How I Built A Professional Networking App To 500K Users
Who are you and what business did you start?
I’m Yakov Filippenko, a tech entrepreneur with 10+ years of experience in building and scaling startups. My journey started at Yandex, where I led a team that grew our product’s user base from 500K to 1.2M and expanded it internationally. After that, I was a CTO at an EduTech startup, Lingualeo. There, my key project was leading our launch into our first international market: Brazil. After that, I co-founded SailPlay, scaling it to 45 countries before it was acquired in 2018.
In 2021, I launched Intch, the first AI-powered platform that connects part-time professionals with businesses through networking and feedback-driven matches. We’re redefining the Future of Work for small businesses by offering them access to verified professionals available for part-time positions. These are tailored to top professionals, and allow SMBs to access talent at 1/3 of the cost. This year, Intch has grown from 65K to 500K active users, helping thousands of businesses and professionals thrive in the
