Efim Kolodkin

Experience

• 

  Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design

  Jun 2013 - Jul 2013

  Producer Assistant

  - Helped to prepare events- Answered official emails - Worked at the reception desk- Assisted in the preparation for the architectural competition for "Zaryadie" park in Moscow

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  Bash Today

  Dec 2014 - Jul 2022

  - Bash Today is a SaaS platform and a venue marketplace for events with hourly bookings. Leader and the most technologically advanced platform for booking event venues in Russia. 500 Strong Accelerator alumnus. - I closed an exit deal with a strategic investor and exited the project.- Achieved fourfold revenue growth in 2 years, reaching $370,000 in 2021; revenue (GMV): $1,480,000. (2021) - Launched and managed 6 products within the company with positive cash flow (marketplace, CRM and upselling products)- During the pandemic's most critical period, achieved positive operations and guaranteed the company's profitability. - Developed and implemented strategies for growth and expansion, leading to increased market share and revenue. Under my direction, website traffic reached 1,300,000 unique visits (2020) with a 70% YoY CAGR. - Raised $1,000,000 for the company development- Bash Today became the market leader in its niche - Under my leadership the company implemented unique industry features: Artificial intelligence for effective venue search; ML fraud detection algorithm; ML technique for estimating sale success rate; neural network for analysing venue quality. - Streamlined business processes and systems, improving efficiency and productivity.- Managed and developed a high-performing team, resulting in increased employee satisfaction and retention.- Created and maintained strong relationships with key stakeholders, including customers, vendors, and industry partners. Built over 3000 partnerships with partners. Show less • Outlined the business development strategy• Attracted 120 first partners (venues who were service providers) • Introduced and deployed the system of qaulity control which helped to increase the LTV of partners by 2,5 times• Designed the CJM and together with the team improved the end-to-end conversion into a purchase by 16% from 17 to 33%• Gathered the first operational team of the service, which became the main support for expanding the service and achieving the goals set by the meeting of the founders• Developed and executed strategies to drive business growth and revenue• Built and maintained relationships with key clients and partners• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop and implement effective business development plans• Managed and optimized sales and marketing campaigns to drive customer acquisition• Analyzed and reported on key performance metrics to track progress and inform decision-making• Gather customer and market insights• Presented ideas and deliverables to the team and communicated with the CEO and the board about the strategies and budgets Show less

  • CEO / CBO (EXIT!)

    Aug 2017 - Jul 2022

  • CBDO

    Dec 2014 - Aug 2017
• 

  Visabot

  Dec 2016 - Mar 2017

  Advisor, Angel investor

  Visabot is a 500 Strong alumnus that assisted immigrants in obtaining US long-stay visas via chatbots. Visabot story was covered in Venturebeat article: https://venturebeat.com/2017/07/11/visabot-helps-you-cut-green-card-red-tape/.• I designed the first for the project financial/management model• Served as moderator/speaker for content and pitching• Contributed to fundraising

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  500 Global

  Jan 2017 - Apr 2017

  Founder in Residence

  Attended the 500 Startups batch as a team member and angel investor at Visabot - a legal tech startup, specifically a chatbot aimed to help immigrants prepare their visas documents for long term stay

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  Duo Screen

  May 2020 - Jan 2022

  Co-founder, Advisor

  Duo Screen is a system for hosting virtual events in real time. During the pandemic, the business pioneered online and hybrid events in Moscow and established the standard for future broadcasting. • Due to my cooperation, the company was able to raise further funding ($300k) for its development.• I established relations and brought two large banks as customers.

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  Uprising Agency

  Jan 2021 - now

  Co-Founder

  Uprising Agency is a digital development studio.

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  Startupbootcamp Amsterdam

  Jan 2023 - Jul 2024

  Mentor

  Helping startups to grow and advising on:- strategy design - go-to-market strategy- fundraising strategy and tactics - networking - feedback on pitch and product validation- support and accountability

• 

  Antler

  Apr 2023 - Jul 2023

  Founder in Residence (AMS9 cohort)

  Building a digital product to solve real problems in B2B

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  Pygmalion.ai

  Jul 2023 - now

  Product of the Day and of the Week @product hunt June ‘24; At Pygmalion.ai, we're at the forefront of harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to revolutionize content creation. As the chief executive officer and chief business development officer, I'm privileged to lead a dynamic team of innovators, creators, and technologists. Our mission is to empower bloggers and content creators with cutting-edge tools that not only automate but also optimize their digital presence, especially on platforms like Instagram.Key Responsibilities:Strategic Leadership: Defining our vision at the intersection of AI and content creation, keeping us ahead in a fast-evolving landscape.Product Oversight: Working with product and marketing teams to build AI-driven tools that meet user needs, from predictive neural networks to automated content creation.Sales & Growth: Developing marketing, PR, and sales strategies to maximize lead generation and client conversion.Stakeholder Engagement: Building strong relationships with investors, partners, and customers to drive mutual growth.Team & Hiring: Fostering a culture of innovation, attracting top talent, and empowering the team to excel.Operational Excellence: Streamlining business processes from market research to product development for maximum efficiency.At Pygmalion.ai, we revolutionize content creation with AI, helping creators optimize their digital presence. 🚀 Show less

  • Strategic Advisor

    Jul 2024 - now

  • CEO / CBO

    Jul 2023 - Jul 2024
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  Verb Ventures

  Jul 2024 - now

  Venture Partner

  Verb Ventures is a Lux fund specialist in b2b marketplaces and platforms with unique market knowledge. - helping to develop portfolio companies - helping to bring new deals - assisting verb ventures team on a development of the product roadmaps for the portfolio companies - enriching network by being present in London

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  Yolwise

  Aug 2024 - now

  CBDO / COO

  As the Chief Operating Officer at Yolwise, I:- Oversee day-to-day operations to ensure efficient and effective delivery of our innovative solutions.- Lead cross-functional teams to drive operational excellence and align strategic goals with execution.- Launch new business ventures, driving the company’s expansion into new markets and verticals.- Develop and manage strategic business partnerships to enhance growth and competitive positioning.- Spearhead the hiring process, building high-performing teams that contribute to the company’s success.- Optimize processes to scale operations, enhance productivity, and support rapid growth.- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, enabling Yolwise to maintain its competitive edge.- Contribute to strategic planning and execution, positioning Yolwise as a leader in the tech industry. Show less