We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ayub Yanturin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ayub thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

The Humble Beginnings It all started when I was a fresh uni grad, eager to make my mark in the world of technology. I had a passion for product management, but little practical experience. Undeterred, I began volunteering my time on various product projects, soaking up knowledge like a sponge.
Those early days were a whirlwind of learning and growth. I spent countless hours poring over product management frameworks, attending meetups, and networking with seasoned professionals. With each project, I honed my skills, learning how to translate abstract ideas into tangible products that solved real-world problems.

The Turning Point
Years passed, and my dedication paid off. I finally obtained permanent residency in the UK, a milestone that opened up new opportunities. As I worked on project after project involving startups relocating from various regions to London, I couldn’t shake a nagging feeling. While these were undoubtedly great opportunities that benefited the local London economy, it was the already well-capitalized city and its local capitalists who were reaping most of the rewards. The startups’ home communities, brimming with talent and potential, were being drained of their lifeblood. It was then that the seed of an idea took root – empowering those local startups to thrive without having to abandon their roots and flock to the major tech hubs. That vision is the driving force behind Kuinji. I recognize the immense potential of the local ecosystem, brimming with talented individuals and innovative ideas. However, due to hype still many startups compelled to migrate to California, London, or Berlin, drawn by the allure of established tech communities and access to resources. A lot of work to be done.

Building the Foundation
With a clear vision in mind, I set out to lay the groundwork for my studio. While doing MBA I spent a year researching the market, studying the unique challenges faced by local startups, and identifying gaps in the existing support systems.
Slowly but surely, I assembled a team of like-minded professionals, each bringing their own expertise to the table. We worked tirelessly, refining our processes, and developing a comprehensive suite of services tailored to the needs of our target clients.

The Launch and Beyond
Finally, after countless hours of preparation, I launched the venture studio. The early days were a whirlwind of activity, as we worked closely with our first clients, guiding them through the intricate process of achieving the product market fit. These days, instead of fielding requests from individual startups, entire local tech hubs bought into our vision of nurturing homegrown innovation, leading us to partner with these rising ecosystems to manage portfolios of promising ventures. We’ve now became a driving force in the local tech ecosystem, empowering startups to stay rooted in their communities while reaching global markets. Our work not only fueled economic growth but also fostered a sense of pride and ownership among local entrepreneurs.

Ayub, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I never set out to become a venture builder. In fact, my journey began on a path that seemed to lead anywhere but there. After earning my Bachelor’s in IT from Moscow University, I decided to shake things up and pursue a Master’s in an entirely different field – Business – from a university in the UK. Little did I know, this unconventional detour would ultimately lead me to my true calling. It was during those years studying business that I felt a spark ignite within me. I became obsessed with the intersection of technology and strategy, devouring any information I could find on emerging tech and how to harness it for business innovation. Workshops, industry events, online courses from places like MIT – you name it, I devoured it all with insatiable curiosity.

The Big Pivot
My first big break came when I landed a Program Manager role at a higher education agency in the UK. For nearly six years, I was in my element – leading cross-functional teams and delivering game-changing digital transformations for universities across the country. We reimagined and streamlined everything from operations to online learning platforms.
But I couldn’t stop there. My relentless drive led me to pursue passion projects on the side, moonlighting in the wild west of ecommerce and fintech. I became a true tech renaissance man, integrating bitcoin payments one day and optimizing logistics platforms like Shopify the next. Before long, I found myself deep in the trenches of network infrastructure – literally building the pipes that power crypto mining and trading empires. I was a man obsessed, and that obsession began paying off.

Forging My Own Path
As my reputation grew, so did the demand for my services. Top companies were knocking at my door, desperate for my technical wizardry and strategic vision. That’s when it hit me – I had outgrown the need for an employer altogether.
I took a gamble and struck out on my own, building a product powerhouse from the ground up.

Today, my studio Kuinji stands as a testament to the power of perseverance and an unwavering commitment to my vision. We continue to push boundaries, constantly refining our processes and staying ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving industry. Looking back, I am filled with a sense of gratitude for the journey that brought me here – from those early days of volunteering to the present, where we shape the future of countless startups from Asia all the way to Latin America, each step has been a valuable lesson in resilience, innovation, and the transformative power of technology. And as I look ahead, I am filled with excitement for the challenges and opportunities that lie before us; every month, we power more and more tech hubs around the world, recently starting work with very interesting markets such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which have so much talent that it would have been a shame for their home countries to lose them to California or London. In this ever-changing landscape, one thing remains constant for our studio: our unwavering dedication to empowering local communities and driving the tech revolution forward, one product at a time.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

The early days of building my product studio from the ground up were a relentless grind. There were times when potential clients ghosted me after months of work, or investments fell through at the last minute, leaving me wondering if I’d made the right choice striking out on my own. But I’m nothing if not tenacious. I picked myself back up, sharpened my hustle, and doubled down – and each pitfall I powered through made me tougher, sharper, and even more determined to make my vision a reality against all odds.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Early on, I fell into the trap of trying to be everything to everyone. I’d bend over backwards to accommodate every client request, no matter how misaligned with my core offering. It wasn’t until a few brutal hustle-burnouts that I realized I was spreading myself way too thin. The hard lesson I had to unlearn was that saying “no” to projects outside my zone of genius, as painful as it felt at first, was crucial to protecting my vision and energy. From that pivotal moment, I got laser-focused on my strengths – and my business took off.

Contact Info:

• Website: kuinji.com
• Instagram: @ay.bulat
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aybulat/
• Twitter: @a_yanturin

Image Credits
all owned by me