Interview, Other
Lessons From The Founders Scaling Their Startup In A War Zone
- Event & Timeline: On February 28, a Russian missile strike occurred near the Kyiv residence of Isomic co-founders Stacy and Roman, just four days after the full-scale invasion began on February 24.
- Company Profile: Isomic is a design task platform founded in Kyiv that matches companies with over 100 designers, 80% of whom are based in Ukraine, offering a 24-hour turnaround.
- Pre-Invasion Preparedness: In late 2021 and early 2022, the founders shifted focus from standard business operations to risk assessment, sharing security advice with their team and anticipating potential escalation.
- Immediate Evacuation: Upon the outbreak of war, the founders initiated an immediate evacuation of their staff and themselves, navigating active combat zones, including a Russian helicopter flyover, to reach safety.
- Operational Resilience: Despite the conflict, Isomic maintained operations on a third day of the invasion, continuing to onboard new clients and designers without interruption.
- Strategic Business Decision: The founders explicitly chose to remain in Ukraine to generate foreign currency and stabilize the economy, viewing the nation's entire effort as a "country-wide startup mode."
- Safety Protocols: The team implemented specialized evacuation strategies, including hiring "kamikaze drivers" with knowledge of safe routes to extract personnel from occupied or high-threat zones.
- Trauma & Impact: The release of photos from Bucha and reports of sexual violence in occupied cities caused significant psychological distress, with one founder reporting a week of inability to focus; the team provided specific security instructions to protect female employees in hostile areas.
- Future Outlook: The founders express high optimism regarding Ukrainian societal resilience and unity, while actively discussing long-term strategies for national rebuilding and continued economic contribution post-war.