Elena Prochaskova: When public and non-public sectors welcome your company, things get easier

Elena Prochaskova, Director in Cyprus Office at JetBrains, tells us how the software development company came to open its office on the island and, albeit moving at a much slower pace, how welcoming the local business community has been.

Can you tell us more about your company, when you were established in Cyprus, and how many offices/members of staff you currently have?

JetBrains has a long history. This year, we celebrated our 23rd birthday. We have offices in Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Serbia, Armenia, the USA, and China. The idea to open an office in Cyprus had been in the air for some time, and in 2022 we finally incorporated an entity here.

In Cyprus, we currently have 2 offices in Paphos, and the new Limassol office is about to be opened.

What do you believe sets your company apart from its competition?

We are a privately owned company that succeeded in the software development industry with zero external investment, even when we have a giant like Microsoft as one of our main competitors.

I believe the key is in our passion for software development and building great products, along with the fact that most of our team members are developers by trade. We have a flat structure and little bureaucracy, which allows newcomers to do meaningful tasks and take responsibility from day one.

We deeply understand the problems faced by our community and how we can solve them by providing better tools. We make software development more productive and fun, and that’s why users love our products.

How has your experience of doing business in Cyprus been, and would you recommend it to other foreign interest companies looking to relocate?

I would describe our experience in Cyprus as encouraging. Interest from the Cypriot government and the incentives they are offering cannot remain unnoticed. Doing business here seems easier than in many other EU countries. With the assistance of a reliable consulting partner, one can kick off a relocation project relatively quickly.

The Cypriot government’s interest in foreign investment in the tech sector is undeniable. Cyprus Invest, for instance, was created to improve the business climate. They are in constant contact with us and other businesses to ensure they receive feedback and help companies overcome any obstacles they might face. Alongside government institutions, local businesses actively support newly relocated companies as they foresee new business opportunities.

When both public and non-public sectors welcome your company, things get easier. That being said, you must get used to a somewhat slower Mediterranean tempo.

What is your view of your sector (locally and globally), as it is today, and its growth potential?

One cannot imagine today’s world without smartphones, computers, or the internet. Applications surround us, help us with everyday matters, and entertain and connect us. Every day new ideas yearn to get implemented, and tools for creating applications need to keep pace with these needs. As many of our activities shift into a digital world, I think tech in general, and software development, in particular, are inseparable parts of our future. As this area is heavily dependent on human creativity, making these tech professionals happy and comfortable is essential.

Where do you see your company in 5 years? Are there any immediate plans for your company you can reveal to us today, such as new products, services, or plans for expansion?

In 5 years, I see our company being settled in Cyprus just as well as in the other locations we opened last year. This is what we are focused on now. The goal is to ensure that working for a company based in Cyprus is an aspiration for both Cypriot employees and those coming from abroad.

Recent studies show that there are around 27 million professional developers worldwide. As of now, 16 million of them use our tools. Our community of users has been expanding at a good pace, and we want it to keep growing.

As for new products and services, we never stopped creating them. We have recently launched brand-new products, including Space, our complete software development platform that combines collaboration with team and project management. And some very exciting products for software developers, like Qodana and Fleet, are in public preview and will be released soon.

How much focus do you put on CSR and being part of the local community?

Social responsibility is an integral part of JetBrains’ culture.

We strive to attract the best talent, and smart people are conscious of the world around them. The main pillar of our approach to social responsibility is our focus on education and community. Our extensive community programs enable many groups to use our products for free. Students, teachers, and developers of open-source projects have access to JetBrains tools at no cost. Last year, more than 1.5 million students and around 100,000 teachers worldwide benefited from this opportunity. We've always been a big contributor to the open-source community and to multiple projects that act as a foundation for programs and services used by consumers and businesses alike.

We hope to set an example for other companies choosing to relocate to Cyprus. From our experience in other countries, I’m sure we are destined to succeed.