Projects Experience Skills Credentials Contact Hire me

Building
digital
products

I'm Maxim Smirnov — a founder from Moldova who turns market gaps into real products. Sharp eye for opportunities, fast execution, zero traditional code required.

Maxim Smirnov
2
Products launched
4
Languages spoken
100%
AI-powered builds

Products I've built

I identify gaps in the market and build products to fill them. Here's what I've shipped so far.

Digital Agency

VAN7 Moldova

Moldova's first dedicated digital agency connecting local brands with modern marketing. Founded to close the gap between Moldovan businesses and professional digital presence — from brand identity to full-scale campaigns.

Marketplace

Freelance Moldova

The first free freelance marketplace built for Moldova — connecting local talent with clients. Live with real registered users. Spotted an empty niche, built the platform, grew the community from zero.

Who I am

I'm a product builder from Moldova — someone who gets genuinely excited about spotting problems that don't have good solutions yet.

My edge isn't writing code. It's seeing the gap before anyone else, moving fast, and using the right modern tools to ship something real that people actually use.

I'm fluent in 4 languages and comfortable working across Eastern European markets. I think about growth and monetisation from day one — because a product that doesn't sustain itself isn't really a product.

Languages
UAUkrainianNative
RURussianNative
GBEnglishFluent
RORomanianConversational
01
Opportunity first

I start with the market, not the idea. If a real gap exists and people feel the pain — that's where I build.

02
Speed over perfection

Using AI and no-code tools I move faster than traditional teams. A live product beats a perfect spec every time.

03
Distribution is the product

Getting users is harder than building. I treat growth, community, and retention as core features — not afterthoughts.

04
Built to sustain

Every product I build has a revenue path designed in from the start. Free can be a strategy — dependency isn't.

What I bring

Sharp product thinking, fast execution, and the ability to speak to users, stakeholders, and markets in four languages.

Market Discovery

Spotting underserved niches before they become obvious. Two Moldova-first platforms nobody else was building.

Rapid Execution

Idea to live product in weeks. AI-powered workflow that beats traditional dev timelines consistently.

Product Thinking

User needs, feature prioritisation, roadmap decisions. I think like a PM and ship like a founder.

Growth & Distribution

Building audiences, community, and retention loops. Getting people to come back is the real product.

4 Languages

Ukrainian, Russian, English, Romanian. Cross-market communication without friction.

Monetisation Strategy

Revenue models, pricing logic, sustainability. Every product I touch has a business model baked in.

Experience

Beyond my own products — professional work and collaborations.

Content Writer & Junior Editor
ITC.ua Tech Media
2026 · 3 months

Covered daily technology news across AI, gadgets, research, and digital innovation for one of Ukraine's leading tech publications. Managed content lifecycle in WordPress CMS — from research and writing to publishing and SEO optimisation. Developed a systematic approach to sourcing credible information fast, turning complex technical topics into accessible content for a broad audience. Published consistently across weekdays and weekends under editorial deadlines.

Credentials

Recognised participation in international programmes and initiatives.

GRYN Ukraine Youth Action Fund Certificate
Women's Refugee Commission · Global Refugee Youth Network · Norwegian Refugee Council

GRYN Ukraine Youth Action Fund

December 2023 – April 2024

Led and managed the implementation of a community project under the GRYN Ukraine Youth Action Fund — an international grant programme supporting youth-led initiatives. Coordinated the English Clubs "Mimosa" project providing accessible English language learning to underserved communities. Responsible for fund management, project planning, team coordination, and reporting to international stakeholders. Participated in leadership workshops organised by the Global Refugee Youth Network.

Project Management Fund Management Community Leadership International Reporting

Let's work together

Looking for a product-minded PM, a digital entrepreneur, or someone to launch something new in Eastern Europe? I'm open.