I'm Serge Gusev, cofounder and CEO of Approveit (Techstars 2023) — workflow automation platform.

Before starting Approveit, I worked in enterprise settings and also built products on my own, focusing on business development, user research, and product management.

I'm Dmitry Matveev, an IT professional and entrepreneur dedicated to making a meaningful impact through innovation. With over 15 years of experience in developing software products and leading teams of various sizes, I bring a proven track record of expertise. I hold an engineering degree in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, an Executive MBA, and I'm a Techstars alumni.

During my professional career, I've participated in dozens of projects, worked at publicly traded companies, and participated in and built several startups with overall valuations of over $30 million.

That all has given and keeps giving me a lot of knowledge of how to build projects in the right and efficient way, how to gather the right teams with high cohesion, and how to succeed in ventures.

What does your company do, and why is it important?

Gusev: Approveit is a workflow automation platform that simplifies the approval process for teams by integrating directly into tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. Companies often face delays and inefficiencies due to scattered approval processes — especially in finance, HR, and IT.

Approveit centralizes these workflows, making it easy to track, approve, and automate requests in one place. This not only speeds up decision-making but also improves transparency and compliance, helping teams focus on what truly matters.

How is what you are building disrupting your industry?

Matveev: We help companies eliminate chaotic processes and bring transparency with complete control over their business workflows. Our approach stands apart from the traditional methods: we automate and streamline decision-making and operations through messengers like Slack and Microsoft Teams, consolidate data from various sources into one centralized platform (replacing multiple tools), and provide live reports that deliver deep insights into business activities.

What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs who are just starting their journey?

Gusev: Start by solving a problem you're truly passionate about — it'll keep you going when things get tough. Don't wait for the perfect moment; just launch your MVP, get it into users' hands, and talk to them. Listen closely to their feedback and iterate fast. Surround yourself with smart people who challenge you.

Matveev: Just take the first step — the hardest part is starting. Once you begin, finding solutions to challenges becomes much easier. Leverage historical data to guide your actions in the present. Conduct thorough market research and build your strategy around it. This will save you significant time and resources, ultimately increasing your chances of achieving success.

What has been your proudest moment or biggest triumph in your entrepreneurial journey?

Gusev: My proudest moment was landing our very first paying customer — it was proof that we were solving a real problem and that people were willing to pay for our solution. That early win gave us the momentum we needed to keep pushing forward.

Another huge milestone was securing our first "enterprise" client. Knowing that a large organization trusted us to streamline their workflows validated all the hard work and showed that we could scale beyond just early adopters.

Are there any lessons you've learned along the way that you wish someone had shared with you when you started?

Gusev: Launch early and not overthink it — just get your product out there and start learning from real users. Also, don't rush to hire a salesperson too soon. In the early days, focus on talking to users yourself. You'll learn so much about what they actually need, which will help you refine your product and your pitch. And most importantly, put all your energy into delivering value to those users.

Can you share any resources or organizations that have been particularly helpful to you as an entrepreneur?

Gusev: "Zero to One" by Peter Thiel was a great foundation — it really helped me think differently about building a company.

Joining Techstars has been huge, not just for the mentorship, but also for the connections and support. Curated events and founder meetups have also been super valuable for getting insights and making connections.

And honestly, being active in Slack groups with other founders has been incredibly valuable. It's where I've found some of the best advice, support, and real talk from people who are navigating similar challenges.

Why did you want to do an accelerator, and why did you choose Techstars?

Gusev: We wanted to join an accelerator to get that extra push in scaling the business and to have access to mentors who've been through the trenches before. Techstars was an easy choice because it's not just about the program — it's about the people. The support and mentorship are incredible, but honestly, it's also the network. You get to build connections and friendships that stick with you for life. Having that kind of support system is invaluable, especially when things get tough.

What was your most memorable Techstars experience?

Matveev: Mentor Madness week was truly an unexpected experience — a full week of calls with so many incredible people, providing invaluable feedback in such a short amount of time.

What was your biggest takeaway from your time spent in program?

Gusev: It's all about the people you surround yourself with. The mentors, the other founders, and the Techstars team — having that kind of support and honest feedback is priceless. It really hit me that building something great isn't just about the product; it's about the community that pushes you to be better every single day.

Matveev: Only you can uncover the answers to your questions and navigate the path to product-market fit. Seek extensive feedback and conduct thorough user research — this will provide valuable insights and a clearer understanding of what you're building.

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