🇺🇦 From Ukraine to the U.S.: My Journey in Tech

I was born and raised in Kharkiv, Ukraine — a city known for its engineers, universities, and quiet determination. My passion for technology started early. By the time I graduated with a Master’s degree in System Programming and Software Engineering, I had already begun working full time as a developer, building systems from embedded microcontrollers to scalable e-commerce platforms.

Before moving to the U.S., I spent several years traveling the world — gaining global perspective, experiencing different cultures, and working remotely on diverse tech projects.

In 2020, I moved to the United States to deepen my skills and study English professionally. I enrolled in a program at LanguageOn Miami, not only to improve fluency but to better collaborate in international teams and expand my career. I used that time to focus on self-study, build personal prototypes, and start shaping the vision for my own platforms.

Then in February 2022, the war in Ukraine began. My home city of Kharkiv was under attack. Friends and family were sheltering from bombs. And while I was physically safe in the U.S., emotionally, it was devastating. That moment shifted something in me. I realized I couldn’t wait for permission, funding, or the “perfect moment” to build what mattered. I had to move forward — for myself, and for everyone who couldn’t.

Between 2023 and 2024, I worked with 23andMe, contributing to backend development, system modernization, and infrastructure improvements.

Today, I’m the solo founder and full-stack engineer behind two projects that reflect everything I’ve learned over the last 15+ years:

• SKYC – A digital platform offering web hosting, e-commerce, booking, payments, and education tools in one unified ecosystem. Built with Ruby on Rails, TypeScript, React Native, and Docker.
• IO SMART HUB – A privacy-first smart home system with custom hardware, mobile apps, and AI-powered automation. I prototype the devices myself, write embedded C/C++ code, integrate voice and vision models, and deploy cloud infrastructure using AWS, MQTT, and Docker.

Alongside these ventures, I’ve continued to improve my skills and deepen my expertise — refining architectures, testing new technologies, and constantly iterating on ideas to create the best possible products.

This journey — from Kharkiv to Miami, from conflict to creation — taught me that the most meaningful tech doesn’t come from comfort. It comes from conviction. From using your skills not just to build features, but to build a future.

To anyone watching from a place of doubt or distance: you can start where you are. You can build with what you have. And no matter how uncertain the world may seem — you have the power to shape your part of it.

Posted on June 6, 2025

– Artem Solianyk
Founder of SKYC & IO SMART HUB | Full-Stack Engineer, Builder, Dreamer