I started my business journey back in 2000. I never had that "classic" IT entrepreneur’s luck of being in the right place at the right time. This meant I could only rely on myself—which is probably why I’ve never feared taking on complex ventures or high-stakes projects. Every startup became a personal challenge, and my greatest passion was building businesses in niches that were only just beginning to emerge.
My path began in the era of the "wild" web and overpriced computers. It all started with programming roles at "Ivano-Frankivskgas" and IFNTUNG. Back then, there was no accessible documentation or professional literature; we mostly had to rely on pure logic and constant experimentation. While my first software products didn't hit the jackpot, they proved one crucial thing: software could be sold. I just had to find the right buyer.
In 2000, my team and I developed SmartDoc. During my internship at the Regional Council, I saw firsthand how paper-based bureaucracy was grinding everything to a halt, and I wanted to change that. It was classic bootstrapping. We were fueled by the idea, working tirelessly, until we realized we had become a tech startup. That’s how Softac was born.
In 2001, I founded B.F.Design out of a desire to shape the early Ukrainian internet. We built websites for companies, the first online media outlets (like the Galicia newspaper), and government bodies. In truth, we were doing many things for the very first time: the first local online phone directory, one of Ukraine’s first job search sites, and the first local web portal. Looking back, I wish we had realized then what the future held for online startups and how quickly the internet would reach every home.
SoftServe was a horizon-expanding moment for me. While it wasn't my own startup—making this more of a managerial chapter—it was the essential foundation for my future entrepreneurial steps. I was entrusted with opening the Ivano-Frankivsk office from scratch. It was an incredible journey: from hiring the very first employees to building a large, well-oiled, and successful team.
The story of bvblogic spans a decade. It began with a nagging feeling that I was missing out on something by remaining an employee. I wanted to build my own IT company. Together with like-minded partners, we dove in—despite not knowing how to sell, how to brand ourselves, or how to negotiate with international clients. Sometimes I wonder if I would have left that well-paid management position again, knowing the hardships ahead. Slowly, our office grew crowded, and it became clear that this bold project was actually working.
As Co-founder and Executive Vice President, I saw my mission in transforming that initial startup energy into a stable international company. I loved designing the "inner world" of the business:
Creating a unified infrastructure for a growing number of projects and teams across different cities.
Developing an in-house ERP system to manage the company through data and metrics rather than just intuition.
Establishing a Corporate Code to keep us grounded and united as our numbers grew.
Serving as a regional CDTO was a detour from my entrepreneurial path, but it was invaluable, primarily as an experience in building large-scale organizational systems.
Ultimately, I returned to where I started—creating new IT products—but now with the weight of experience behind me.
My primary focus now is Clusteray. I am a firm believer in digital sovereignty. Every individual or business should have the power to own their "digital cloud" without being dependent on the whims of global tech giants. This project is about security and freedom.
Additionally, for the past two years, I’ve been immersed in AI. To truly track the trend, I am deploying my own reference infrastructure. It’s my way of studying neural networks by getting my hands on the technology itself.
New projects are coming soon... I love my work for this eternal cycle: learning, building, failing, rebuilding, and finally watching an idea transform into a working mechanism.
No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.
Bohdan Futerko: programmer, engineer, entrepreneur, and manager. My worldview is shaped by technical expertise, systems thinking, and a passion for innovation. This is where I share my ideas, projects, and insights on technology, systems, and creativity.