August 7, 2025 • 32 mins
What happens when a Ukrainian 🇺🇦 software engineer becomes a father and decides to change the world?
🚀Denis Yakovenko, CEO of Faster Than Light (FTL), shares the exact moment that transformed him from employee to entrepreneur—and how he built a company that helps startups launch products at record speed.
🔥 WHAT WE COVER:The personal catalyst that made him quit his job Why startups beat big corporations in the talent war Building through COVID-19 and the Ukraine war His unconventional approach to leadershipWhy he refuses to have role models The future of product development
💡 KEY INSIGHTS:→ Why people matter more than company prestige→ How global crises can accelerate startup growth→ The real cost of leaving employment for entrepreneurship→ Building resilient teams in uncertain times→ Why speed beats perfection in today's market
🎯 PERFECT FOR:✅ Developers thinking about starting a company✅ Entrepreneurs navigating crisis and uncertainty✅ Startup founders scaling their teams✅ Anyone seeking authentic entrepreneurship stories
Denis doesn't sugarcoat the journey—he shares the real risks, the failures, and why surrounding yourself with the right people matters more than having a perfect business plan.
đź”— CONNECT WITH DENIS:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ydionis/
FTL Website: https://fasterthanlight.me/
🚀Denis Yakovenko, CEO of Faster Than Light (FTL), shares the exact moment that transformed him from employee to entrepreneur—and how he built a company that helps startups launch products at record speed.
🔥 WHAT WE COVER:The personal catalyst that made him quit his job Why startups beat big corporations in the talent war Building through COVID-19 and the Ukraine war His unconventional approach to leadershipWhy he refuses to have role models The future of product development
💡 KEY INSIGHTS:→ Why people matter more than company prestige→ How global crises can accelerate startup growth→ The real cost of leaving employment for entrepreneurship→ Building resilient teams in uncertain times→ Why speed beats perfection in today's market
🎯 PERFECT FOR:✅ Developers thinking about starting a company✅ Entrepreneurs navigating crisis and uncertainty✅ Startup founders scaling their teams✅ Anyone seeking authentic entrepreneurship stories
Denis doesn't sugarcoat the journey—he shares the real risks, the failures, and why surrounding yourself with the right people matters more than having a perfect business plan.
đź”— CONNECT WITH DENIS:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ydionis/
FTL Website: https://fasterthanlight.me/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the startup Still Say podcast. Thank you for
tuning in and do us a favor like.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This brime on YouTube, LinkedIn and be sure to give
us your feedback.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Hope you enjoyed this episode.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Hello everyone, thanks for joining us today. I'm Anthony Prakash,
your host has always on startups they'll say. I'm delighted
to be joined today by Dennis Yakomenko, who's joining us
from Toronto, Canada, and he is the CEO and the
chief brains behind Faster than Light. Dennis and I had
(00:32):
our initial conversation of all places on LinkedIn. You know,
we had a couple of chats about what each other
is doing. I've found what Dennis is doing with Faster
than Light super interesting. You know how he started off
his journey as a software engineer coming straight out of school,
and today he's selping a number of startups and a
number of enterprises launch their product through Faster than Light.
(00:56):
And I hope you all get to learn what Dennis
is doing and what his team is doing and get
inspired what Dennis.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Yep, thank you very much. Thank you for inviting. A
bit nervous, but excited.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
I should be the one nervous Dennis. I mean, you've
done a lot in your young career, so why didn't
we start with that, you know, just tell us.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
About your journey. You went to school in Kiev.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
It looks like you went back to back with your
bachelors and masters as well.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Right, yeah, yeah, it's very common in Ukraine, place or
grown that you're doing your bachelor degree and basically right
away you're starting your master degree, which I found a
bit confusing. I would rather do a pause. But when
you're young and you basically do understand what you're going
(01:44):
to do in this life, you have a straightforward for
watch is that most of your students, your friends are following,
so you're just following with them and you just getting
your master's degree. Yeah, that's what happened to me as well.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
So was there a reason you chose software engineering or
just computer science if you will, as your prefer choice
to do masters as well?
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Actually, programming one was always one of my favorite subjects
back at school. I remember like those early days when
like just laptops came up and I was lucky enough
to have one at home back then, you know, or
like simple games, simple stuff, but still I always kind
(02:28):
of was inspired that it's something that is always on
the age of technologies. Everybody is talking about it, so
it was something that was driving me all the time.
I wasn't sure what I wanted to do in my life,
as probably most of people back then when you were
a team, I just wanted to learn more and get
(02:48):
some experience and obviously earn some money because if you're
a work afterward, you would expect this work to be
well paid. So yeah, that's how I've got my first
job as a developer right after I finished my university,
and I've got some new skills. I've understood, okay, how
startups are working a bit because we also work on
(03:11):
a few startups backs then. And that job brought me
some money and opportunity to create cool things that I've
joined a lot. And then ago I've started learning how
this business is built it in general, and I have
got a lot of aha moments. And then I got
a very nice moment in my life my son.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
When was that my son?
Speaker 1 (03:38):
A bird that was twenty sixteen. The birst of my
son pushed me to basically grow and take more responsibility
and create something that would allow me to earn more
money and do something to make sure that he has
also a happy life. And that's how basically started my
(04:00):
own company. It was super risky, but yeah, worked out
and I'm really happy about it. So now I have
two babies I really like in my life. That's why
my son was burned in April twenty sixteen and the
company was started in May and sixteen.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Wow, back to back.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
That must have been super super heavy to deal with.
So let's I mean, this is the sort of a
business podcast. I know, who's more precious for you there
among the two babies, But let's talk about Faster than
Light here. So you did mention it was a risky move, right,
But I mean I'm sure you gave it a lot
(04:41):
of thought prior to saying, okay, this is the way
to go.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
This is the future I want for me and my family.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
And of course you had that background as the software developer, right,
I mean, which is your passion as well that you said,
So how did you kind of I went a niche
to say, okay, this is what I want do through
Faster than Light. Because truth to be told, I mean,
there were so many people out there who could say,
you know what, let's do software development. But what was
(05:09):
your vision behind Faster than Light and what is that
space that you saw to say, Okay, this is the
space I'm going to go after and help these sort
of people.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
That's a very good question. First of all, when I've
started it, I wasn't sure about it, and obviously a
social expected answers that I would say, yeah, I had
the vision, you know, I wanted to I knew that
I'm going to nail it, But in fact I was
a super risky and I was like, Okay, let's give
it to try and let's see if I'm going to
(05:40):
open the champagne afterwards. So that was a mood. But
the reason why I decided to risk and why I
saw an opportunity is all about people. So I understood
that in this business, it's still a lot of opportunities,
even though there are a lot of people, like you mentioned,
a lot of companies that are doing their job, and
(06:01):
some of them are doing it better, some of them force.
But I saw that actually when I work, especially with startups,
they are really value people. They actually don't really care
about a company names, they don't really care about you're
going to work on mark or windows. They they don't
care about all of this stuff that seems like a
(06:24):
vailable They really care about people that they're working with.
So those people who are willing to go extra mile,
who are you know, like willing to raise the hand
and say, hey, sorry, you're doing things wrong and I
can help you to do things right that would save
you time and money. You know, let me do my job,
(06:47):
and not just quietly sitting somewhere on a zoom and saying, yeah,
no problem, we're going to do that. Yeah, I understood
that those people are really vailable, and they're rare. So
basically it's also not about you know, like technical knowledge.
It's more about this kind of step in people that
are not afraid, that are trying to actually act like
(07:11):
owners in a company, even those like we're obviously a
service company. That's a sweet niche that always going to
be needed. It doesn't matter how many companies you have.
Those companies that can provide such a service is always
going to be on top. It doesn't matter actually it
or not. You can hire a plumber, but if that
(07:32):
guy going to be you know, like a guy who
really willing you to help, who is not looking why
it can be done. But what can be done to
make it happen. Those type of personalities. Basically, that's what
we're trying to build in my company. That's why I decided, Okay,
either I need to find one of those in the market,
(07:52):
either I need to create one. So I decided to
go with second approach.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Yeah, creation is much more number one fancier. Obviously it's
gonna bumpy, right than. I'm sure you've seen your ups
and downs in your career.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
We'll get to that. But what sort of what of
what sort of clients did you decide to go after? They?
Speaker 3 (08:17):
So you did say startups, and you know they don't
there's just care about the quality of people and whom
they work with. But when you took the risk, you
should have also had sort of an idea to say,
here are the type of companies and I'm going to
knock knock on their doors and see how I can
help them out.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Okay, So as for me, I would say, I'm really
good with working with the same the same type of people.
Who is more looking for delivery, who is more looking
for results, who is looking for for.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
A backup, not for a guy.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Outcome, Yeah, yeah, exactly, outcome, Not for those who are
trying to micromanagement, not for those who are just looking
for another few guys in their multi building industries'y let's
say yeah, okay, actually doesn't matter if it's like two
more or twenty more. I don't care. I just need,
(09:12):
you know, like some server to be up and running,
and I have like a limited amount of money, so
I actually don't care. So even though we had some
experience with like really big companies that I cannot mention
that they are super famous, you definitely know it or
you have their equipment your home, we still prefer to
work with startups. We call it a bit of coboy
(09:36):
development because we know their mentality. I know their mentality,
and they also looking for such a type of developers
who can deliver stuff quickly with quality, can understand okay,
what needs to be done that's not And those type
of clients they're usually startup owners either startup owners either
(10:00):
they already have a business, but they still have this
kind of nice men say yeah, so they didn't forget
yet how to to run a business with joy, not
with you know, like multiple layers of managers. Those like
middle management usually don't really care about the business. They
care about the stocks, they care about their insurance, and yeah,
(10:23):
they don't have this execution power. So usually you have
this on top sea level founders, co founders and bottom level.
Usually how it's like could be surprised, but usually that's
how it works those and if you are able to
shorten the distance, so if those who are actually execute,
those who are actually influenced on what's going to be delivered,
(10:46):
can talk directly to those who is also interesting in
a successful business, then you've got the best possible without
out from my experience, and usually such a short distance
happened only in startups because if you're talking about bigger clients,
they have, like I said, multiple layers of managers, which
(11:08):
is fine, of course it cannot avoid it.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
But a lot of bureaucracy as well.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
You know, yes, a lot of a lot of stuff
is struggling because you simply cannot understand what business actually
needs and you can exactly less possible results unless like
middle management is actually also really wants to move it forward. Usually, unfortunately,
from my experience, again that's not a case.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Yeah, yeah, So in other words, I mean, just to
summarize what you said, I mean, you need the right
DNA of people sitting across the table on the clients
or the right mindset with whom you can operate I mean, otherwise,
I mean it's not only going to hurt them, hurt
you because I mean that's not the type of work
you want. And the quality is compromised as well, you know,
(11:54):
if they are micromanaging and you can't build great products.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
I mean, you know.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
So that's that's one thing I've seen as well, because
you're so focused on sticking to what you think is right,
whether than what the customer wants. So either the project
is delayed big time, overspent all of that good stuff
versus focusing on delivering a world class experience or putting
(12:19):
together a world class product.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
If you exactly exactly, you've got it. So basically that's
a loose loose for everyone. That's loose for us. Also clients,
you know, they're unhappy with this, with what happening, so
it's loose for them because they're not getting what they
wanted to have. So yeah, it's always about finding right
(12:42):
people from both proth sites, right mindset and client site,
and right mindset on our side with people going to
execute it, who actually going to work on the project.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
So with your journey so far, it's almost going to
be ten years very so since you start the next year,
would be a nice time to open another bottle of champagne. That's,
like you said, probably many many bottles of champagne for
you and your team. How I mean where are you
right now? I mean compared to where you started off
(13:16):
to where FDL is right now? Can you paint a
picture of what are the things you.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Guys do you know? Whereas your role, do you.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Have teams located? And what sort of work are you
guys executing.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
That's a tough question because there are a lot of
sub questions inside.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
I mean to what would extent you want to share?
Go ahead, yeah the word.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
So as for the faster than Light, I must say
I'm happy with where we are. And when I started
this company almost ten years ago, I didn't expect that
we're going to have COVID that you know, like hits
the whole industry and we bags and had a lot
of projects in entertainment industry and that was a big hit.
(13:57):
Then since I used to be based in Ukraine, we
got a war which also affected us a lot. Nowadays,
I would say I'm happy where we are. We are
not that big company that I want it to be,
but still we are focused on what we can do best,
basically delivered to our clients. We are gaining more clients
(14:20):
even those nowadays, all this startup industry kind of shrinking
a bit, and a lot of a competition on the
market more than ever. A lot of you know, like
the eye tools that a lot of startup owners believe that,
why do anyed developers come on? I can write everything
with g I too, and at some point it is
(14:42):
right if you need a lending good to go just
within it tool and a lot of tools on the
market that you can use. We're in small budgets probably
cost of a lunch. You can build yourself a website,
but if you're talking about real developments, you still need
proper developers. I'm happy with the people that they're working
(15:02):
with me since I'm working with developers. And again it's
a very competitive market, not only for us as agencies,
but also for developers because they can basically work for
any company in the world. Yeah, you know, like you're
gonna just change your browser. Here you go. Now you're
working for Microsoft, you know, like aut it up and
(15:24):
now you're working for I don't know any Nvidia, doesn't
matter where it's headwater anymore. It's also important to have
right people that kind of work with you and they're
gonna believe in you and me a SESS owner really
trust them and believe in them.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
So I'm really.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Happy that we've builded the trust the people that are
working with me. They're dedicated, they're willing to you know,
deliver those results, they're willing to grow, and I'm happy
where we are. So that's you know, like it's nice
about the company. Yeah, as for the people itself, Like
I said before, we had the headquarter in Kiev, and
(16:08):
back then on those times where there were dinosaurs on
the streets before COVID, people were visiting offices. Nowadays it's
all like a gun and they all around the world.
They could be in Poland, it could be in Estonia,
as they could be you know, in Brazil. It doesn't
matter anymore. And I see also in a company, since
(16:29):
we were working worldwide with different time zones. That's one
of the questions from customers from clients, they are always curious, Okay,
how you're going to work with London Australia. I don't
know New York, and it's actually it doesn't matter. It's
also not a problem anymore because people spread all around
(16:49):
the world, and yeah, that's also quite an interesting challenge
nowadays to keep them happy, to keep them working as
a team, and say all remote yeah don't work anymore.
So you gathered them in one place and you've kind
of created a life wife. So it's extra challenge, but
it's nice to have it, honestly. So I'm happy where
(17:11):
we are. But yeah, I hope I answered your question.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
You did. You did?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Yeah, I mean, you know, being being a founder, being
a CEO, especially where you've come from, taking a big risk,
especially after your son was born. I mean, it's not
many people can do it, so you know, kudos to
you for doing that. I'm very happy that it's successful
and you are happy where you are. So having said that,
(17:39):
I want to switch gears a little bit. I mean,
we spoke about faster than light so far, but I
mean I would like to learn a little bit more
Dennis as a person, right, I mean you obviously started
off as a software guy who likes you a right code.
I mean, I know you do a lot of pet
projects on your own as well. Yeah, so, how has
this journey changed you as a person, because I mean,
(18:02):
right now you're not just thinking about yourself, You're not
thinking about your family and thinking about many people in
the company as well their lives too, Right, So, how
would you say you've kind of grown as a person
lessons that you've learned in your journey as a CEO?
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Nis, That's an interesting question. Well, I must say I've
changed a lot. Some of main things are still there,
others changed a lot. After so many books about management,
after so many people that worked in a company. Remember
first time I was needed to actually fire a person
(18:41):
that was so stressful, I've called to my mentor, like
my previous manager, and asked him, okay, any advices, what
you would suggest me to do? He said like, yeah,
don't try to humiliate, don't humiliate yourself, be yourself.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
It's okay.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Yeah, And what happened, you know, like no emotions and
all those advices, and I was like, okay, so so
so much things I need to keep in mind. And nowadays,
you know, as any person who are just working and
working for my project, for my companies, there are no
day offs, no sicklyfs. Even though you can put a
(19:23):
day off in your calendar. Clients don't care. Actually people
even though they respected, things are happening and you still
need to be in touch. The change a lot the
way of how you're thinking. That change a lot of
how you basically live your life. All those books about
(19:44):
work life balance also you know, like I've read so
many of them, and it's still an interesting journey by yourself.
I'm happy where I am again. I learned a lot.
My technical background helps me to find the sweet niche
(20:07):
of knowing. I would say developers language, because for me
it's super easy. I understand, but they're talking about what
they're facing is and even those I haven't wrote any
line of code for a couple of years already, Unfortunately,
because I like it a lot, I still can talk
to them their language. But over the years I've also
(20:29):
learned business language, what business actually needs because business don't
care about I don't know where you're going to deploy it,
what struggles you're having. Their business just need like we're
a simple language. Usually answer how much a part? Yeah, yeah,
when it's going to be done, when I can have
it to my investors and it's exactly nice. That's changed
(20:51):
me a lot because now I learn how to be
you know, like structor to talk to business, how to
be kind of in the sweet switch, sport out transitives
and make those bose really great worlds work together and
always does that affects my life because even when I'm
(21:11):
talking to my parents, I kind of have this switch.
But I'm trying to be very well organized. I'm trying
to be you know, like very structured with I don't know,
to do least and everything. It doesn't work in real
life unfortunately, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Because I mean a lot of people say, oh, you've
got to compartmentalize your life, you know, you don't, don't
let work come into your personal life and yc versa.
But I mean, you know, as humans, it is very
natural for it to crisscross and both impact you know,
both lives in a good way and a bad way. Right,
(21:47):
But I mean it's it's but it's totally up to
the individual to figure out what works best for them.
What works for you may not work for me, and
yc versa. Right, But back to your point on you know,
you were saying you speak the business language as well
from a developer language.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
I mean I look at it as you're wearing so
many different hats right now.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
You know, when you're a CEE wearing a CEO hat,
you also have to play a hr person's hat at times,
like you said, you have to fire somebody from the company.
You also have to be an investor sort of a
hat if Andy b right. I mean, you know all
of those plus when you go home, you got to
play that, you got to play a partner whatever it is, right,
So so many things that we got to look through.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
Yeah, that's true, that's absolutely true. But I would say
that it happened to a lot of us each personality.
Even though you're not a CEO or older or an investor,
you might have less responsibility, that's true. But wearing those
different hats, yeah, it's still still a thing for everyone.
(22:49):
It just matter if you understand all those heads or not,
or if it's like a surprise for you that you
actually wearing different hats, and then you kind of should
be a bit differently because I cannot behave the same
as I'm doing as a CEO with my son. It
just simply doesn't work like this because.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Kids, actually the CEO of you, you're.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Not exactly, exactly exactly, and a lot of people, you know,
like they have this kind of assumption. I would say that, Okay,
if you're a startup owner or a CEO, you finally
reach this sweet spot where you boss for yourself. You're
the only boss. Nobody can tell you what to do
(23:33):
and how to behave and how to you know, like
live your life. But that's not true because the truth is,
if you would have, for example, your kids, they would
really influence on your life a lot in multiple ways.
Your wife, even your cats can influence in your life.
Because that's the guy doesn't care if you're a CEO
(23:56):
or not, if you have a very important meaning or that,
He's still going to do his job. So it's the
same with with clients. For them, I'm not a boss,
I'm also listening to them. I'm also listening my employees
what they're telling, what is important for them, and trying
to listen to them and trying to I just my
(24:18):
behavior not to be I don't know if it's possible
to say bad words in this podcast, but I think
you've got what I mean.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Oh yeah, totally understand. So then if you didn't say
you read quite a bit in this conversation, right, I
mean you read a lot of books. You also mentioned
that you have mentors whom you reach out to in
case you run into a tough situation or whatnot, to
get advice through this journey. I mean, who's been your inspiration?
Do you have any people you look up to to say, oh,
(24:49):
I want to be like that person. I mean, arala,
I want to follow that person's footsteps. If you will
away that it's in the business world.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
You're really good in asking questions, really good, that's a
good question. At the beginning of my journey, I thought,
and I had also this kind of assumption that over
there some supermans. You know, you can take anyone like
Mask or Jeff Bezards, whatever, like famous figures or not.
They could be from any industries. That could be I
(25:18):
don't know, some famous actor. You would say, yeah, Tom Cruise,
is he a genius because he has so many licenses,
he's doing everything by himself. But then slowly you're realizing,
like at least in my case, I realized that there
are no supermans in this life. Each person has actually
real life, some struggles in their life. They could be divorced,
(25:40):
they could have bad relationships with all the friends, and
they could be really selfish even though they are genius.
So what I found inspiring for me is that I
can take some good parts of different people and follow
only those particular parts. There are no one person that I
would say, yeah, he's or she's.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
My old money, yeah, and.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
I would I would like to be like this person.
So sometimes it could be even not a real person.
It could be somebody from books, but I just see
some you know, like characteristics. I see some yeah, exactly,
I see interesting things of how they handle some problems.
Even though you know it's not real real person, I
(26:25):
still kind of try to get this feeling of how
they provence situation, how they tried to find a solution
and kind of accept to my life and trying to
build myself because I like this approach, because I like
how they spiritful conflict. Yeah. Yeah, it's kind of Frankenstein
(26:45):
from from different.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
Yeah, I mean it's so genuine because I mean, you're
absolutely right. I mean you can't model yourself. I mean
it's it's not like you know, they're a saying or something, right,
I mean they do everything well and they are great.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
That are a genius.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
I mean, you know, you can get inspiration, like you said,
even from your cat, right, so making it your own
and you know, just looking up to all those good
habits of people is a good way to go and
it's a it's a nice way to think about, you know,
how you inspire yourself.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
So thanks for sharing that.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
So back to STL itself, Dennis, how did you guys
come up with a name?
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Who came up with the name?
Speaker 1 (27:26):
I expected this question. Actually we started it with my
good friend and he came up with the name because
of a video game. Back then he played a video game,
and even those I would wish to say that. Yeah,
we had a long journey and we tried to figure
out how it's going to be called. But at the
(27:47):
end it doesn't really matter. It's more matter what you're
going to put behind the name. What what are going
to be the people no.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
To be told.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
I mean when I spoke to you a couple of
times and I saw the name, it's number one catchy,
which is important for any number two is at least
from my perspective, I try to connect the dots to
what FDL ment and what it means to your customers.
I mean, the customers you're working with, at least a
majority of them, that's how they want stuff down the
board as well.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Right, I mean, whether it's building a product that.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Was not you know, like just a nice name, kind
of tasted it, so you know, you kind of tasted. Okay,
do I want to work in Faster than Light? If
that's the name that I really want to work with,
And you're like, yeah, that sounds great. And actually internally
we often use you know, like a short name, which
(28:41):
is FTL, and then we've came up with another another
naming is the Limits because same letters. But again also
really much our vipe of what we are doing. But
obviously you cannot call your company exists the internal internal
name for all the work that we are doing. I
(29:03):
really hate all those limits and all those saying Okay,
it's impossible to achieve, it's impossible to deliver. It's my way,
you know, like two small deadlines, whatever it is. So
that's why I'm trying to teach Mike folks. You know, like, guys,
do you remember the company names? They're like, yeah, yeah,
you know what you're gonna say, that's another internal name.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
Nice? I like it.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
Yeah, I mean what again, whatever inspires you. I mean,
in this case FTL could stand for many things. Then
it aligns with your story as well. So that's awesome.
So I didn't ask you about if there are people
listening and the other startups, are you know, any other
business for that matter, What sort of technologies do you
(29:50):
support or want to be supporting for the clients, A
list of other like a catalog of things that you
want want to tell people.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
That's a good question. We are working with UH with web,
so we well, on our website it says we do
web everything that's working, we basically we're working with that.
Or we do have designers. We do have front end developers,
back end developers, mobile developers, create like all those people
(30:20):
that you might need when you were actually building something.
We have and the technology itself. It's also not that
important nowadays, especially I would say whenever we've started, we've
started with surubun rails and that was top technology for
startups back then, but nowadays everything is growing rapidly Nowadays.
(30:45):
You know you have no JAS, but I don't know
react goal. You have so many statter frameworks that helps you.
You have flatter for example, that was just non existing
back then. Nowadays, everything go so quickly. While we're talking,
you know, a few few frameworks were born and a
(31:05):
few more were dead already. So yeah, technology, I know what.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
You mean anymore. Yeah, awesome.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
So then there's anything else you would like to share
about yourself or faster than light that I probably didn't
touch on, that you would like to share with the world.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Good question again for the end. It's always important to
say something inspiring. But honestly, I would say we're doing
just great job, proud of what we're doing, but to
be you know, not to create it as a commercial episode.
Just I'm proud of what we're doing, and I appreciated
(31:44):
you for me talk about who we are and what
we're doing. That's that's great. And yeah, no more things
from my side, I would say that I'm really appreciated
for this time.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
That's all anytime, Dennis, I mean, your story is very inspiring.
I mean, trust me, not a lot of people will
take the path that you've taken right and come to
a point where you are employing so many people and
pursuing your passion, which was in software, helping startups build products.
And of course you can't mention everything that you've worked on,
(32:21):
but I know for a fact that I mean, some
of them are products that we touch on a daily basis.
So kudos to you and the team and let's keep
in touch. And I hope this episodes are learning for
people who again want to be a founder, take the risk,
jump in, and the results will come. So thanks again, Dennis.
Good talking to you than you
This is the startup Still Say podcast. Thank you for
tuning in and do us a favor like.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This brime on YouTube, LinkedIn and be sure to give
us your feedback.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Hope you enjoyed this episode.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Hello everyone, thanks for joining us today. I'm Anthony Prakash,
your host has always on startups they'll say. I'm delighted
to be joined today by Dennis Yakomenko, who's joining us
from Toronto, Canada, and he is the CEO and the
chief brains behind Faster than Light. Dennis and I had
(00:32):
our initial conversation of all places on LinkedIn. You know,
we had a couple of chats about what each other
is doing. I've found what Dennis is doing with Faster
than Light super interesting. You know how he started off
his journey as a software engineer coming straight out of school,
and today he's selping a number of startups and a
number of enterprises launch their product through Faster than Light.
(00:56):
And I hope you all get to learn what Dennis
is doing and what his team is doing and get
inspired what Dennis.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Yep, thank you very much. Thank you for inviting. A
bit nervous, but excited.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
I should be the one nervous Dennis. I mean, you've
done a lot in your young career, so why didn't
we start with that, you know, just tell us.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
About your journey. You went to school in Kiev.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
It looks like you went back to back with your
bachelors and masters as well.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Right, yeah, yeah, it's very common in Ukraine, place or
grown that you're doing your bachelor degree and basically right
away you're starting your master degree, which I found a
bit confusing. I would rather do a pause. But when
you're young and you basically do understand what you're going
(01:44):
to do in this life, you have a straightforward for
watch is that most of your students, your friends are following,
so you're just following with them and you just getting
your master's degree. Yeah, that's what happened to me as well.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
So was there a reason you chose software engineering or
just computer science if you will, as your prefer choice
to do masters as well?
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Actually, programming one was always one of my favorite subjects
back at school. I remember like those early days when
like just laptops came up and I was lucky enough
to have one at home back then, you know, or
like simple games, simple stuff, but still I always kind
(02:28):
of was inspired that it's something that is always on
the age of technologies. Everybody is talking about it, so
it was something that was driving me all the time.
I wasn't sure what I wanted to do in my life,
as probably most of people back then when you were
a team, I just wanted to learn more and get
(02:48):
some experience and obviously earn some money because if you're
a work afterward, you would expect this work to be
well paid. So yeah, that's how I've got my first
job as a developer right after I finished my university,
and I've got some new skills. I've understood, okay, how
startups are working a bit because we also work on
(03:11):
a few startups backs then. And that job brought me
some money and opportunity to create cool things that I've
joined a lot. And then ago I've started learning how
this business is built it in general, and I have
got a lot of aha moments. And then I got
a very nice moment in my life my son.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
When was that my son?
Speaker 1 (03:38):
A bird that was twenty sixteen. The birst of my
son pushed me to basically grow and take more responsibility
and create something that would allow me to earn more
money and do something to make sure that he has
also a happy life. And that's how basically started my
(04:00):
own company. It was super risky, but yeah, worked out
and I'm really happy about it. So now I have
two babies I really like in my life. That's why
my son was burned in April twenty sixteen and the
company was started in May and sixteen.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Wow, back to back.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
That must have been super super heavy to deal with.
So let's I mean, this is the sort of a
business podcast. I know, who's more precious for you there
among the two babies, But let's talk about Faster than
Light here. So you did mention it was a risky move, right,
But I mean I'm sure you gave it a lot
(04:41):
of thought prior to saying, okay, this is the way
to go.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
This is the future I want for me and my family.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
And of course you had that background as the software developer, right,
I mean, which is your passion as well that you said,
So how did you kind of I went a niche
to say, okay, this is what I want do through
Faster than Light. Because truth to be told, I mean,
there were so many people out there who could say,
you know what, let's do software development. But what was
(05:09):
your vision behind Faster than Light and what is that
space that you saw to say, Okay, this is the
space I'm going to go after and help these sort
of people.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
That's a very good question. First of all, when I've
started it, I wasn't sure about it, and obviously a
social expected answers that I would say, yeah, I had
the vision, you know, I wanted to I knew that
I'm going to nail it, But in fact I was
a super risky and I was like, Okay, let's give
it to try and let's see if I'm going to
(05:40):
open the champagne afterwards. So that was a mood. But
the reason why I decided to risk and why I
saw an opportunity is all about people. So I understood
that in this business, it's still a lot of opportunities,
even though there are a lot of people, like you mentioned,
a lot of companies that are doing their job, and
(06:01):
some of them are doing it better, some of them force.
But I saw that actually when I work, especially with startups,
they are really value people. They actually don't really care
about a company names, they don't really care about you're
going to work on mark or windows. They they don't
care about all of this stuff that seems like a
(06:24):
vailable They really care about people that they're working with.
So those people who are willing to go extra mile,
who are you know, like willing to raise the hand
and say, hey, sorry, you're doing things wrong and I
can help you to do things right that would save
you time and money. You know, let me do my job,
(06:47):
and not just quietly sitting somewhere on a zoom and saying, yeah,
no problem, we're going to do that. Yeah, I understood
that those people are really vailable, and they're rare. So
basically it's also not about you know, like technical knowledge.
It's more about this kind of step in people that
are not afraid, that are trying to actually act like
(07:11):
owners in a company, even those like we're obviously a
service company. That's a sweet niche that always going to
be needed. It doesn't matter how many companies you have.
Those companies that can provide such a service is always
going to be on top. It doesn't matter actually it
or not. You can hire a plumber, but if that
(07:32):
guy going to be you know, like a guy who
really willing you to help, who is not looking why
it can be done. But what can be done to
make it happen. Those type of personalities. Basically, that's what
we're trying to build in my company. That's why I decided, Okay,
either I need to find one of those in the market,
(07:52):
either I need to create one. So I decided to
go with second approach.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Yeah, creation is much more number one fancier. Obviously it's
gonna bumpy, right than. I'm sure you've seen your ups
and downs in your career.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
We'll get to that. But what sort of what of
what sort of clients did you decide to go after? They?
Speaker 3 (08:17):
So you did say startups, and you know they don't
there's just care about the quality of people and whom
they work with. But when you took the risk, you
should have also had sort of an idea to say,
here are the type of companies and I'm going to
knock knock on their doors and see how I can
help them out.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Okay, So as for me, I would say, I'm really
good with working with the same the same type of people.
Who is more looking for delivery, who is more looking
for results, who is looking for for.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
A backup, not for a guy.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Outcome, Yeah, yeah, exactly, outcome, Not for those who are
trying to micromanagement, not for those who are just looking
for another few guys in their multi building industries'y let's
say yeah, okay, actually doesn't matter if it's like two
more or twenty more. I don't care. I just need,
(09:12):
you know, like some server to be up and running,
and I have like a limited amount of money, so
I actually don't care. So even though we had some
experience with like really big companies that I cannot mention
that they are super famous, you definitely know it or
you have their equipment your home, we still prefer to
work with startups. We call it a bit of coboy
(09:36):
development because we know their mentality. I know their mentality,
and they also looking for such a type of developers
who can deliver stuff quickly with quality, can understand okay,
what needs to be done that's not And those type
of clients they're usually startup owners either startup owners either
(10:00):
they already have a business, but they still have this
kind of nice men say yeah, so they didn't forget
yet how to to run a business with joy, not
with you know, like multiple layers of managers. Those like
middle management usually don't really care about the business. They
care about the stocks, they care about their insurance, and yeah,
(10:23):
they don't have this execution power. So usually you have
this on top sea level founders, co founders and bottom level.
Usually how it's like could be surprised, but usually that's
how it works those and if you are able to
shorten the distance, so if those who are actually execute,
those who are actually influenced on what's going to be delivered,
(10:46):
can talk directly to those who is also interesting in
a successful business, then you've got the best possible without
out from my experience, and usually such a short distance
happened only in startups because if you're talking about bigger clients,
they have, like I said, multiple layers of managers, which
(11:08):
is fine, of course it cannot avoid it.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
But a lot of bureaucracy as well.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
You know, yes, a lot of a lot of stuff
is struggling because you simply cannot understand what business actually
needs and you can exactly less possible results unless like
middle management is actually also really wants to move it forward. Usually, unfortunately,
from my experience, again that's not a case.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Yeah, yeah, So in other words, I mean, just to
summarize what you said, I mean, you need the right
DNA of people sitting across the table on the clients
or the right mindset with whom you can operate I mean, otherwise,
I mean it's not only going to hurt them, hurt
you because I mean that's not the type of work
you want. And the quality is compromised as well, you know,
(11:54):
if they are micromanaging and you can't build great products.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
I mean, you know.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
So that's that's one thing I've seen as well, because
you're so focused on sticking to what you think is right,
whether than what the customer wants. So either the project
is delayed big time, overspent all of that good stuff
versus focusing on delivering a world class experience or putting
(12:19):
together a world class product.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
If you exactly exactly, you've got it. So basically that's
a loose loose for everyone. That's loose for us. Also clients,
you know, they're unhappy with this, with what happening, so
it's loose for them because they're not getting what they
wanted to have. So yeah, it's always about finding right
(12:42):
people from both proth sites, right mindset and client site,
and right mindset on our side with people going to
execute it, who actually going to work on the project.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
So with your journey so far, it's almost going to
be ten years very so since you start the next year,
would be a nice time to open another bottle of champagne. That's,
like you said, probably many many bottles of champagne for
you and your team. How I mean where are you
right now? I mean compared to where you started off
(13:16):
to where FDL is right now? Can you paint a
picture of what are the things you.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Guys do you know? Whereas your role, do you.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Have teams located? And what sort of work are you
guys executing.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
That's a tough question because there are a lot of
sub questions inside.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
I mean to what would extent you want to share?
Go ahead, yeah the word.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
So as for the faster than Light, I must say
I'm happy with where we are. And when I started
this company almost ten years ago, I didn't expect that
we're going to have COVID that you know, like hits
the whole industry and we bags and had a lot
of projects in entertainment industry and that was a big hit.
(13:57):
Then since I used to be based in Ukraine, we
got a war which also affected us a lot. Nowadays,
I would say I'm happy where we are. We are
not that big company that I want it to be,
but still we are focused on what we can do best,
basically delivered to our clients. We are gaining more clients
(14:20):
even those nowadays, all this startup industry kind of shrinking
a bit, and a lot of a competition on the
market more than ever. A lot of you know, like
the eye tools that a lot of startup owners believe that,
why do anyed developers come on? I can write everything
with g I too, and at some point it is
(14:42):
right if you need a lending good to go just
within it tool and a lot of tools on the
market that you can use. We're in small budgets probably
cost of a lunch. You can build yourself a website,
but if you're talking about real developments, you still need
proper developers. I'm happy with the people that they're working
(15:02):
with me since I'm working with developers. And again it's
a very competitive market, not only for us as agencies,
but also for developers because they can basically work for
any company in the world. Yeah, you know, like you're
gonna just change your browser. Here you go. Now you're
working for Microsoft, you know, like aut it up and
(15:24):
now you're working for I don't know any Nvidia, doesn't
matter where it's headwater anymore. It's also important to have
right people that kind of work with you and they're
gonna believe in you and me a SESS owner really
trust them and believe in them.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
So I'm really.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Happy that we've builded the trust the people that are
working with me. They're dedicated, they're willing to you know,
deliver those results, they're willing to grow, and I'm happy
where we are. So that's you know, like it's nice
about the company. Yeah, as for the people itself, Like
I said before, we had the headquarter in Kiev, and
(16:08):
back then on those times where there were dinosaurs on
the streets before COVID, people were visiting offices. Nowadays it's
all like a gun and they all around the world.
They could be in Poland, it could be in Estonia,
as they could be you know, in Brazil. It doesn't
matter anymore. And I see also in a company, since
(16:29):
we were working worldwide with different time zones. That's one
of the questions from customers from clients, they are always curious, Okay,
how you're going to work with London Australia. I don't
know New York, and it's actually it doesn't matter. It's
also not a problem anymore because people spread all around
(16:49):
the world, and yeah, that's also quite an interesting challenge
nowadays to keep them happy, to keep them working as
a team, and say all remote yeah don't work anymore.
So you gathered them in one place and you've kind
of created a life wife. So it's extra challenge, but
it's nice to have it, honestly. So I'm happy where
(17:11):
we are. But yeah, I hope I answered your question.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
You did. You did?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Yeah, I mean, you know, being being a founder, being
a CEO, especially where you've come from, taking a big risk,
especially after your son was born. I mean, it's not
many people can do it, so you know, kudos to
you for doing that. I'm very happy that it's successful
and you are happy where you are. So having said that,
(17:39):
I want to switch gears a little bit. I mean,
we spoke about faster than light so far, but I
mean I would like to learn a little bit more
Dennis as a person, right, I mean you obviously started
off as a software guy who likes you a right code.
I mean, I know you do a lot of pet
projects on your own as well. Yeah, so, how has
this journey changed you as a person, because I mean,
(18:02):
right now you're not just thinking about yourself, You're not
thinking about your family and thinking about many people in
the company as well their lives too, Right, So, how
would you say you've kind of grown as a person
lessons that you've learned in your journey as a CEO?
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Nis, That's an interesting question. Well, I must say I've
changed a lot. Some of main things are still there,
others changed a lot. After so many books about management,
after so many people that worked in a company. Remember
first time I was needed to actually fire a person
(18:41):
that was so stressful, I've called to my mentor, like
my previous manager, and asked him, okay, any advices, what
you would suggest me to do? He said like, yeah,
don't try to humiliate, don't humiliate yourself, be yourself.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
It's okay.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Yeah, And what happened, you know, like no emotions and
all those advices, and I was like, okay, so so
so much things I need to keep in mind. And nowadays,
you know, as any person who are just working and
working for my project, for my companies, there are no
day offs, no sicklyfs. Even though you can put a
(19:23):
day off in your calendar. Clients don't care. Actually people
even though they respected, things are happening and you still
need to be in touch. The change a lot the
way of how you're thinking. That change a lot of
how you basically live your life. All those books about
(19:44):
work life balance also you know, like I've read so
many of them, and it's still an interesting journey by yourself.
I'm happy where I am again. I learned a lot.
My technical background helps me to find the sweet niche
(20:07):
of knowing. I would say developers language, because for me
it's super easy. I understand, but they're talking about what
they're facing is and even those I haven't wrote any
line of code for a couple of years already, Unfortunately,
because I like it a lot, I still can talk
to them their language. But over the years I've also
(20:29):
learned business language, what business actually needs because business don't
care about I don't know where you're going to deploy it,
what struggles you're having. Their business just need like we're
a simple language. Usually answer how much a part? Yeah, yeah,
when it's going to be done, when I can have
it to my investors and it's exactly nice. That's changed
(20:51):
me a lot because now I learn how to be
you know, like structor to talk to business, how to
be kind of in the sweet switch, sport out transitives
and make those bose really great worlds work together and
always does that affects my life because even when I'm
(21:11):
talking to my parents, I kind of have this switch.
But I'm trying to be very well organized. I'm trying
to be you know, like very structured with I don't know,
to do least and everything. It doesn't work in real
life unfortunately, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Because I mean a lot of people say, oh, you've
got to compartmentalize your life, you know, you don't, don't
let work come into your personal life and yc versa.
But I mean, you know, as humans, it is very
natural for it to crisscross and both impact you know,
both lives in a good way and a bad way. Right,
(21:47):
But I mean it's it's but it's totally up to
the individual to figure out what works best for them.
What works for you may not work for me, and
yc versa. Right, But back to your point on you know,
you were saying you speak the business language as well
from a developer language.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
I mean I look at it as you're wearing so
many different hats right now.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
You know, when you're a CEE wearing a CEO hat,
you also have to play a hr person's hat at times,
like you said, you have to fire somebody from the company.
You also have to be an investor sort of a
hat if Andy b right. I mean, you know all
of those plus when you go home, you got to
play that, you got to play a partner whatever it is, right,
So so many things that we got to look through.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
Yeah, that's true, that's absolutely true. But I would say
that it happened to a lot of us each personality.
Even though you're not a CEO or older or an investor,
you might have less responsibility, that's true. But wearing those
different hats, yeah, it's still still a thing for everyone.
(22:49):
It just matter if you understand all those heads or not,
or if it's like a surprise for you that you
actually wearing different hats, and then you kind of should
be a bit differently because I cannot behave the same
as I'm doing as a CEO with my son. It
just simply doesn't work like this because.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Kids, actually the CEO of you, you're.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Not exactly, exactly exactly, and a lot of people, you know,
like they have this kind of assumption. I would say that, Okay,
if you're a startup owner or a CEO, you finally
reach this sweet spot where you boss for yourself. You're
the only boss. Nobody can tell you what to do
(23:33):
and how to behave and how to you know, like
live your life. But that's not true because the truth is,
if you would have, for example, your kids, they would
really influence on your life a lot in multiple ways.
Your wife, even your cats can influence in your life.
Because that's the guy doesn't care if you're a CEO
(23:56):
or not, if you have a very important meaning or that,
He's still going to do his job. So it's the
same with with clients. For them, I'm not a boss,
I'm also listening to them. I'm also listening my employees
what they're telling, what is important for them, and trying
to listen to them and trying to I just my
(24:18):
behavior not to be I don't know if it's possible
to say bad words in this podcast, but I think
you've got what I mean.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Oh yeah, totally understand. So then if you didn't say
you read quite a bit in this conversation, right, I
mean you read a lot of books. You also mentioned
that you have mentors whom you reach out to in
case you run into a tough situation or whatnot, to
get advice through this journey. I mean, who's been your inspiration?
Do you have any people you look up to to say, oh,
(24:49):
I want to be like that person. I mean, arala,
I want to follow that person's footsteps. If you will
away that it's in the business world.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
You're really good in asking questions, really good, that's a
good question. At the beginning of my journey, I thought,
and I had also this kind of assumption that over
there some supermans. You know, you can take anyone like
Mask or Jeff Bezards, whatever, like famous figures or not.
They could be from any industries. That could be I
(25:18):
don't know, some famous actor. You would say, yeah, Tom Cruise,
is he a genius because he has so many licenses,
he's doing everything by himself. But then slowly you're realizing,
like at least in my case, I realized that there
are no supermans in this life. Each person has actually
real life, some struggles in their life. They could be divorced,
(25:40):
they could have bad relationships with all the friends, and
they could be really selfish even though they are genius.
So what I found inspiring for me is that I
can take some good parts of different people and follow
only those particular parts. There are no one person that I
would say, yeah, he's or she's.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
My old money, yeah, and.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
I would I would like to be like this person.
So sometimes it could be even not a real person.
It could be somebody from books, but I just see
some you know, like characteristics. I see some yeah, exactly,
I see interesting things of how they handle some problems.
Even though you know it's not real real person, I
(26:25):
still kind of try to get this feeling of how
they provence situation, how they tried to find a solution
and kind of accept to my life and trying to
build myself because I like this approach, because I like
how they spiritful conflict. Yeah. Yeah, it's kind of Frankenstein
(26:45):
from from different.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
Yeah, I mean it's so genuine because I mean, you're
absolutely right. I mean you can't model yourself. I mean
it's it's not like you know, they're a saying or something, right,
I mean they do everything well and they are great.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
That are a genius.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
I mean, you know, you can get inspiration, like you said,
even from your cat, right, so making it your own
and you know, just looking up to all those good
habits of people is a good way to go and
it's a it's a nice way to think about, you know,
how you inspire yourself.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
So thanks for sharing that.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
So back to STL itself, Dennis, how did you guys
come up with a name?
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Who came up with the name?
Speaker 1 (27:26):
I expected this question. Actually we started it with my
good friend and he came up with the name because
of a video game. Back then he played a video game,
and even those I would wish to say that. Yeah,
we had a long journey and we tried to figure
out how it's going to be called. But at the
(27:47):
end it doesn't really matter. It's more matter what you're
going to put behind the name. What what are going
to be the people no.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
To be told.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
I mean when I spoke to you a couple of
times and I saw the name, it's number one catchy,
which is important for any number two is at least
from my perspective, I try to connect the dots to
what FDL ment and what it means to your customers.
I mean, the customers you're working with, at least a
majority of them, that's how they want stuff down the
board as well.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Right, I mean, whether it's building a product that.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Was not you know, like just a nice name, kind
of tasted it, so you know, you kind of tasted. Okay,
do I want to work in Faster than Light? If
that's the name that I really want to work with,
And you're like, yeah, that sounds great. And actually internally
we often use you know, like a short name, which
(28:41):
is FTL, and then we've came up with another another
naming is the Limits because same letters. But again also
really much our vipe of what we are doing. But
obviously you cannot call your company exists the internal internal
name for all the work that we are doing. I
(29:03):
really hate all those limits and all those saying Okay,
it's impossible to achieve, it's impossible to deliver. It's my way,
you know, like two small deadlines, whatever it is. So
that's why I'm trying to teach Mike folks. You know, like, guys,
do you remember the company names? They're like, yeah, yeah,
you know what you're gonna say, that's another internal name.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
Nice? I like it.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
Yeah, I mean what again, whatever inspires you. I mean,
in this case FTL could stand for many things. Then
it aligns with your story as well. So that's awesome.
So I didn't ask you about if there are people
listening and the other startups, are you know, any other
business for that matter, What sort of technologies do you
(29:50):
support or want to be supporting for the clients, A
list of other like a catalog of things that you
want want to tell people.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
That's a good question. We are working with UH with web,
so we well, on our website it says we do
web everything that's working, we basically we're working with that.
Or we do have designers. We do have front end developers,
back end developers, mobile developers, create like all those people
(30:20):
that you might need when you were actually building something.
We have and the technology itself. It's also not that
important nowadays, especially I would say whenever we've started, we've
started with surubun rails and that was top technology for
startups back then, but nowadays everything is growing rapidly Nowadays.
(30:45):
You know you have no JAS, but I don't know
react goal. You have so many statter frameworks that helps you.
You have flatter for example, that was just non existing
back then. Nowadays, everything go so quickly. While we're talking,
you know, a few few frameworks were born and a
(31:05):
few more were dead already. So yeah, technology, I know what.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
You mean anymore. Yeah, awesome.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
So then there's anything else you would like to share
about yourself or faster than light that I probably didn't
touch on, that you would like to share with the world.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Good question again for the end. It's always important to
say something inspiring. But honestly, I would say we're doing
just great job, proud of what we're doing, but to
be you know, not to create it as a commercial episode.
Just I'm proud of what we're doing, and I appreciated
(31:44):
you for me talk about who we are and what
we're doing. That's that's great. And yeah, no more things
from my side, I would say that I'm really appreciated
for this time.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
That's all anytime, Dennis, I mean, your story is very inspiring.
I mean, trust me, not a lot of people will
take the path that you've taken right and come to
a point where you are employing so many people and
pursuing your passion, which was in software, helping startups build products.
And of course you can't mention everything that you've worked on,
(32:21):
but I know for a fact that I mean, some
of them are products that we touch on a daily basis.
So kudos to you and the team and let's keep
in touch. And I hope this episodes are learning for
people who again want to be a founder, take the risk,
jump in, and the results will come. So thanks again, Dennis.
Good talking to you than you
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.