43rd Bootcamp in Silicon Valley: insights from participants Each bootcamp is more than just a series of training sessions and meetings. It’s a place where entrepreneurs can immerse themselves in the unique culture of Silicon Valley, allowing them to reset, discover new meanings, and realize growth opportunities in both business and personal life. In March, we held the 43rd Bootcamp in Silicon Valley. In this article, we’ve compiled feedback from those who went through this journey and are ready to share their results and insights. Yulia Titova Founder of the leading business community and accelerator SVOI, venture partner at VNTR Capital, organizer of over 2,000 business events worldwide with the participation of major international corporations, celebrities, and opinion leaders, which have been attended by over 200,000 people, author of books, and international speaker. “For me, the bootcamp was a return to my true self. During the trip, I was able to completely disconnect from work processes for two weeks. I am a visionary, but for the past four years, I’ve been in the role of an entrepreneur, doing much of the work myself. After the trip, I started asking myself more often if I want to spend my resources on a given task and whether it will bring me closer to my vision. I was especially inspired by the Tesla director’s speech. I create global things and think on a large scale, but sometimes I doubt whether I’m moving too fast for my team to keep up. After the bootcamp, I realized that this thinking is my superpower. I decided to rebuild my team to execute the global projects I’m creating for the benefit of humanity. The bootcamp participants were amazing. When such people come together, they amplify each other and can create incredible projects together. This happens with ease and joy, and I believe that’s the key to realizing one’s potential.” Maxim Izralevich Founder of cloud technology projects Nuxgame, Hostereo, Cloudvert, Webmaxstudio “Due to the events in the CIS and Israel, I had to relocate three times. It was stressful, and I slowed down in my work. This program reignited the fire in me that I once had. I came without specific goals or expectations. I was just following Ruslan’s Instagram, liked his way of thinking, and decided to go. I have no regrets. This program provides a powerful boost, and it’s worth coming here just for that. After the bootcamp, my life was divided into ‘before’ and ‘after.’ The program is innovative and transformative, and the most important thing for me was that it wasn’t about business or money, but about people. I always thought I was an introvert, but at the bootcamp, I realized I was just in the wrong environment. Among like-minded people, you start communicating differently and get energized for new achievements in business. It was here that the idea for CortexLab.ai, my new AI startup, was born. I realized that at the core of all successful billion-dollar companies, people work on themselves and the people around them. This experience proved that the right environment can catapult ideas into reality.” Leonid Martynovsky Serial entrepreneur in the CIS countries, partner at Perfect Psvers of South Florida, management systems consultant, author of the book “Overcoming Success: A Step-by-Step Growth of Your Business.” “For me, the information I received here wasn’t fundamentally new. However, I’m the type of person who, when certain things are highlighted from a different perspective by others, begins to give them weight and starts incorporating them into my life. After the bootcamp, I gained a clear understanding: to build a large business, you need to focus on hiring the right people. Everything else matters too, but at the core of any solid business is the team. I began to approach the hiring process differently and started looking for employees the same way I would for business partners. I also realized the huge importance of networking. It’s not just about being professional; it’s about being an interesting person so that the people around you want to engage with you. I like the phrase, ‘You are the average of the people who surround you.’ The program is the perfect place to intentionally shape your environment in a way that helps you grow.” Alexander Ivanov Co-founder of the venture platform Axevil Capital “During my first trip in 2021, it was valuable for me to understand how the Silicon Valley ecosystem works. I had read a lot about it, but seeing it in person gave me a whole new perspective. It’s amazing that you can directly ask any questions to people in corporations, universities, and funds. That, of course, fundamentally changes your worldview and the scale of your vision. I remember returning from the program full of ideas and inspiration. For the 2024 bootcamp, I went to validate my vision regarding AI investments. Once again, I was convinced that investing in AI is the right bet, and it needs to be done ten times more actively. Only by being in the Valley and talking to people from Nvidia or Google can you truly understand the trends. The AI revolution is happening right here in the Valley, and to participate, you need to be here. It’s great that Ruslan’s program provides this opportunity. Why attend the same program twice if you’ve already done it? Aside from the tons of valuable content from speakers, the program hooks you with the quality of people because the key insights happen in the group dynamics. It’s like a psychological training session where you constantly want to take notes and write down discoveries. What happens at the bootcamp is priceless; it’s hard to replicate. I’m grateful for this unique place where the magic happens.” Vitaly Vinogradov Founder of Service Spot LLC, specializing in airport parking sales “I believe that in this program, Ruslan and Alina were able to recreate a miniature version of Silicon Valley. What does everyone say about the Valley? That it’s made by the people, and all the magic that happens is because of the people gathered in this environment and infrastructure. In this program, they managed to create that same infrastructure and environment in miniature. Throughout the program, I felt that the people around me energized and motivated me, sparking new ideas and thoughts. I realized that I had formed a wonderful new circle of connections. I came here with the issue that what I was doing no longer excited me in the mornings. As a result of the program, I felt that despite everything, I want to continue running my business, and I now have the energy to do so. And I’m still open to searching for new ideas.” Ekaterina Shagaeva CEO of the consulting agency LOGOS GROUP “I attend a lot of trainings, and I like to set goals to ground the knowledge I acquire and solidify everything I engage with. I had two goals: to understand the topics of artificial intelligence and investments. I came to the program with specific objectives, and I achieved them all. My biggest insight was the feelings I experienced during this program. I didn’t expect that I could feel this way at all. It was incredible. These feelings first emerged during an exercise on the very first day. Throughout the program, I maintained an open mind and carried it with me each day: I asked everyone for their opinions and tested my ideas. For me, this was the most valuable aspect.” Stanislav Bartnikas Founder of the “Aero Photo Portals” project, photographer, winner of over 200 international awards, including NatGeo “I didn’t have a clear goal or objective for this trip. I often act on intuition, and I had a deep inner feeling that I needed to be at this bootcamp for some reason. On the first day, during the introduction exercises, I saw how quickly relationships between a group of people can completely change in just one hour. I will definitely apply this in my team and possibly even with new people. The second realization was that the team is more important than the idea itself. This was a true insight for me because I always thought that a project starts with an idea, and the team can be found later. But truly, if you gather and unite the right people, you can transform the idea or implement it differently without holding onto the past. I am very happy with the new environment and the energy we are creating. Ruslan and Alina are masters at assembling a puzzle of people who grow through one another and enjoy the process. The path to such growth is long, but you manage to make it short and meaningful, filled with discoveries and transformations for each participant.” Pavel Puskov CEO of PJSC Rosava, a company involved in international trade “During the program, I achieved my main goal—to reset, step away from daily operations and family matters. The key insight from the bootcamp was understanding the American economy, which is very different from the Ukrainian and European economies I’m used to. The visits to Silicon Valley corporations made a big impression on me. I was particularly impressed with how corporate culture works. In many CIS businesses, corporate culture is often lacking, and there’s no strategy for developing people within the company. I’d like to see more examples of how corporate culture operates not only in American businesses. I also want to highlight the people who came together at the bootcamp. I’m confident we will stay in touch for many years and collaborate on projects. Over the course of the program, we became close, almost like family. These are the kind of people you want to grow with, share experiences, and simply spend time together.” Yana Smirnova Founder of GW Group, health and fitness industry “The main thing I gained from the program is clarity—I now know what to do. I arrived with a foggy mind, like a puzzle missing pieces, but after the program, everything fell into place. I received an immense boost of energy, inspiration, and love from all the participants. I have extensive experience with various programs, and I can see how well thought-out this bootcamp is, down to the smallest details. It’s a very well-structured program with a clear methodology: follow the steps, and you’ll get results. It’s more than just business—it’s a mission.” Anton Elston CEO of the metaverse DEXART “I came to Silicon Valley for a tour, and my insights began when the tour turned into a journey within myself. The program ignited a new fire in me—it’s incredible. I decided to move to the Valley, got my visa, and will join a startup accelerator soon. The second insight relates to corporate culture. The company visits made me realize the kind of environment that needs to be created to achieve great heights. Creating a cultural code is the first thing I want to focus on when I return to work. I’m generally a private person, but the warm and safe atmosphere here allowed me to open up much faster than usual. At this point, it’s the most powerful program I’ve ever attended.” Anton Zalis Founder of Improvs, IT development and artificial intelligence “Thanks to the speakers at the Bootcamp, I finally understood how the transition from angel investors to venture rounds works. There had been a lot of unclear, conflicting information before, but after the program, I gained a clear understanding. I now have the desire to take one of my projects from pitch to IPO. My insight is connected to corporate culture, something Ruslan emphasized a lot. Before the trip, I thought culture formed on its own, but in Silicon Valley, I saw that it requires constant work. I now have ideas I can implement in my projects and teams, and I’ll be actively working on that. Many insights came from Arnon Geshuri’s presentation. He highlighted all the key aspects of the program: universities, companies, speakers, HR, and recruitment. A lot of my insights revolve around the type of people you need to hire: it’s important to choose top specialists who align with your ideals and think outside the box. Thanks to Ruslan and Alina for organizing the bootcamp. The group dynamic was incredible, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The program proved to be extremely valuable and beneficial for me.” Filipp Senkevich Owner of Infian in Spain, entrepreneur, partner at Dekra, investor “I came to the program as if it were a tour. When we all first met and the group dynamics exercises began, I thought it was pointless. But after some time, I realized that after these practices, everyone became close to me, and I wanted to interact with them and learn more. It was fascinating to be part of such a community: everyone is different, yet I felt drawn to get closer to each of them. What’s great about the program is that it’s not a cookie-cutter experience; every time, something is tailored to the needs of the group. Ruslan and Alina customize everything for the participants to ensure the group bonds. The most important thing I realized is that despite being home to the wealthiest companies, the Valley isn’t about money at all. The bootcamp perfectly reflects this: Ruslan’s vision isn’t about money, and it’s clear that he lives for his project and community.” These testimonials are living proof that the program opens the door to new meanings and achievements in business. Submit your application for the bootcamp, and we will get in touch with you soon. APPLY NOW
