She Got Rejected by Google. Then They Funded Her Startup.

Victoria Kravchenko never imagined she’d be an entrepreneur. As a child in Ukraine, her first experience with business was selling unique flavors of Pringles to classmates, a venture borne of necessity rather than ambition. Yet, from those modest beginnings, Victoria has carved an unexpected path to founding Verba, a startup that’s capturing hearts and markets in the content creation space.

The journey to entrepreneurship was neither straight nor simple for Victoria. Despite her admiration for companies like Google, which she saw as world-changing entities, creating a startup seemed a formidable dream. Her ambition was straightforward: become a product manager at Google, a goal she pursued with fervor despite an inkling of insufficiency. “I didn’t think I was the ‘right fit,’” Victoria admits, outlining the formidable fear that almost kept her from starting Verba.

The pivotal shift came during her rigorous preparations for a position at Google—a role she ultimately did not secure. In the process of learning, strategizing, and developing her skills, Victoria identified a gap: the lack of effective AI tools for adding subtitles to videos. This unmet need, which personally pained her in producing her own blog content, became the seed for Verba. A rejection from Google serendipitously opened the door to a different path, leading her to envision and build a solution desperately needed by content creators like herself.

Launched in January 2024, Verba was initially a part-time project. Throughout the development, Victoria faced the challenges all entrepreneurs fear: the balance of a full-time job with the demands of a fledgling business. Yet, reviews from early users and a viral echo among creators began to fuel their growth. The transformation from concept to company didn't happen in a vacuum. Support came in a powerful form—Google’s own startup program. Receiving non-equity funding and mentorship from Google not only validated Verba’s potential but poignantly closed the loop with her earlier ambitions.

Under Victoria’s guidance, Verba has grown richer in both scope and capacity. What started as a simple subtitle tool is evolving into an all-encompassing suite for content creators, addressing everything from script generation to AI-enhanced editing. “We don’t want to replace creators,” she stresses. “We're here to help them keep their uniqueness, to iterate faster.” This ethos of empowerment rather than displacement is central to Verba’s philosophy and value it brings to its users.

Today, Verba’s impact is measurable with nearly $50,000 in monthly recurring revenue, a milestone that reflects not just financial maturity but market trust and value. This success story stands as a beacon for other Ukrainian startups and has positioned Victoria as a speaker on the global stage, where she now fundraises to scale Verba’s influence worldwide.

Reflecting on her journey, Victoria remains motivated by more than just profit. The potential for Verba to make a meaningful difference across businesses globally invigorates her mission. “It’s not about the money,” she asserts. “Helping millions of businesses, the thought of that makes me truly proud.”

In an era where technology often races to replace the human touch, Victoria Kravchenko and Verba are a vital reminder: the most innovative solutions honor the distinctiveness and creativity of those they serve.

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