Vlad what's your backstory?

Before founding my first startup, I was deeply involved in tech and entrepreneurship, even from a young age. I grew up in Romania, and that’s where my journey really began. From as early as I can remember, I was always fascinated by technology — I’d spend hours on the computer, exploring how things worked, and even started coding when I was a teenager.

Before heading to university, I had already built a few dozen digital products, from books and online courses to mobile apps, which gave me a good head start into the entrepreneurial world. Growing up in Romania wasn’t always easy — resources for tech or entrepreneurship weren’t as accessible, but that pushed me to be more resourceful and self-taught.

I eventually moved to London to study Computer Science at LSBU. That’s where things really picked up. While I was in London, I started WiredVibe, a neuroscience-based music SaaS. It was an intense learning curve, but it gave me a solid foundation in building and scaling a product. I also got a lot of support from the startup ecosystem in London, which helped me secure our first few thousand users and raise capital for WiredVibe.

Though it sounds like I’ve always been focused, there’s a mix of good and bad moments along the way. Moving to London was an adjustment, but it helped me grow a lot. In the early days, I was working on multiple projects — some succeeded, others failed — but each experience taught me something valuable.

What does your company do & how did you come up with the idea?

At AKY X, we focus on helping early-stage startups—from Pre-Seed to Series A—create seamless, impactful user experiences by blending world-class design with cutting-edge technology. Our core offering is premium Product Design services that enable startups to scale effectively. Soon, we’re launching our AI-powered DaaS (Design as a Service) platform, which will take this to the next level. This platform will provide startups with premium design services 80% faster, with designs delivered in under 48 hours, plus actionable insights and analytics—all in one streamlined system. No more juggling multiple windows, and tabs, or having to learn new platforms.

The idea came from my experience as a founder, where I saw how tough it can be for startups to balance speed and quality in design. I wanted to build a platform that offers high-level design, while also providing valuable insights and analytics, so startups can make smarter decisions faster.

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How did you get your first 10 customers for AKY X?

Honestly, it was a lot of hustle. I started by offering free UX audits and wireframes to startups I knew or had met through networking. I also leveraged LinkedIn, where I was posting regularly and reaching out directly to founders. Word of mouth helped a lot too — when you deliver good work early on, people talk.

How did you establish product market fit?

It was all about listening and iterating. In the early days, I worked very closely with founders to get feedback, and we adjusted our offerings based on what they needed. The initial version of our service wasn’t perfect, and we had to make some changes along the way, but through constant communication, we made sure our design solutions hit the mark.

How did you acquire your first 100 customers for AKY X?

To gain our initial 100 customers, we focused on a few key strategies:

LinkedIn: This was our go-to platform in the early stages. I actively shared insights and engaged with potential clients by commenting on their posts, joining conversations, and sending personalized messages. Building relationships on LinkedIn helped us connect with founders and decision-makers.

Referrals: After completing some successful projects, word of mouth became a big driver for us. We made it a point to ask satisfied clients for referrals, which helped grow our customer base. Referrals were crucial in building trust early on.

Cold Email (using Smartlead): We used Smartlead for targeted cold email outreach, reaching out to startups and founders who needed design services. Personalizing each message and offering tailored solutions was key. Smartlead helped us scale this effort while maintaining personalization, effectively bringing in clients outside our immediate network.

Networking: Attending startup events and connecting with founders in person or through online communities helped us build early relationships. These connections often turned into leads and eventually clients.

Using these strategies—LinkedIn engagement, referrals, and cold email with Smartlead—we were able to connect with our target audience and gain our first 100 customers.

What distribution channels did you try that didn't work?

In the early stages of AKY X, we experimented with a few different distribution channels that didn’t quite deliver the results we were hoping for:

Twitter Cold Outreach: We tried running a cold outreach campaign on Twitter, reaching out to founders and businesses. While LinkedIn worked well for us, Twitter didn’t lead to the same level of engagement or conversions. The platform seemed less conducive to direct B2B interactions, and it was harder to establish meaningful conversations. We quickly realized that our target audience was more active and responsive on LinkedIn.

Paid Ads: We also tested paid advertising on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, but it didn’t result in new clients. These channels are more focused on consumer products, and we were targeting a B2B audience. Our services didn’t resonate with the audience there, and the leads we generated weren’t relevant or high-quality.

What specific tools, software, or resources have been most helpful in growing your business?

In growing AKY X, a combination of key tools and resources has played a crucial role in expanding our customer base and increasing revenue. First, Figma has been essential for our design work—it’s a powerful tool for collaboration and rapid prototyping, allowing us to deliver high-quality designs to clients faster. We’ve also relied heavily on Webflow for building and launching websites with great design and functionality, which has been key to providing seamless user experiences.

On the operations side, Notion has been invaluable in managing projects, organizing our ideas, and keeping everything on track. It’s helped streamline our processes and ensure that we stay aligned as a team. For communication, Slack has been a go-to, allowing us to keep up with clients and freelancers in real-time.

As we’ve grown, Smartlead has been a game-changer for our cold email outreach strategy. It’s helped us automate and personalize outreach, making it easier to connect with potential clients and expand our customer base.

Who are some recommended experts to follow for learning how to grow a business?

If you're looking to learn how to grow a business, here are some to follow: Gary Vaynerchuk – Founder of VaynerMedia and a social media expert, Ryan Serhant – A real estate entrepreneur, Alex Hormozi – Author of $100M Offers.

How did you make the transition from a side hustle to full-time entrepreneurship?

I’ve never personally balanced a full-time job with a side hustle. From the start, I’ve always committed to doing things full-time, whether it was launching my startup or running AKY X. The only time I had to manage both was when I was in university, and even then, I focused heavily on my entrepreneurial projects. My advice for founders looking to leap into full-time entrepreneurship is to ensure your side hustle has traction, save enough to cover at least 6 months of living expenses, and take the leap when your business needs your full attention.

What drives you to do what you do?

What drives me, personally, is the journey of building something impactful from scratch. Ever since starting WiredVibe and now running AKY X, I’ve been fueled by the excitement of seeing an idea evolve into a tangible product that helps startups scale and succeed. I thrive on the challenge of constantly pushing boundaries, combining design and technology in innovative ways to deliver real results. It’s not just about creating something—it’s about knowing that the work I do helps other entrepreneurs achieve their goals. That sense of purpose and the freedom to shape my path is what keeps me going every day.

Any quotes you live by?

"If you’re not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late." – Reid Hoffman.

Any promotions you would like to add for Founderoo readers?

If you're reading this article and are interested in working with me, I’m offering a 25% discount on our subscription services. Just reach out and mention this offer!

Your links + socials

akyx.digital

Vlad LinkedIn‍

Vlad website

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