're also constantly expanding our market presence and refining our platforms, which has earned us a lot of positive feedback.

We're active in both local and global communities. In Ukraine, we're part of the IT Ukraine Association, a major IT community supported by the government. Globally, we're co-organizers of TechStars Weekend in San Francisco, a major annual hackathon, and we participate in Forbes panel discussions, showcasing our expertise and professionalism. This commitment is why people choose us.

Why should companies and individuals come to you instead of other competing companies?

First of all, one of our slogans is: Most devs offer tech and hours; we deliver solutions and perspectives. It's all about empathy and being proactive. When this is combined with professionalism, we achieve outstanding final results. Additionally, we set high standards and strive to be the first to learn about new technologies and tools in order to offer the best solutions. I believe this is one of the reasons why our clients choose us.

Being transparent, to what degree has TechBehemoths contributed to the growth and development of Empat through its operations and business activities? If there is any contribution, of course!

First of all, thank you, Marcel, for this opportunity to share our experience and highlight what drives Empat services. Transparency and understanding the people behind a company are crucial in business culture. After all, businesses, products, and innovations are created by people.

We have been working with TechBehemoths for quite some time and plan to continue our collaboration in the future. The platform has consistently provided new opportunities for us to grow our business, along with exciting new features that we’re eager to use. We've also had the honor of meeting some clients through the platform, and it’s great to be recognized among the best companies showcased there.

I read your monthly newsletter and got a positive feeling about Empat’s working culture. How do you contribute to or facilitate a nice working environment, your team and clients?

I believe that business starts with people. At Empat, fostering a positive work environment is central to our culture. We focus on hiring the right individuals and promoting empathy and innovation within our team. Feedback is transparent and valued, and we’ve developed a system where everyone’s voice is heard. For example, anyone can share a meme for fun, reflecting our open-minded, people-oriented culture where humor is appreciated.

In my work, I apply much of the knowledge I gained during my studies at Stanford. This course is particularly relevant as Empat grows and faces the challenge of maintaining our innovative spirit within a more structured environment. Just as we care about our team’s experience, we’re equally focused on the experience of our clients working with us.

Keeping our innovative spirit alive as we expand is crucial, and this course is helping me navigate that balance. Our people-centric approach and strong feedback culture are vital to our success.

I’ll be sharing more insights about our internal culture in my upcoming newsletter, as I believe that sharing helps us all grow together. Stay tuned!

Can you share some success stories Empat has worked on?

At Empat, we thrive on challenges and consistently overcome them. In the past two years—despite the war in Ukraine—we've more than doubled in size, set up operations in the UK and the US, and launched dozens of new projects, including some focused on AI.

On top of that, we started a developer school to nurture amazing talent, many of whom go on to become key members of the Empat team.

The last 7 months of the tech stock market was a rally, with huge gains. As of today, we see the 5th day of market calibration with a loss of 7% (as of Aug 5, 2024). How do you see the current global business market? Do you think of it as a stagnation or an opportunity? Please elaborate on your thoughts.

I believe this is just a market calibration. While I'm not an expert, the situation doesn’t appear to be stagnation. It’s not as critical as it might seem. In my view, it’s more about the market adjusting itself.

Your favorite movie and the car you drive (unless you are an avid cyclist like me in the always busy Berlin)?

I’m a big fan of cars and Formula 1. Since I’m always on the move, I often get the chance to test cool cars from friends or rent them and take them for a spin, which I really enjoy! Now, I'm driving my friend's Porsche Boxster convertible with a manual gearbox. But in San Francisco, I ride rental bikes 90% of the time.

On the other hand, my hobby and passion is running. I see it as dynamic meditation—it clears my mind and always reminds me that there’s a solution. I’ve been running for 15 years, and it’s the perfect sport to combine with travel. All you need are sneakers, a uniform, and a tracker.

My goal is to complete the entire series of Abbott World Marathon Majors. So far, around 12,000 people worldwide have achieved this by running in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. The 'Six Star Finisher' title is a huge motivation for me.

And to conclude, please send a message and advice to our readers.

Discover what keeps you feeling energized and excited to wake up at 6 AM on Mondays, and make it a part of your routine.

Empat is one of the best agencies you can find on TechBehemoths. If you like this interview and think that Valeria and her team can help you with anything between marketing and eCommerce development. Don't hesitate to contact them on TechBehemoths, or reach out directly to Nazar on LinkedIn