“Slow but steady wins the race. Patience and hard work are essential, as is flexibility when facing potential changes.”
Vitaly Gerko Tweet
Welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview with Vitaly Gerko, the Chief Business Development Officer at Viqeo, where innovation meets experience in the dynamic spheres of AdTech and MarTech.
With over 15 years in the industry, Gerko navigates Viqeo’s global AdTech video platform through the ever-evolving landscape.
Beyond his role at Viqeo, he extends his expertise as a mentor to startups and explores the frontier of Web 3.0 technologies as a limited partner at True Global Ventures. This multifaceted approach positions Gerko as not just a leader but a visionary shaping the future of digital technology.
In this detailed conversation, Gerko shares insights into Viqeo’s transformative journey, focusing on the game-changing article-to-video format. This innovation has not only elevated Viqeo’s standing in the industry but has also garnered attention from major publications, highlighting its impact on content creation.
Gerko delves into the nuances of employee satisfaction, entrepreneurial wisdom, and the critical yet often overlooked aspects of effective company management.
As we traverse through the interview, Gerko’s reflective gaze offers a nuanced understanding of the challenges and triumphs of the recent years, providing a roadmap for businesses aiming to thrive in the dynamic landscape of 2023.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Vitaly Gerko: Thank you for having me! I am excited to be here today to talk about Viqeo, a global AdTech video platform enabling publishers to create engaging videos using AI and ML technologies, as the Chief Business Development Officer with over 15 years of experience in the AdTech and MarTech industries.
With an additional five years of mentoring startups in product management, advertising technology, and unit economics, I drive innovation in our company.
I am also a limited partner at True Global Ventures, focusing on Web 3.0 technologies, crypto, and blockchain projects, as well as a co-founder and CPO of the OTM AdTech platform,an award winning and top-ranked MarTech and AdTech platform which was sold to Veon Group in 2021.
At Viqeo, we aim to help publishers create engaging videos that boost traffic, engagement, and revenue, as video is the future of publishing. Our platform uses innovative technologies to analyze website content, including images, and convert it into engaging video content.
For example, we can convert a popular article with several pictures into a personalized video of one to two minutes that automatically highlights the key points using parsing and ChatGPT. Additionally, our platform offers a range of monetization options, enabling publishers to generate revenue from their video content through advertising, sponsorship, and direct sales.
The success of Viqeo is evident in its impressive clientele, which includes renowned publications such as Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Esquire, and Business Insiders, among others.
These esteemed brands have recognized Viqeo’s ability to transform content into captivating video experiences that resonate with their target audience.
In the past year, what is the greatest business achievement you’d like to celebrate with your team? Please share the details of that success.
Vitaly Gerko: Great question! In the past year, launching our article-to-video format was our most significant business achievement at Viqeo. Our solution stands out from its competitors by addressing the issue of monotonous voice-overs and offering publishers several advantages, including high-quality video options (In-Stream, Pre-roll, and Mid-roll), consistently high demand, and the ability to leverage existing non-video content.
The growing trend of article-to-video is supported by compelling statistics: In Q2 2023, online videos recorded an audience reach of around 92.3% among internet users worldwide. This data demonstrates the increasing demand for video content and the potential of our article-to-video format to transform how content is consumed.
Following the trend of video as the future of advertising, Viqeo’s revolutionary article-to-video format utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning to comprehend the article’s content and analyze the page’s visitors.
This allows advertisers and brands to extend their reach to a larger and more relevant audience by transforming existing content into a video emphasizing key points, supplemented by a voiceover that we plan to enhance using AI and machine learning to deliver more personalized and engaging experiences.
What advice do you wish you had received when you started your business journey and what do you intend on improving in the next quarter?
Vitaly Gerko: Reflecting on my personal and professional development, I would remind myself of a meaningful quote: “Slow but steady wins the race.” Patience and hard work are essential, as is flexibility when facing potential changes. This advice often implies that consistent and effective effort leads to success.
Regarding business, the quote signifies understanding your client, identifying problems, and learning how to plan and execute. Most entrepreneurs experience this through a learning and adaptation process, an integral tool for determining a business model and building an MVP.
I have lived by this philosophy throughout my career, especially as the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of the OTM AdTech platform since 2014. The platform, built on our technological developments, automates and plans online advertising procurement processes.
This reflects my commitment to innovation and belief in technology’s power to solve real-world problems. In 2021, our company was sold to Veon Group, a testament to the success of our team and our vision for the future of online advertising. Hence, slow but steady indeed wins the race!
In the upcoming quarter, my objective is to learn and develop persistently. I will focus on trusting my instincts and maintaining patience despite facing challenges. I aim to enhance my execution skills and deliver tangible results. I am confident I can further expand my business and reach my entrepreneurial goals by adhering to these strategies.
Online business keeps on surging higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for the year to come and how are you capitalizing on the tidal wave?
Vitaly Gerko: I am approaching the upcoming year with great enthusiasm. In particular, I reckon with sustained growth in e-commerce, retail, and content, leading to new and innovative advertising formats.
For example, Generative AI and related technologies are gradually being incorporated into these sectors, which will continue in 2024.
At our company, we plan to capitalize on this trend by further developing our video platform and exploring opportunities in AdTech. Specifically, we anticipate that publishers, major brands, media, and streaming services will increasingly adopt formats we can participate in and offer optimized monetization opportunities, underpinning our business model and further developing our tech platform.
Additionally, we are working on new features that will allow publishers to create and monetize interactive video content, and we are partnering with various publishers, streaming services, and media outlets to develop targeted advertising campaigns.
Among the brands we work with are Harper’s Bazaar, Business Insider, MAXIM, Hearst Corporation, and Esquire.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as THE real challenge right now?
Vitaly Gerko: One of the biggest challenges facing the text-to-speech and audio article industries today is the monotonous voice, which can be tedious and challenging to listen to, especially for users not looking at the screen.
Furthermore, audio articles are limited exclusively to audio advertising, a market significantly smaller than the overall media advertising market. This is reflected in the often lower ad placement costs for audio advertising than other types in the United States.
Our breakthrough technology addresses these challenges by adding animations to video content, making it more visually appealing and engaging for users.
For example, the platform can highlight key points in the article or illustrate complex concepts by generating short video summaries of articles of any length. This is ideal for users who want to consume information visually or who do not have time to read the entire article.
Moreover, Viqeo’s solution provides publishers with a new monetization strategy, enabling them to include video ads, like pre-roll and audio advertising, within their content.
In your experience, what tends to be the most underestimated part of running a company? Can you share an example?
Vitaly Gerko: In my experience, the most underestimated part of running a company is building a culture of mutual trust and respect, vital to creativity and innovation.
For example, our company has an open-door policy that encourages employees to come to us with questions or concerns. This has helped us establish a team comfortable sharing new ideas and taking risks with the perspective of respect, understanding, and empathy.
Another important factor is setting clear and measurable goals, which helps to keep everyone focused and aligned on the company’s objectives.
When everyone knows what they are working towards, it is easier to stay focused and motivated. For instance, we set quarterly defined and measurable goals and track our progress on revenue, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement metrics. This keeps us on track and allows us to make adjustments as needed.
Finally, it is crucial to create a culture of learning and development. This helps employees stay engaged and motivated, leading to increased innovation and profitability for the company. For example, I always encourage my team to listen to each other, learn from each other, research together, think outside the box, and develop new and innovative ideas.
It’s vital not to concentrate on just a few projects, as this can limit our scope. Interacting with individuals across various industries offers fresh perspectives and enhances leadership skills, which is critical for a successful company.
What does “success” in 2023 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Vitaly Gerko: My definition of success in 2023 involves achieving a harmonious balance between personal growth, family development, and business progress.
Success extends beyond financial gains — while revenue and net income are crucial to business success, they don’t comprise the entire picture.
I focus on acquiring new skills, planning a family vacation with my children, and kick-starting a new business venture. My success is embodied in the equilibrium of these enriching experiences.
If I, my business, and my family are all thriving, I am successful — that’s my vision of happiness.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Vitaly Gerko for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Vitaly Gerko or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
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