In part two, OPTIC Founder & CEO Andrey Doronichev discusses how grit, curiosity, and smart risk-taking moved him from Russia’s early Internet scene to launching a mobile startup—and ultimately to Google.
“If you’re genuinely passionate and curious, people will feed that curiosity. Do not underestimate that.”
In the second episode of our four-part series, Andrey traces his path from hustling in post-Soviet Russia to building one of the first mobile content platforms, emigrating as political tides shifted, and landing at Google through a cold email. He reflects on bootstrapping during Russia’s early Internet boom, betting on mobile YouTube before smartphones were mainstream, and championing innovation inside Google—decisions that reshaped his life and how billions watch video online.
Key topics covered
• Turning setbacks into fuel for ambition
• Bootstrapping in Russia’s early digital market
• How curiosity compounds into opportunity
• Betting on mobile YouTube before smartphones
• Leaving Russia to embrace global opportunities