• Ivan Kosyuk began working with a volunteer group of engineers, building software to help aid their home country Ukraine

• However, Kosyuk noticed that many Ukrainian tech workers continued to struggle with unemployment–so he formed UA IT Hub

• UA IT Hub gives talented Ukrainian tech experts work opportunities through international clients and projects–but above all, the organization is a community of compassionate individuals seeking to help one another during uncertain times

5-Minutes Read

By Kina Velasco | WeINSPIRE Journalist

SAN FRANCISCO, California – 23-year-old Ivan Kosyuk is one of millions of Ukrainians whose lives were overturned earlier this year. In his home country, cultural sites were eradicated, citizens were displaced, and the lives of children were jeopardized. Kosyuk decided to help out, but not through the conventional methods of donations and social media championing. Pairing his knowledge of technology with passion to give back, Kosyuk founded UA IT Hub. The organization provides employment to skilled Ukrainian ‘techies’, helping preserve Ukraine as an internationally recognized tech center while simultaneously giving workers a community of support.

Currently based in the US, Kosyuk is sparking change nearly 5,700 miles away from his home country. “We have a lot of very smart people [in Ukraine]...who bring ideas and innovation to the table. That is the kind of environment that was on the brink of being lost due to war,” he said.

“I was just doing work with a volunteer community and kept hearing from engineers that they lost their jobs and needed a place to work,” Kosyuk shared. Some projects were available for Ukrainian tech workers, but Kosyuk says they were simply viewed by employers as “working hands” rather than creative, driven individuals brimming with innovative ideas. That’s what inspired him to change the culture and create his own organization.

UA IT Hub brings projects from international clients to Ukrainian tech workers. Typically, clients approach them with a big idea–then, an entire team of designers, developers, analysts and the like gather together to figure out the best way to meet clients’ needs, assessing potential risks and problems. Workers can either join part-time or full-time on a project. Essentially, UA IT Hub makes innovation structured, accessible and open-ended.

Recently, the tech organization was approached by an entrepreneur who identified a problem within the Middle Eastern market.

“If they have a kid, and feel like something may be wrong, they wait until the last minute to go to the doctor–it’s a cultural thing,” Kosyuk said. UA IT Hub is working on a medical platform that caters specifically to the Middle Eastern market to facilitate preventative healthcare for children. The platform aims to make it easier for families to connect with their doctors online and ultimately prevent health complications. 

After just two and a half months, UA IT Hub built code and acquired necessary documentation, allowing their client to approach investors and prove that they had the resources to develop the platform. The project is now able to reach the market and service families quicker, thanks to UA IT Hub’s efficiency and expertise.

Another project the tech organization has been working on involves creating software that allows one to accurately virtually measure the distance between furniture or interior areas using their phone; for example, the distance between a door and window. Similar to their healthcare project, UA IT Hub has been able to show results with efficiency and effectiveness. 

While completing projects is rewarding in itself, UA IT Hub is more than just a group of tech workers–it is a supportive community of individuals dedicated to helping one another. 

“It was the second week of work for our new designer, and his grandmother was injured during a shelling,” Kosyuk explained. “That happened when I was asleep…but when I woke up and heard about it, and logged into Slack, I already saw there was a dedicated channel titled “helping [employee’s name]. We had a lot of people who volunteered and said, ‘I want a part of my salary deducted to help [the employee]’, and our finance person said ‘Hey, let’s pay their salary in advance.” Even without Kosyuk’s direction, the team was able to organize amongst themselves and help a coworker in need–a genuine show of compassion.

UA IT Hub workers also make sure to watch out for each other on a day-to-day basis. Simple, small actions strengthen the hub's sense of community and culture of empathy–which is much needed in today's workplace and something Kosyuk finds highly rewarding.

As an entrepreneur, Kosyuk says the biggest lesson he’s learned is that, when evaluating an idea, it is crucial to discuss it in a way that inspires others. “I believe that, on our own, we cannot help a lot of people. But if you make it so others feel inspired to help each other, that’s when you really create a difference…The reason why I do my business is because I love people, I love seeing what people can do, especially when they’re inspired and feel cared for. Because they can do miracles and that’s what I care about,” he said.

In particular, Kosyuk believes in empowering younger generations. Kosyuk is familiar with people shutting down young entrepreneurs' ideas. However, he recommends individuals to be persistent, explorative, and come up with a fresh perspective. “If another person like me can read our story and say, ‘Oh yeah that’s amazing, I'm gonna go and do the same thing’–that’s really gonna be a win for me,” he said.

As for Kosyuk’s plans, he hopes to assist other entrepreneurs to launch more projects in Ukraine. “I see how much people back at home do to help Ukraine, and I wanna do more. I wanna help more, I wanna create more, more opportunities for people to work and bring even more projects back home,” he said.

Kosyuk has opened doors for fellow Ukrainians and contributed to the nation's growing tech sector–all during a period of turmoil and uncertainty. Kosyuk and the UA IT Hub team demonstrate the power of commitment and unity, undoubtedly making their country proud.

Keep up with UA IT Hub via their website, LinkedIn and Facebook.