Pavel Volkov: California Is a State of Entrepreneurs, Online Merchants and Those Who Serve Them

Pavel Volkov of Recomm.app.

Tell us about yourself?

I am a venture entrepreneur, investor, advisor of startups. I am the founder of the Artifiqa inc. and we make a software for e-commerce. As example one of our solution it is recomm.app – platform for managing video content for online stores.

What do you think is the single biggest misconception people have when it comes to startups?

It seems to me that many people think that startups are dreamers who cannot sit still. In fact, these are people who want to improve the quality of life of mankind, move evolution and technological development. They take risks, and many fail to cope with the hardships of entrepreneurship.

What lessons has being an entrepreneur taught you?

After more than 10 years of entrepreneurship I stopped being afraid of failure. And I realized that achieving the goal is not the strongest and not the smartest, but the most persistent.

If you could go back in time to when you first started your business, what piece of advice would you give yourself?

First find the need of the market, and then make the product, otherwise you will lose many years in search of conformity to the market.

A lot of entrepreneurs find it difficult to balance their work and personal lives. How have you found that?

You need to live and work in such a way that your business does not contradict your values ​​and the values ​​of your family. My family supports me in my affairs, and I support any of their undertakings, we all understand that our life is inseparable from our deeds.

Give us a bit of an insight into the influences behind the company?

Sales through video are growing by 60% per year and changing the experience of buyers, but not all online stores have time and are ready for such changes. Our company makes it easy for online sellers to tap into the rapidly growing trend of shoppable videos and increase their sales.

What do you think is your magic sauce? What sets you apart from the competitors?

Through many years of development, we have accumulated a lot of experience with short videos and see a great opportunity in the changing online sales market. Our secret sauce is the right experience at the right time.

How have you found sales so far? Do you have any lessons you could pass on to other founders in the same market as you just starting out?

Amazon live and amazon shoppable are certainly cool products, but don’t forget about all those guys who sell on shopify, woocommerce, etc. This is a very large market that requires our help in the transition to sales videos.

What do you consider are the main strengths of operating your business in California over other states in the US?

California is a state of entrepreneurs, online merchants and those who serve them. Most of our audience is here and we want to be closer to them, meet them, see their needs, work together with them.

What (if any) are the weaknesses of operating your business within California?

Real estate prices here are of course going through the roof, maintaining an office in California is much more expensive than anywhere else in the state.

We are currently suffering through a cost of living crisis. With California already being one of the most expensive states to live in, how has this impacted your business?

This tempers the business, because if you can survive in such conditions, then in any other conditions you will feel like in paradise.

It is no secret that California is the birthplace of innovation. But that also makes it incredibly competitive. How have you found the competitive environment of California?

Competition drives progress. We solve important issues from different angles and compete to see who can do it better and faster.

Have you considered moving your company to another state? If so, which state and why?

Not yet, not considered.

Where do you see your business in the next 5 years?

The United States of America. This is our home, our base. Already from here, from our main office, we plan to manage branches in other countries.

And finally, if people want to get involved and learn more about your business, how should they do that?

Welcome, we have vacancies and promotions. Feel free to contact me, all my contacts in our websites.

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