Interview with CEO of Syberry

SelectedFirms in an Exclusive Interview with Timour Procopovich, CEO of Syberry Corporation

 

1.  What made you decide to start Syberry, and what are the company's core values and mission?

 

We were driven by a simple yet powerful idea right from the start. We noticed that many projects in the software development industry were falling short of their expected timelines and budgets, unlike projects in more established industries like aerospace or construction. We realized the lack of transparency, accountability, standardized processes, and knowledge sharing was to blame.

 

Whenever a new team took on a project, they had to start from scratch, reinventing the wheel each time. That's when it hit us — we needed to build those standard processes and gather knowledge so that projects could continue smoothly even if a team member was on vacation or left the company. We needed to speed up the software development industry's maturation.

 

Our mission at Syberry is to advance the industry by promoting this process of standardization and knowledge sharing. We want to bring a positive change to the Software Development Life Cycle that will benefit everyone involved.

 

Regarding our core values, we didn't want to create a long list that no one would remember. We wanted something simple yet comprehensive. That's why we settled on a single value that truly captures the essence of who we are — being helpful. Everyone at Syberry embodies this value by going the extra mile to solve our clients' problems. Whether it's our Business Analysts researching off-the-shelf software options or our Software Engineers actively communicating suggestions for improvements, we strive to be proactive and truly helpful in every aspect of our work.

 

2. Can you share some of the most challenging projects that Syberry has undertaken, and how did the company overcome those challenges?

 

Since 2014, we've completed over 150 projects across multiple sectors. These include a business intelligence platform for a leading Fintech player in the US market, E-commerce for the automotive industry, and a custom ERP for a large manufacturer. It is challenging to pinpoint the most demanding project, as each comes with distinct complexities.

 

Our clients often have specific challenges, whether limited budgets, tight timelines, lack of qualified resources, or intricate scopes. But you know what? We love those challenges, and we've become masters at striking the perfect balance between all these limiting factors.

 

How do we overcome these challenges? It combines expertise, effective communication, meticulous planning, and agile project management. Our team knows how to tackle even the most complex projects with a problem-solving mindset. We collaborate closely with our clients, staying in constant touch to ensure we deliver results surpassing their expectations.

 

3. In your opinion, what are the key trends that are currently shaping the software industry, and how is Syberry adapting to these trends?

 

We are constantly adapting to emerging trends while collaborating with our clients. Three prominent trends that have emerged recently are

 

• the pursuit of cyber security,
• the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI), and
• the drive to maximize software development efficiency

 

Regarding cyber security, we have recently embraced DevSecOps engineering as our approach. We prioritize the creation of secure, observable systems and even establish pipelines with supply-chain security when necessary.

 

While AI is in low demand from our clients due to many factors like security and the end-result quality, we acknowledge its immense potential. Powerful algorithms can perform remarkably complex tasks like predicting financial market trends. Although we haven't integrated AI extensively into our software thus far, we remain open to exploring its applications when needed.

 

The quest to maximize development efficiency is a relatively recent trend in software engineering. Syberry has been one of the pioneers working in that direction since 2019. Our dedicated team is responsible for developing tools, processes, and reusable components that empower our software engineers. Our goal is to reach a point where our engineers focus solely on delivering the most unique and valuable software pieces for each client while leveraging the existing resources provided by the platform team.

 

By staying adaptable and responsive to these trends, we ensure that Syberry remains at the forefront of innovation in the software industry.

 

4. What sets Syberry apart from other software development companies, and what are some of the company's unique strengths?

 

Clients who have worked with other vendors have highlighted Syberry's attention to detail, flexibility, care, responsiveness, and helpfulness as distinguishing factors. Being a smaller company allows us to provide a customized approach to each client. Our teams work on projects long-term and genuinely care about the success of our client's businesses.

 

5. What are some of the long-term goals and ambitions that Syberry has for the future, and how does the company plan to achieve these goals?

 

Syberry's overarching goal is to advance the software engineering industry. In pursuit of this goal, we have set a SMARTer goal of building software more effectively than an in-house team of software product companies.

 

Our goal is to show that our teams, even though they're not full-time employees, offer the same high-quality service and dedication as an in-house team would, but at a more affordable price. Our strategy involves continually refining our processes, fostering knowledge sharing, and leveraging our expertise to exceed client expectations.

 

6. How do you prioritize customer needs and requirements when developing software?

 

At Syberry, we separate customer business needs from technical requirements and prioritize the former over the latter. We understand that customers may have specific requests, but our engineers are responsible for suggesting the best solutions. By identifying the underlying needs, we can provide optimal recommendations that address the customer's challenges effectively and efficiently.

 

7. Can you speak to the company culture at Syberry and how it contributes to the business's success?

 

Syberry's company culture revolves around the core value of being helpful. This culture fosters a supportive and proactive environment where every employee is dedicated to solving client issues. This commitment to our client's success has contributed to our achievements as a business.

 

8. What are your thoughts on the recent buzz surrounding "ChatGPT"?

 

Regarding custom software engineering, ChatGPT can be a helpful tool for generating friendly user texts, requesting instructions, or troubleshooting code problems. Many Syberry team members utilize ChatGPT for quick text composition and problem-solving. Junior engineers also find it helpful to seek guidance.

 

However, ChatGPT still needs to replace even a junior software engineer, and you should always prioritize information security while using ChatGPT.

 

9. As a CEO, how do you motivate and inspire your team to achieve their best work?

 

At Syberry, we foster a culture that avoids excessive emphasis on C-level managers. I do not need to motivate the team, as Syberry teams are truly independent. Their internal interactions are filled with positive feedback and support. We emphasize providing encouragement and hiring individuals who genuinely enjoy their work and are driven by a desire to help others.

 

10. You've been in this sphere for a long time. What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start a successful software development company?

 

I always recommend two books to Syberry employees and industry employees: "Out of Crisis" by W. Edwards Deming and "The Advantage" by Patrick Lencioni. These books have provided valuable insights into industry maturation and organizational health.

 

Regarding practical advice for software engineering entrepreneurs, I suggest empowering each team to make autonomous decisions. Avoid becoming a large company where every small decision is centralized and dependent on higher-level management.

 

Additionally, establish a centralized system for storing knowledge and processes across teams. Syberry has a dedicated platform team focused on collecting and utilizing such data. Find a solution that works for your company, as having a centralized knowledge repository is crucial to avoid inflexibility as the company grows.