Arnold Schwarzenegger’s speech at the Synergy Global Forum in Russia a few years ago was made accessible to a 20,000-strong audience through an app called Verspeak, which provides real-time translation into Russian. Founded in 2020, Verspeak’s online simultaneous interpretation platform has gained traction, being utilized at over 3000 events and B2B meetings worldwide, including high-profile conferences like Google I/O. With more than 500 active clients, the company has grown significantly, with 40% of its business now originating outside Russia.
Fedor Khatlamadzhiev, Chief Business Development Officer at Verspeak, emphasizes that the platform, designed by interpreters for interpreters, focuses on ease of use for both interpreters and listeners. The service has a simple front-end accessible through an app or browser, while its back-end relies on complex technology involving WebRTC servers for reliable audiovisual signal transfer.
The key founder, Ruslan Musin, who won Russia’s Startupper of the Year competition in 2019, developed the back-end system based on WebRTC servers. The platform enables real-time broadcasting of sound and video with a minimal delay of just 0.2 seconds. Verspeak is currently beta-testing a new video-conferencing system to be launched alongside professional interpretation services.
Verspeak boasts a talent pool of over 3000 interpreters managed by a technical team of 10. To support its international expansion, the company plans to hire approximately 100 people in the next 12 months, focusing on sales, marketing, and technical roles. Alena Melnikova, Chief Operating Officer, will lead the Helsinki-based headquarters and oversee team growth.
Emphasizing the advantages of relocating to Helsinki, Melnikova highlights Finland’s efforts to attract startups. The company’s management team, including Ruslan Musin, Alena Melnikova, Fedor Khatlamadzhiev, and Ilya Timoshkov, visited Helsinki earlier this year. Business Finland facilitated a quick startup permit process, and individual residence permits were obtained within a few months, showcasing Finland’s convenience and attractiveness for international startups.