It’s been two months since we had a chance to sit down and interview the people who both work at and with Truss, but this time we managed to corner our CTO and Founder Farrukh Umarov to get a founder’s perspective on global remote hiring. He had a lot to say about his home country of Uzbekistan and himself, but mostly we dove deep into global remote hiring and why Uzbekistan has been such a good fit for our clients.
As the Co-Founder and CTO—Why Truss?
Where are you from originally?
Uzbekistan
How did your tech career and connection to the US begin?
Fifteen years ago or so I was working as a freelance developer in Uzbekistan on a variety of projects. During that time I met Eric Hoopman who was building a tech company in the automotive industry that was based in the United States. As our collaboration grew, we decided the next step to grow the business was to grow the team. My connections in the region and the tech talent in the surrounding countries led us to build a global team there.
How was that process of building a global remote team?
It wasn’t easy. There is so much back-office and administrative work required when setting up an entity in another country so you can hire there. It was worth it because the people we brought into the team were the people we needed to grow a successful business. But I wasn’t able to spend as much time being a software developer, which is where my passion is.
It sounds like you learned a lot in that process, how has that inspired Truss?
Yes, after working for 15 years with overseas engineers and experiencing firsthand what goes into opening entities in other countries, we knew we could help other high-growth companies hire compliantly and reap the benefits of global talent with a lot less effort and risk.
Truss helps remove the barriers that can take up leaders’ time and energy. Our work provides companies of all sizes the ability to focus on their products and what they do best, without having to worry about hiring the right talent.
Beyond the time and resources, trust cannot be underestimated when it comes to setting up an entity. Establishing connections and networks with people you can trust helps ease the legal and financial complexities of the process.
You have close ties to Uzbekistan, how has the IT industry changed there in the last decade?
In recent years Uzbekistan has taken huge steps to incentivize its IT community with investments in infrastructure and education. They also have the lowest tax bracket in the region, which makes it an attractive option for companies.
The current events in the region have accelerated all of Uzbekistan’s plans. In just the last few months around 5,000 IT professionals have migrated to Uzbekistan. The country used to have visa requirements but has now removed those barriers, and no work permit is required.
The government-sponsored IT park in the capital city of Tashkent is much like Silicon Valley. The IT park provides physical space and resources for companies looking to establish a team in Uzbekistan but also for companies who already employ talent in the region.
How do you see Truss fitting into the future of IT in Uzbekistan?
It’s my home country so of course I want to find ways to support and give back to it by helping to grow IT there. In the process, we’ll be able to help other entrepreneurs utilize the benefits of Uzbek talent. It is small in comparison to other countries, so many people may not know or be aware of the talent there. Ultimately our goal within Truss as well as our larger Lincoln Labs company is to help the IT community thrive.
What other countries are you most interested in launching Truss into in the future?
We’ll look to expand further into Eastern bloc countries. There is the benefit of shared languages with that, making collaboration easier. We’re always looking for new opportunities to expand.
What has been your most exciting Truss memory so far?
One of our clients had a lot of problems finding a React developer. They were getting (maybe) one candidate per month with very little traction. After hiring Truss, they were surprised at the number of quality candidates available in Uzbekistan. They were getting such an influx of candidates they could hardly keep up. Within a few weeks, we successfully helped them hire the best fit for the position.
What’s been the biggest challenge Truss has overcome?
Opening entities in each country is a long and complex process. Tax and compliance hurdles are a normal part of the operation. Even though we have a lot of experience,, it is still very challenging. Also, we’re still a startup, so growing awareness of a new brand is always challenging.
Truss is About People, Share a Little More About You
What’s your favorite Uzbek food?
Pilaf. The original, authentic version is really hard to make though. Usually only special chefs can do it well, and extremely large pots are needed.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
I love visiting new places, and there are so many to choose from. One place I’d love to visit would be Georgia, because of the food and homemade wine.
Favorite work time snack?
Depends where I am. Here in Oshkosh, WI, sweet (sugar coated) almonds.
One way you love to spend your time?
Biking great trails. My favorite trail to ride is Palo Duro Canyon in Amarillo, TX.
What We Can Learn From Farrukh
Truss is about bringing together entrepreneurs and the tech talent they need to build their ideas from scratch or to grow them to the next level. You don’t have to go through the struggle of creating your own entity to hire in growing markets like Uzbekistan. You can work with a trustworthy partner like Truss.
