The company PK Komputer is specialized in the development of accounting and management software for commercial applications. Founded in 2008, the company is already operating in two groups in two different cities, and serves clients in all over the Russian Federation. As of May 2008, PK Komputer employes 9 people. The key strength of PK Komputer is product development, which does not only integrate staff but also clients and external experts.
This interview was conducted with Anatoli Evgenevich Potapov, Owner and CEO of PK Komputer.
Is this the first company that you have started, and what drove you towards it?
This is not the first company I have started. The company developed out of previous activities of the founders and partners in the ICT field.
How did you finance your start-up operations, and how long did it take for the company to become self-sustainable?
The company start-up was financed by a mix of personal resources including family resources and credits. We reached break-even very fast - just after two months.
What are your major products and services and how are they unique? What is your competition?
Our major products are software solutions for commercial applications, mainly for accounting and management. Since we integrate both our software engineers and programmers and our clients and further experts in product development, we achieve to combine these resources for excellent customized solutions for our clients. As an example, for new software developments we very often organize seminars and round tables with our clients and experts for generating the input needed for excellent software solutions. We are not alone in this market, but with a high quality and customer orientation and integration of clients in the development process, we are unique in our region.
How did you first launch the product?
We used our existing contact network as well as seminars, round tables, and congresses.
How do you measure the success of the company?
Since excellence in product development and delivery is a key objective and asset of our company, we also measure indicators in innovation development, service quality and client satisfactory, besides classical indicators like revenues, profitability and so forth.
Who are your clients and how many do you have? How are you focusing on expanding your user community?
Today, we have more than 20 clients. Our main focus sectors are producing industries, the construction sector, as well as trade and agriculture. We permanently use print advertising but also organize seminars, round tables and other events to attract more clients. Our client focus is Russia.
Are you planning to patent your product and do you see any obstacles in doing so?
Yes, we plan to patent our software solution. We did not start the process yet though.
What was the biggest challenge in starting an innovative business in your country and how did you overcome that?
Besides the technological challenge to choose the right platform for our software, we experienced the biggest challenges in human resources development as well as in innovation development. For our company, the development of software solutions always means to be innovative, and this also requires the right mindset and skills among our employees. We address this issue by full integration of programmers as well as clients in the development process of the product.
Who are the shareholders in your company?
My wife and I.
How have you benefited from business incubation?
First of all, the Tambov Business Incubator provided us with facilities and equipment. What was equally important was the incubator support for our product development seminars and round tables, and their help in providing us with important contacts.
Do you have some specific lessons that you know now and wish you would have known when you started your business, and which you would like to share with fellow entrepreneurs?
My main experience and lesson learned is that all areas in the company have to be of the highest possible quality. This does not only include the product but also the facility and equipment, our experts, our corporate culture - such as how to answer the phone or how to behave and dress at the office. Only when all these elements work together with the same mission of highest quality, we will achieve to provide our clients with excellent solutions.
Do you plan to internationalize your product and if so, how?
Our company is not yet active abroad, but we currently consider providing clients in other countries with our software solutions. Our focus would be on the producers of consumer products.
With hindsight, are there any particular lessons or messages that you wish you would have known when you started up your company?
There are no specific experiences or lessons I could share, but the understanding of the processes in the company as well as a full understanding of the product is very important already at the start-up stage in my opinion.
Do you feel that you had the necessary advisory and support network when you started your company?
Yes, there was sufficient information and counselling available for us, especially once we joined the business incubator.
What is your message to funders/supporters and what is your message to the users of your product?
Our founders and supporters I would like to thank very much for their support and assure, that the investment was well spent. My message to our users is, that our vision and mission is to permanently improve the performance and quality of our software solutions, with the objective of excellence. This excellence is our mission, and will be the benefit of our clients.