Katya Samotoi

Katya Samotoi Coaching

I help entrepreneurs with Bipolar and ADHD, just like you, to unlock their potential using personalised coaching and psychology without struggling with attention and focus.

ADHD Coach

In The Room

As the Growth Advisor at In The Room, I play a crucial role in driving the company's growth and success by focusing on innovative strategies that elevate our AI-driven platform, which bridges the gap between AI efficiency and human empathy in customer experiences. Reporting directly to the CEO, I'm an integral part of a team that's revolutionizing customer engagement.

Key responsibilities:

Strategic Vision: Shape the strategic direction of the company by identifying new opportunities, potential partnerships, and innovative ways to expand our market presence.

Data-Driven Decision Making: Analyze data and insights to inform growth strategies, ensuring In The Room continues to deliver exceptional value to our clients and their customers.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with team members across sales, marketing, product development, and customer success to drive growth initiatives and ensure alignment on shared goals.

Mentoring & Coaching: Share expertise and knowledge with the team, fostering a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and professional growth at In The Room.

Market Awareness: Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, technology advancements, and competitors to keep In The Room at the cutting edge of customer engagement and AI-driven solutions.

Building a Growth Mindset: Instill a growth mindset within the company, promoting an environment of innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement.

Friendly and approachable, I bring a unique and energizing perspective to the Growth Advisor role, making a significant impact on In The Room's journey to redefine customer experiences.

Growth Advisor

Magic

As a Growth Advisor, I play a pivotal role in driving Magic's growth strategy, fostering sustainable logistics practices, and enhancing profitability. I am committed to bridging the gap between sustainability and business success, leveraging data-driven insights to pioneer a greener future in logistics.

Key Responsibilities:]

Strategic Growth Planning: Develop and execute strategies to expand Magic's market presence, identify new business opportunities, and foster sustainable growth.
Partnership Development: Cultivate strategic partnerships with key industry players, enhancing our ecosystem and driving collective progress towards sustainability.
Data Analytics and Insights: Analyze market trends and logistics data to inform decision-making, optimize operations, and deliver tailored solutions to our clients.
Sustainability Advocacy: Champion the cause of sustainable logistics, demonstrating the tangible benefits of our solutions to the environment and our partners' bottom lines.
Client Engagement and Education: Provide expert advice and consultancy to businesses, guiding them towards more sustainable and profitable logistics practices.

Viceroy Group

As the Managing Director for a group of seven DTC brands, I played a pivotal role in driving growth and overseeing the operations across all departments. With a strong focus on teamwork and collaboration, I helped scale the company's revenue from $1,000 to a whopping $16 million – all while remaining bootstrapped.

Key responsibilities:

Operational Oversight: Ensured seamless functioning across all departments, driving efficiency and effectiveness in every aspect of the business.

Revenue Growth: Spearheaded the company's rapid growth journey, increasing revenue from $1,000 to $16 million, while maintaining a bootstrapped approach.

Team Expansion: Successfully scaled a remote team from just 4 members to a robust group of 42 professionals, fostering a collaborative and results-driven work environment.

Creator Agency Launch: Innovatively launched a creator agency focused on building brands for prominent creators and influencers, further diversifying the company's portfolio.

Cross-Functional Leadership: Led cross-functional teams to achieve shared objectives and drive business growth, establishing a strong culture of communication and collaboration.

Strategic Planning: Developed and executed strategic plans to ensure continued success and growth for the company and its brands.

As a dynamic and hands-on Managing Director, I was instrumental in the company's expansion and success, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and high performance across all departments.

Managing Director

As the Head of Growth for a group of seven brands, I successfully led the development and execution of omnichannel marketing strategies, branding, and content initiatives. My strategic vision and data-driven approach resulted in impressive revenue growth and customer retention rates.

Key responsibilities:

Omnichannel Marketing Strategy: Developed and implemented comprehensive marketing strategies across channels such as Pinterest, Meta, Quora, Native, and Google, driving brand awareness and growth.

Revenue Growth: Played a crucial role in increasing the company's revenue to $16 million through cold acquisitions across multiple channels, showcasing the effectiveness of our marketing efforts.

Branding and Content: Oversaw the branding and content creation for all seven brands, ensuring a consistent and engaging brand identity that resonated with our target audience.

Retention Initiatives: Successfully implemented retention initiatives, leading to a remarkable 40% return rate, demonstrating our commitment to building lasting customer relationships.

Performance Analysis: Continuously monitored and analyzed marketing performance metrics, optimizing campaigns and strategies to maximize ROI and drive sustainable growth.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborated closely with other departments to align marketing efforts with broader business objectives, fostering a culture of teamwork and shared success.

As an experienced and results-driven Head of Growth, I was dedicated to optimizing our marketing strategy, branding, and content efforts, ultimately leading to impressive revenue growth and customer retention rates for the group of seven brands.

Head of Growth

BrandRanx Media

As the COO of a leading advertising and marketing agency, I played a pivotal role in managing multi-million-dollar budgets and driving exceptional results for a diverse portfolio of clients. My strategic vision and operational expertise facilitated the growth of our remote team and contributed to the success of well-known brands.

Key responsibilities:

Budget Management: Oversaw the management of advertising budgets ranging between 8 and 9 figures, ensuring the efficient allocation of resources and maximizing ROI for clients.

Client Success: Worked closely with high-profile clients such as SNOW, STRONGER, OODIE, GOODIEANDCO, and others, delivering outstanding results that fueled their growth and brand recognition.

Team Building: Successfully expanded the agency from a 2-person operation to a full-time remote team of 20 professionals, fostering a collaborative and results-driven work environment.

Operational Excellence: Streamlined agency operations, implementing best practices and optimizing processes to deliver exceptional service and results for clients.

Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaborated with various departments to align efforts and ensure seamless execution of marketing and advertising strategies for our clients.

Agency Growth: Played a key role in the growth and development of the agency, establishing it as a trusted partner for a diverse range of clients and driving business expansion.

As a highly effective COO, I took pride in guiding the agency to new heights by managing substantial budgets, delivering outstanding results for clients, and fostering a collaborative and high-performing remote team.

Hi there!

I'm Katya, a growth-focused professional with a diverse background and over seven years of experience in managing and scaling businesses.

My journey has led me to some amazing accomplishments, such as:

* Driven revenue growth for 7 DTC brands that I managed from 0 to $16 million bootstrapped.
* Founded a ecom digital marketing agency and a brand management agency for 8 figures brands
* Have raised over $150K in 2 weeks for charity, led a network of 100 volunteers in Ukraine.
* Worked with clients like SNOW, STRONGER, OODIE, managing budgets up to 7 figures.

Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working with fantastic clients like SNOW, STRONGER, OODIE, GOODIEANDCO, and more, managing budgets up to 9 figures and building remote teams from the ground up. I'm always eager to take on new challenges and find innovative ways to help businesses grow.

But my passion doesn't stop with business growth. In response to the war in Ukraine, I co-founded DIDO, a non-profit organization aimed at reinventing and decentralizing charity systems. By leveraging my expertise in e-commerce and fundraising, I've been able to support a network of volunteers and create a new model of charity that benefits small businesses and the communities they serve.

My unique background, including finishing medical college and later transitioning to dancing, has given me a wide range of skills and experiences that I bring to my work. I believe that embracing our diverse interests and passions is what makes us truly unique and capable of driving positive change in the world.

In my spare time, I enjoy engaging in conversations about #mentalhealth, #impactdrivencommerce, #purpose, and #impact. I believe that sharing our thoughts, feelings, and emotions is crucial to fostering meaningful connections and driving positive change in the world.

#As I continue to embrace new challenges and opportunities, I remain committed to helping businesses evolve into impactful, purpose-driven organizations that make a real difference. Let's make the world a better place, together!

As the managing director my role was to oversee the operations of all departments for the 7 DTC brands.

Together with the team we grew from 1000 to 16m in revenue bootstrapped.

Scaled a team from 4 to 42 people remotely. 

I also launched the creator agency, where we build brands for large creators and influencers.

Baseline

A mobile app for individuals with bipolar disorder, offering an AI-powered chat for daily companionship, predictive insights from biometric data for better self-management, and personalized tools to empower friends and family in providing effective support.

Co-Founder

COA AI studio

We're revolutionizing business efficiency and customer engagement with our advanced AI solutions tailored for various industries. In just 4 weeks, we've helped multiple clients streamline their operations, cutting costs by up to 25% and reducing repetitive tasks by 16 hours a week. Our vision is to integrate intelligent, custom AI agents into businesses, enabling them to operate on autopilot while achieving better results and lower costs. With a passionate team of seasoned experts, we're poised to drive impactful change and innovation in your industry. Let's connect to discuss how we're leading the future of business automation and customer satisfaction with AI.

Partner

Techstars

Empower emerging entrepreneurs with the tools, insights, and strategies they need to succeed in the competitive world of technology startups. Leveraging my extensive experience in the tech industry, I offer personalized mentorship, helping young companies navigate the complexities of business development, tech innovation, and market strategies to turn their ambitious visions into successful realities.

Startup Mentor

Popup

When we started Popup back in October 2021, we knew we wanted to create something unique—a no-code platform that would give entrepreneurs and merchants more control over the customer journey. 

Our vision was to empower anyone, anywhere in the world, to build and run their online Popup Stores with ease and flexibility.

Raised 3.5m from Accel and Seedcamp to bring our vision forward.

Looking back at my time with Popup, it was an amazing journey filled with growth, learning, and collaboration.

Co-Founder and CMO

From September 2018 to November 2021, I was deeply involved in Viceroy Group, an exceptional e-commerce portfolio of 7 direct-to-consumer brands and an agency that builds brands for creators. Our ambitious mission was to become a billion-dollar company by positively impacting the lives of one billion people.

As a Co-Founder, I played a crucial role in shaping the vision and direction of our company. I firmly believed that our brands should represent more than just products; they should provide solutions and improve the lives and well-being of our customers. I was passionate about creating brands that not only met the needs of our customers but also contributed to making the world a better place.

Our motivation for starting Viceroy Group was rooted in the belief that businesses can and should drive positive change. We were dedicated to making a difference in areas like sustainability, charity, raising the minimum wage, education, and health. It was this passion for making a positive impact that propelled our company forward and fueled our success.

During my time at Viceroy Group, I had the privilege of working with an incredibly talented team of individuals who shared my vision for using e-commerce as a force for good. Together, we built brands that resonated with our customers and stayed true to our mission of changing lives.

Co-Founder and CMO (Exited)

Shopify Plus

I had the fantastic opportunity to work as an EMEA Strategic Merchant Success Manager at Shopify Plus, and I'd love to share a bit about my time there.

Based in the beautiful city of Galway, Ireland, I was responsible for managing a diverse portfolio of some of the biggest e-commerce brands in Europe and the Middle East. As an EMEA Strategic MSM, my role was to support and guide our clients through their e-commerce journey and help them reach new heights.

Working at Shopify Plus was an incredible experience that allowed me to connect with talented entrepreneurs and business owners from all over the region. I was able to learn from their successes and challenges, and in turn, provide them with the tools, strategies, and support they needed to grow and thrive.

During my time at Shopify Plus, I witnessed first-hand the power of e-commerce to transform businesses and create new opportunities. I was inspired by the stories of brands that started from scratch and grew to become household names, thanks to the power of Shopify's robust platform.

Being an EMEA Strategic MSM at Shopify Plus also taught me the importance of understanding the unique needs and preferences of different markets across Europe and the Middle East. I gained valuable insights into how to tailor e-commerce solutions to cater to diverse audiences and make a meaningful impact on their lives.

EMEA Strategic MSM

Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

From April 2008 to January 2013, I was based in Ireland and had the exciting challenge of coordinating and implementing marketing activities for the Viviscal brand in four different countries: the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Each country had its unique market dynamics and consumer preferences, so I had to constantly adapt and fine-tune our marketing strategies to achieve the best possible results.

My role as an International Marketing Manager allowed me to travel extensively, immersing myself in the diverse cultures and business environments of these countries. I had the pleasure of collaborating with local teams, understanding their perspectives, and tailoring our marketing approach to resonate with the local audiences.

One of the key aspects of my role was recruiting PR agencies and negotiating deals with publishing companies for events, TV, and print ads. This required me to develop strong relationships with various stakeholders and ensure that our brand message was communicated effectively across all channels.

International Marketing Manager

Lumen

As a Brand Strategist at Lumen, I had the fantastic opportunity to work with the corporate and consumer identity division, helping to define brand guidelines, tone of voice, and identity for some of the biggest companies out there, including Ferrero, Alfa Romeo, AC Milan, and Smirnoff Vodka.

Working with such iconic brands was truly an exciting and rewarding experience. I got to dive deep into the essence of each brand, understanding their unique values, goals, and target audiences. My role was to help them develop a clear and consistent brand identity that would resonate with their customers and set them apart from the competition.

Collaborating with a diverse team of creatives and professionals at Lumen, we tackled various challenges and developed innovative solutions to elevate each brand's presence and impact. Being part of this multicultural environment allowed me to learn from my colleagues' different perspectives and broaden my own understanding of branding strategies and global markets.

Working in the vibrant city of Milan, the fashion and design capital of the world, was truly inspiring. The city's creative energy and dynamic atmosphere fueled my passion for branding and design and further enriched my professional growth.

Brand Strategist

Dad.
Breakdancer
Occasional Entrepreneur


80's kid moved to New York as a pro-breakdance. Escaped to Australia to avoid deportation and picked up gigs as a fire-dancer in a travelling circus.

Moved back to europe into the corporate world. Climbed up in a Fortune 500 company, overseeing teams in 7 countries. Made quick money and spent them faster. First burnout and depression hit. 

Music was the next chapter. Produced 4 albums, toured 10 countries. It was intense, it was a blur.

Then came the startups. Launched a few. Some crashed, others soared – one hit £12M in 8 months, another £16M in revenue in one year. 

Ventured into venture capital. Raised £3.5 million from the big players. 
Not all went as planned, but that’s the game of venture. 

Now? I’m using my experience to mentor startups while building and AI for the future for mental illness.

Matteo Grassi

Two weeks of airports, overpriced coffee, and name tags.
Dublin to San Diego, San Diego to  Düsseldorf.

Two different universes.
San Diego at BHT2025 was mostly AI talk everyone pitching the future with a technology that has not proven much so far.

Düsseldorf at Medica was hardware, sensors, and machines.
85,000 people building the physical side of care.

And somewhere between the two, I realized something:
this trip felt different because Hana was different.

Before I left, we’d already made the call.
We stopped trying to be a platform.
Stopped trying to “own” the patient.
We stripped everything down to what was actually working: the rails. 

The part everyone needs but no one wants to build.
Voice-first engagement.
Straight into any system.
Plug-and-play instead of “please adopt our beautiful product.”

And the minute we did that?
Every conversation on the road suddenly clicked.

No more “great product but…”
Just: “Can we plug this into what we already have?”

Yes. You can. That’s literally the point.
And while I was wandering between conference halls:

We integrated into 2 platforms with 100K users
We started powering 4 clinics across 3 continents
We moved fully onto our own model
We published research
We pre-filed a patent

Our pipeline basically doubled because now we fit anywhere.
This is what happens when you stop trying to be the show and start being the power outlet.

Everyone’s building the appliances.
Not many are  building the grid.
So we are.

If you’re building in healthcare and need the rails underneath the part that actually keeps patients connected let’s talk.

3X Founder | Building the Voice That Keeps Patients in Care | Psychologist | My mum says I am special

I've been building companies for twenty years.
There are two types of founders. 
Only one survives what's coming.

Ok lets start with type 1. Sprinters.
Raise big. Scale fast. Exit clean.
Everything optimized for velocity and valuation.
When markets cooperate, these founders become legends. Press tours. Conference keynotes. The works.
Then capital tightens.
Layoffs. Down rounds. Desperate pivots to stay alive.
I've watched this happen across sectors (healthcare, fintech, SaaS, you name it). The architecture was never designed for adversity. It was designed to sprint in good weather.

The second type builds different.
Driven by co-creation. They're building ecosystems where everyone plays a part customers, employees, partners. Wealth generation is distributed. Success is collective. They don't feel entitled to all the glory just because they initiated it.
They're asking: what needs to be true for this to exist in 50 years?
They grow slower initially. 
But they don't collapse when the founder leaves or funding freezes.

This is not a choosing your type Linkedin post. 
Which type are you etc etc
You can use Type 1 fuel to build Type 2 durability.
But you have to architect it from the beginning.

Before you raise serious money, decide what's non-negotiable. 
Actually write it down.
Because once you're in the fundraising machine those incentives rewrite your brain. The pressure to optimize for the next round doesn't ask permission.

I tell founders to run two scoreboards.
Metrics VCs understand (ARR, growth, unit economics).
And metrics that actually predict survival (employee wealth creation, leadership depth, operational resilience without you).

Most companies only track one.
Distribute wealth early. Not as retirement theater.
Employee ownership means nothing if you wait until Series D when dilution makes it symbolic.

In AI right now, I'm watching this split happen in real time.
Founders optimizing purely for exits are raising faster. 
Getting more press.

Founders building actual infrastructure the kind of clients trust across years, not quarters they're moving quieter but deeper.

The question isn't which type is "better."
The question is: which game are you actually playing?
And which game do you want the world to start rewarding?

Because I think we're at an inflection point.
The companies that win the next decade won't be the ones that scaled fastest.
They'll be the ones that built something worth keeping.

What type of founder do you think gets funded more easily?
And what type do you think should?

taplio

The Battle

Katya Samotoi

Matteo Grassi

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taplio

The Battle

Katya Samotoi

Matteo Grassi

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Matteo Grassi's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreMatteo Grassi's LinkedIn Performance