IT yesterday, today and tomorrow: Vazgen Hakobjanyan

Information technologies sector has become an exclusive example of economic wonder in Armenia. Step by step, “the IT crowd” created their own world with thousands of jobs and salaries way higher the average,  so to say, “an economy within economy”.

In “IT yesterday, today and tomorrow series” Itel.am will introduce founders and managers of successful companies, who will share their experience and give advice to newbies.

We talked with co-founder of Teamable Vazgen Hakobjanyan for this issue of the series.

On Teamable

Software created by Teamable, a company started by Armenian developers, helps many organizations form a quality team and manage the human resources they already have. Today Teamable products are used in over two dozen American companies, including Uber, Lyft, Medallia, paid system Stripe, and others. Teamable achieved all that in three years.

Vazgen Hakobjanyan
photo © Mediamax

Infrastructure to begin from scratch

For any startup, the environment where they start working on a product is very important. According to Vazgen Hakobjanyan, three years ago the environment was very raw in Armenia, compared to now. There were no co-working spaces or ties with foreign investors, but since then the sector made significant progress in those areas.

“There are many companies now, co-working spaces where you can build product from scratch. Moreover, in the last 3 years Armenia has advanced greatly in establishing ties with the tech engine – Silicon Valley – and free communication with investors, so there are much more opportunities today,” said Vazgen Hakobjanyan.

On importance of support

Vazgen believes that newly-founded companies in Armenia are in need of mentors, people who will help the startups with their recommendations and experience.

“Big companies should take the small ones and beginners under their wing to facilitate their professional and business growth. I think the same applies to companies in other economic sectors. Head of companies in telecommunications, banking, agriculture, industry and other sectors should find startups of corresponding activity and make concrete offers of work and joint development of technologies. That will keep capital inside Armenia, and the economy will become technological and efficient. Usually, such steps aren’t taken in Armenia. The reasons are many, the most common being the unawareness of startups and the real power of innovation,” Vazgen believes.

Vazgen Hakobjanyan
photo © Mediamax

The road to big market

According to Vazgen, Armenian market is a good platform for using and testing innovations, as all sectors lack technologies. Research of the global market and work on the scene will open a horizon for reaching the international level.

“Most Armenian startups plan to become another Google (laughs – editor). The same cannot be said about, for instance, Georgian startups that generally focus on finding local customers. We have plenty of cases when Armenian developers work for international giants. Those developers are our ambassadors, the people who lay the road for us.”

Education is the key to success

Parallel to information technologies, Vazgen believes Armenia should develop education as well – from schools to post-university education.

“Armenia has good education traditions. I think it should become our brand. We need changes in the agenda so education becomes our brand outside of Armenia too. For example, the Medical University has been admitting and teaching students from India for many years now, so each Indian student who goes back to their country and becomes a doctor is an unofficial representative of Armenian education. That is directly related to IT sector and technological progress,” said Teamable co-founder.

Suren Stepanyan
Photos by Emin Aristakesyan