10Clouds celebrates 15 years of innovation

As 10Clouds celebrates its 15th anniversary, we reflect on a remarkable journey of growth, innovation, and transformation. What began as a modest endeavor by two PhD students, Maciej Cielecki and Michał Kłujszo, working out of a small room, has since evolved into a thriving consulting, design, and software development company with a global footprint.

Throughout the years, we've built a reputation for excellence, expanding our services and staying at the cutting edge of software development, all while delivering world-class solutions to clients around the globe. But what truly sets us apart is the close-knit culture we've maintained, and the people who have contributed to our story along the way.

One of those people is Gosia Pietraszewska, who has been a key part of 10Clouds' evolution for the last seven years. Having joined as Head of People, Gosia's journey mirrors that of the company itself—marked by growth, leadership, and a deep understanding of what makes 10Clouds special. Over time, she took on the leadership of Sales and Marketing, broadened her experience in the commercial realm, and gained insight into all facets of the business as a Board Member. Now, in her first year as CEO, Małgorzata leads 10Clouds into its next exciting chapter.

To commemorate this milestone, we sat down with Gosia to discuss the company's journey, her personal experiences, and her vision for the future of 10Clouds.

Interview with Małgorzata Pietraszewska, CEO of 10Clouds

Gosia, can you take us back to when you first joined the company seven years ago? What were your first impressions of 10Clouds, and how has the company evolved since then?

In 2017, I came across an interview with 10Clouds’ former CEO, Maciej Cielecki in which he gave his perspective on the challenges and evolution of the tech industry. When I met him and the team in person, things developed very fast. I was immediately drawn in by this passionate group of innovators.

But 10Clouds' story began much earlier, and from the outset, the company was focused on delivering exceptional value for its clients. Founded by Maciej Cielecki and Michał Kłujszo while they were still Ph.D. students, 10Clouds was built on a simple yet impactful principle: technology could change the world, and they wanted to be at the forefront of that change. What truly set 10Clouds apart from the early days was its commitment to high-quality, client-focused development, paired with a strong sense of purpose.

Maciej and Michał believed that businesses deserved better treatment and stronger partnerships from their tech vendors. This drove them to build a company that prioritized humanism and respect for the people behind the code, which in turn attracted like-minded clients.

Even in those early years, 10Clouds gained recognition for its innovative approach and the value it brought to clients. The company wasn't just offering generic tech services; it was crafting customized, end-to-end solutions that catered to the specific needs of each client. They built in-house teams that specialized in everything from mobile and web development to machine learning, allowing them to deliver complex digital products with agility and precision.

This led to collaborations with a wide range of global clients, from startups to industry giants like Pinterest, Baidu, and Orange. What set 10Clouds apart was its ability to adapt to the unique demands of each project, ensuring that clients not only received top-tier technology but also felt supported throughout the process.

At the time I joined, 10Clouds was in its "teenage phase"—brimming with energy and ideas but needing a bit of structure. We were transitioning into a more mature organization with professional processes and management. Picture this: a two-person HR team hiring 30 people a month during a software boom. It was like trying to build a plane while flying it.

We had to boost our efficiency while navigating the challenging project of re-confirming our vision, values, and culture in the new reality so that it supported the company's strategic goals. I remember that time as a whirlwind of great people and projects.

By our tenth anniversary, we had grown up significantly. Then COVID-19 hit, throwing a curveball followed by an IT boom. We pivoted to specialize in blockchain, training the entire company and snagging the title of the best blockchain consulting company in the world in 2022.

The AI boom in 2023 was another curveball we hit out of the park. Today, we help clients innovate with AI and blockchain, mainly in education, healthcare, and fintech. We've spun off a separate entity specialized in delivering products for the financial sector, 10C Financial Institutions, and created our own AI product for enterprises, AIConsole.

Today we're leaner, more focused, and even more client-oriented. And now, we have a new CEO to lead us forward.

Looking back at the various projects 10Clouds has undertaken, which ones stand out to you as particularly memorable or impactful, and why?

M: Oh, this is a tough one! We've delivered over 500 projects, so picking a favorite is like choosing a favorite child. But let me give it a shot.

The Trust Stamp project showcases 10Clouds' ability to partner with innovative startups and drive impactful results. Trust Stamp, a pioneer in biometric identity protection, sought our expertise to support their ambitious R&D efforts. Over a five-year collaboration, our engineers helped develop cutting-edge solutions like the Proof of Liveness system, which uses machine learning to verify users' identities with a biometric hash, enhancing security against identity theft and improving compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations.

We’re also proud of our smaller, socially responsible projects like Smogdog and GlucoseMama. Smogdog is a mobile app we created to raise awareness about air pollution. It uses native machine learning models to predict air quality and is free to use. GlucoseMama, designed with moms in mind (and as a mother of three, this one hits home), is the first digital therapeutic system for gestational diabetes. It connects pregnant mothers with medical experts to make their lives easier and healthier.

Then there are our blockchain projects, which are in a league of their own. The designs for DCLEX, Crescent, and AlephZero are mind-blowingly beautiful. You can see the stunning effects of our seamless UX, product design, and branding on our website.

Each project, big or small, has its own charm and impact, making both our own journey at 10Clouds and our clients’ product journey incredibly diverse and fulfilling.

You originally joined 10Clouds as the Head of People. How has the company culture evolved over the years, and how do you maintain a strong sense of community as 10Clouds continues to grow?

M: Joining 10Clouds in 2017 was like stepping into a whirlwind of energy and ideas, but we knew we had to grow up a bit. So, we embarked on what I like to call our "conscious maturing process." We established professional processes, embraced extreme ownership, and brought in solid management. One of the highlights was reaffirming our mission, vision, and values, which was a year-long project engaging all teams finally unveiled with a bang at our company's 10th birthday party.

At 10Clouds, we live by six core values: Effectiveness, Humanism, Responsibility, Autonomy, Progress, and Creativity. These aren't just words on a wall; they guide us in our daily work and align with our mission to change the world through technology.

We also have some guiding principles that keep us on track and enable us to innovate. For example, we believe in taking the initiative without waiting for permission, and tackling problems head-on. We're also facts- and data-driven and responsive, making sure we acknowledge and act on communications promptly.

We practice Extreme Ownership, which means leading with humility, being aggressive but approachable, and balancing confidence with humility. We trust our team, avoid micromanagement, and always strive to improve.

We built a sense of community through organizing workations in lovely places, threw company-wide parties, and hosted hackathons and meetups. These days, with tighter budgets, we have to be more creative. We are finding unique ways to integrate people around our brand, goals, and identity. It's all about keeping that sense of belonging and shared purpose alive.

Today, we're leaner, more focused, and even more dedicated to generating value for our clients.

As CEO, I see my role as embracing a growth mindset, encouraging it within the team, and navigating our constant cultural evolution so that we could provide even more value to our clients. We're always adapting to market changes, economic demands, and the exciting possibilities AI brings.

This is your first year as CEO of 10Clouds. How does it feel to step into this role during such a milestone year? What excites you most about leading the company at this time?

M: Oh, it's been quite the journey! Stepping into the CEO role during such a milestone year has been both challenging and rewarding. The market context, with its economic slowdown and the emergence of AI, has certainly thrown some curveballs my way. But after seven years at 10Clouds, I wouldn't expect anything less. It's tough, but that's what makes it so rewarding.

We've had a challenging year behind us and hard work ahead, but I'm encouraged. Over the years, I've seen our great teams overcome multiple challenges and adapt to new market requirements successfully. We have many talented specialists and great teams at 10C, and I believe we can continue being successful.

My goal is simple but not easy: build long-term value with a competent and motivated team delivering great services to our clients. It is challenging, but this is exactly what excites me most. I thrive on the challenge of navigating complex business landscapes, identifying growth opportunities, and spearheading initiatives that deliver measurable results for our clients. I am motivated by the unique privilege to lead the company through the challenges of the current uncertain market environment, with uncovered opportunities and disruptive innovations lurking just around the corner.

What role do you see 10Clouds playing in the broader technology landscape in the coming years, especially as we navigate emerging technologies like AI?

I see 10Clouds as a real powerhouse in software development, product design, AI, and blockchain consulting. My goal is to lead our team to excel at generating value for our clients and making us a beacon of innovation in the tech industry.

I want successive clients to love us for the solutions that enhance their businesses and enable their teams.

In the coming years, I see us focusing on providing AI, blockchain, and branding solutions enabling startups and scaleups gaining a competitive edge, and helping enterprises accelerate and innovate their businesses and operations. We want our clients to shine on the market through our design.

When it comes to AI, we'll help other companies develop faster by integrating our white-label solutions, scaling up their businesses by helping them provide additional value for their clients, or making their operations more effective. Imagine customized company GPT solutions, chatbots, or voicebots that automate customer service or enhance corporate learning and development; or AI interfaces that streamline knowledge management or decision processes at all company levels. That's where we're headed. We're all about making tech work for people!

Thank you Gosia. It was great to hear so many stories about 10Clouds and our clients. Congratulations on your first year as a CEO and all the best to all our 10Clouders!

A collective journey of growth

Our journey has been defined by incredible projects, meaningful client partnerships, and numerous professional successes.

But this milestone isn't just about reflecting on these—it's about recognizing the collective effort of everyone who has contributed to the evolution of 10Clouds. We know that we wouldn’t have achieved any of the above without our clients, our partners, and most importantly – all the 10Clouders both past and present, all of whom have contributed to our journey.

Thank you for being a part of the 10Clouds story.