EVN Disrupt

Hovhannes Kuloghlyan, the co-founder and CEO of Groksmith, a software design and development company, joins us to discuss opportunities in AI product development and how no-code platforms are disrupting SaaS businesses. Hovhannes shared his thoughts on what the pillars of a strong start-up idea are, and why focusing on building more specialized, niche solutions may become the norm in the coming years. We also spoke about the energy sector and opportunities for entrepreneurs to enter the market with AI solutions. Lastly, Hovhannes shared his thoughts on the importance of science fiction in helping imagine the future.

Arevik Hambardzumyan, co-founder and CTO of TACTUN, joins us to discuss their product; a hardware controller and no code software platform which helps automate manufacturing processes. Arevik also shared her thoughts on the challenges involved with importing electronic parts to Armenia, and the need for legislative reforms around procurement.

Babken DerGrigorian, co-founder and CEO of Kartes Analytica, joins us to discuss the role geospatial data plays in national defense applications. Babken breaks down the data that is collected through satellites, and how it needs to be processed to provide insights for better decision making. We also spoke about the current regulatory environment around space tech in the country, and how Kartes became the first private company to receive a space license in the country.

Emmanuel Ghandilyan, co-founder and CEO of Foldink, joins us to discuss the world of bioprinting and how bioinks, the source material used to 3D print biological materials, will fuel innovation in regenerative medicine, cell cultured foods, and personalized medicine. Emmanuel shared with us his company’s approach to producing bioinks, and the promise the technology holds for the future of medicine and other advancements in biological sciences.

Luiza Avetisyan, the co-founder of Staff.am and Hirebee, joins us to discuss her journey as a serial entrepreneur in the HR tech space. Luiza spoke about the impact Staff.am has had on raising employer brand awareness in Armenia’s labor market, and how Hirebee is helping companies recruit global teams more effectively. We also spoke about trends in Armenia’s labor market, such as the influx of Russian tech workers and companies to Armenia. Lastly, Luiza shared with us her most recent initiative, FemPower, which has a mission of empowering one million women globally to pursue their careers and start businesses.

Seda Papoyan, founder of FemInno, a female innovation conference and platform, joins us to discuss her efforts in advocating for greater engagement from women in STEM fields. Seda shared the fundamental barriers girls face in entering STEM fields in Armenia. We also spoke about how FemInno has grown into an international initiative, with events taking place in San Francisco and Sydney, in addition to Armenia.

Hrant Davtyan, founder and CEO of Metric and Pinsight, joins us to discuss how his company is building open source LLMs that are able to conduct analytics and extract insights from documents. Pinsight’s product, Anania, allows users to speak directly with their data – asking questions such as how much revenue the company generated last month, or when was the last time a certain customer placed an order. Hrant also shared with us the journey of finding a product that can gain market traction in the era of generative AI, and his thoughts on what ideas are worth pursuing in the AI space.

Lilit Margaryan, the operations manager of Gituzh, joins us to discuss what the initiative has managed to achieve over the last three years. We also dive into the concept of national research and innovation systems, and discuss the prioritization of strategic scientific directions. Lastly, Lilit shares with us their upcoming initiative called Science Week, a week-long series of events that aims to promote science in Armenia.

Vahe Nigoghosian, the founder of EngineerX, joins us to discuss their efforts in building a mechanical engineering ecosystem in Armenia. Vahe shared their recent achievement of becoming an official partner of engineering software provider SolidWorks in Armenia, and the importance of building up a talent pool with expertise in using the system. We also spoke about Vahe’s experience doing business in Armenia, and what it would take to attract a Fortune 500 engineering firm to open an office in the country․

Martin Mirakyan, founder and CEO of Profound Academy, joins us to discuss how their educational platform helps institutions deliver personalized computer science education for their students. Martin explains how Profound Academy utilizes an interactive approach to education, including their use of AI to provide personalized help to students when they’re struggling to understand difficult concepts or complete challenging assignments.