SoftServe

File:SoftServe Headquarters Lviv.jpg

=== Early years ===

SoftServe was founded in 1993 in Lviv, Ukraine. Started by two post-graduate students of Lviv Polytechnic,{{cite news|last1=Hawkins|first1=Lori|title=Offshore tech company moves headquarters from Florida to Austin|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/business/offshore-tech-company-moves-headquarters-from-flor/ngS4P/|access-date=28 January 2015|publisher=American Statesman|date=26 June 2014}} it began as a software development company with headquarters in Lviv. The company was initially supported by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Incubator Center and its first known client was General Electric.{{cite news|last1=Olearchyk|first1=Roman|title=Tapping into Ukraines' virtual workforce|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/business/tapping-into-ukraine39s-virtual-workforce-976.html?flavour=mobile|access-date=28 January 2015|publisher=Kyiv Post|date=24 May 2000}} The company opened its first office in the United States in 2000. SoftServe was instrumental in building Microsoft Bird's Eye service in 2004. It used the same concept that was later used by Google for its Google Street View. For its work on the project, SoftServe was invited to speak at Microsoft's annual conference where it was used as an example of business applications that could be built by technology corporations.

=== Expansion and educational initiatives ===

In 2006, SoftServe founded SoftServe University. It became the company's corporate training program for improving developers and retraining specialists.{{cite news|last1=Hydzik|first1=James|title=The rise and rise of Ukraine IT|url=http://c.softserveinc.com/unkrainian-dialogue-interview/Interview-Taras-Vervega-Ukrainian-Dialogue.pdf|access-date=28 January 2015|publisher=Ukrainian Dialogue|date=24 October 2012|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210626/http://c.softserveinc.com/unkrainian-dialogue-interview/Interview-Taras-Vervega-Ukrainian-Dialogue.pdf|url-status=dead}} Based in Ukraine, it also offers international IT Professional certificates to employees who complete the program. With the launch of SoftServe University, the company became the first to establish a corporate university in Ukraine.{{cite news|last1=Arapetyan|first1=Anton|title=Unique Models of Corporative Training and HR Development|ssrn=1528922|publisher=Social Science Research Network|date=28 December 2009}} In 2008, SoftServe also founded Lviv Business School at Ukrainian Catholic University.{{cite news|last1=Bender|first1=Yuri|title=Lviv aims for ethics and expertise|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ace65f08-0cf9-11df-a2dc-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3Q9VIINpY|access-date=28 January 2015|publisher=Financial Times|date=31 January 2010}}

=== Growth and acquisitions ===

SoftServe opened its United States headquarters in Fort Myers, Florida in 2008 and began holding an annual conference.{{cite news|title=Ukraine unrest hits Fort Myers firm|url=http://newsinfl.com/ukraine-unrest-hits-fort-myers-firm/|access-date=28 January 2015|publisher=Florida News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223171312/http://newsinfl.com/ukraine-unrest-hits-fort-myers-firm/|archive-date=23 February 2015}} By 2012, SoftServe was one of the largest IT outsourcing companies in Ukraine with 2,189 employees, third only to EPAM Systems and Luxoft.{{cite news|last1=Куцый|first1=Валерий|title=Украина имеет все шансы превратиться из IT-колонии в метрополию (Ukraine has all chances to become IT-colony of the metropolis)|url=http://forbes.net.ua/opinions/1341801-ukraina-imeet-vse-shansy-prevratitsya-iz-it-kolonii-v-metropoliyu|access-date=28 January 2015|work=Forbes|date=9 November 2012|language=ru}}

In 2014 SoftServe moved its United States headquarters from Florida to One Congress Plaza, in Austin, Texas{{cite news|last1=Calnan|first1=Christopher|title=Florida tech services company relocates HQ to Austin|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/techflash/2014/06/florida-tech-services-company-softserve-relocates.html?page=all|access-date=27 January 2015|publisher=Austin Business Journal|date=27 June 2014}} (The company had previously operated an office out of Austin since 2013 and officially moved its headquarters to One Congress Plaza in 2014.{{cite news|last1=Calnan|first1=Christopher|title=SoftServe CEO to hire hundreds|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/print-edition/2014/07/04/softserve-ceo-to-hire-hundreds.html?page=all|access-date=28 January 2015|publisher=Austin Business Journal|date=4 July 2014}}) The same year SoftServe opened offices in London, Amsterdam, Sofia, Wroclaw, and Stockholm.{{cite web|title=SoftServe Opens New Development Centers in Poland|url=http://www.iteuropa.com/?q=softserve-opens-development-centres-poland|access-date=16 February 2015}} The same year its employee base climbed to 3,900 employees Also in 2014, the company acquired Amsterdam-based tech services firm Initium Consulting Group BV.{{cite news|last1=Primack|first1=Dan|title=Deals of the day: Wickr raises $30 million|url=http://fortune.com/2014/06/26/deals-of-the-day-wickr-raises-30-million/|access-date=28 January 2015|publisher=Fortune|date=26 June 2014}}{{cite news|title=SoftServe поглъща две европейски компании (SoftServe absorbs two European companies)|url=http://technews.bg/article-74099.html#.VMk_sC70eXc|access-date=28 January 2015|publisher=Tech News|date=19 September 2014|language=bg}} (Founded in 2012 and served mainly healthcare and private equity industries.) SoftServe also acquired European IT company UGE UkrGermanEnterprise GmbH.

In 2015 SoftServe opened a new European headquarters in Lviv, Ukraine.{{cite news|title=SoftServe разширява присъствието си в Европа (SoftServe expands its presence in Europe)|url=http://computerworld.bg/46670_softserve_razshiryava_prisastvieto_si_v_evropa|access-date=28 January 2015|publisher=Computerworld|date=19 September 2014|language=bg}} It also organized an event in San Francisco, California along with IT professionals from Ukraine and members of the Ukraine consulate to address concerns about the country's operations in light of the geo-political situation in Ukraine.{{cite news|last1=King|first1=Rachel|title=Consulate Pitches Ukraine as Outsourcing Destination in Spite of Conflict|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2014/07/24/consulate-pitches-ukraine-as-outsourcing-destination-in-spite-of-conflict/|access-date=28 January 2015|publisher=Wall Street Journal|date=24 July 2014}} The same year the company named Chris Baker as the new CEO, taking over the role from Co Founder Taras Kytsmey.

In January 2017, SoftServe acquired Wroclaw-based Coders Center, for between $1.5 million and $3 million.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theubj.com/news/view/ubj-am-news-jan-20-2017|title=UBJ AM News: Jan. 20, 2017|access-date=2017-09-28|language=en-US}}

=== Recent events ===

In September 2020, the company was targeted by a ransomware attack, in response SoftServe shut down many of their internal systems to try and stop the spread of the virus. SoftServe says there is no evidence that the virus spread to customers' systems, and most of SoftServes internal systems were back online in a few hours to a few days. The hack resulted in bits of unfinished customer source code, and other information being shared on the internet. The individual who claims to be behind the hack, 'Freedomf0x', also published fragmented personal information of about 200 individuals, but whether this information is linked to SoftServe employees is unclear.{{cite news|last1=Abrams|first1=Lawrence|date=10 September 2020|title=SoftServe hit by ransomware, Windows customization tool exploited|publisher=Bleeping Computer|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/softserve-hit-by-ransomware-windows-customization-tool-exploited/|access-date=1 October 2020}}{{cite news|date=17 September 2020|title=SoftServe data breach|publisher=ain.ua|url=https://ain.ua/en/2020/09/17/softserve-data-breach/|access-date=17 November 2020}} The attack targeted the company by exploiting the Windows tool Rainmeter. In response to the breach SoftServe partnered with multiple cyber and data security firms, and instituted new security policies.{{Cite web|title=SoftServe hit by ransomware, Windows customization tool exploited|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/softserve-hit-by-ransomware-windows-customization-tool-exploited/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=BleepingComputer|language=en-us}}

File:SoftServeKharkiv.jpg

Around 2013 the company began large-scale growth. It opened new offices in the United States, Poland, London, Amsterdam, Sofia, and, Stockholm{{Cite web|date=2014-09-16|title=Softserve opens development centres in Poland|url=https://www.iteuropa.com/softserve-opens-development-centres-poland|access-date=2020-12-29|website=ITEuropa|language=en}} and began a still running (as of 2020) greater-than 20% per year growth streak. About the same time it reached $100 million in yearly revenue.{{Cite web|url=https://www.softserveinc.com/en-us|title=SoftServe Home Page|access-date=2020-12-29|website=www.softserveinc.com}} In the following years SoftServe also purchased Initium Consulting Group BV and UGE UkrGermanEnterprise GmbH. Chris Baker was named the company's new CEO as growth continued as the company opened more offices in the United States and Europe. In In 2018 the company revenue was estimated to have surpassed the $250 million mark.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sitsi.com/softserve-targets-1bn-it-tackles-innovation-challenge|title=SoftServe Targets $1bn as it Tackles Innovation Challenge|access-date=2020-11-18|language=en-US}} By the end of 2020, despite the global pandemic, the company grew by at least 20%, reaching an estimated $450 million in revenue. The company is targeting a yearly revenue of $1 billion by 2025.{{Cite web|title=SoftServe to top 20% growth in 2020 {{!}} PAC – a teknowlogy company|url=https://www.sitsi.com/softserve-top-20-growth-2020|access-date=2020-12-29|website=www.sitsi.com|language=en}}

SoftServe is a software application development company as well as consulting firm. Its services include software optimization, software as a service, cloud computing, mobile, UI/UX, analytics, and security. It provides its services mainly in the healthcare, retail, and technology. One of the "SoftServe Business System" divisions also releases its own products, which are specially designed for Ukraine in order to find new technological solutions in IT. SoftServe has continuing partnerships with: Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft, Salesforce, Apigee, and other organizations.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Our Partners|url=https://www.softserveinc.com/en-us/our-partners|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-29|website=www.softserveinc.com}}

Since 2004, SoftServe has been a member of the Microsoft Partner Ecosystem and was a finalist for the global Microsoft Partner of the Year in both 2006 and 2007. The company was recognized for the same award in 2008 and 2009 in Eastern Europe.{{cite news|title=Microsoft Recognizes SoftServe, as Partner of the Year|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aS8gEwkxUgwE|access-date=28 January 2015|publisher=Bloomberg (press release)|date=23 July 2009}}{{cite news|title=Microsoft Recognizes SoftServe, Inc., as Partner of the Year 2009 in Central and Eastern Europe|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-204752159.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329183606/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-204752159.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 March 2015|access-date=28 January 2015|publisher=Computer Weekly News|date=6 August 2009}} SoftServe has continued to receive recognition from Microsoft, including by Microsoft Ukraine in 2012 for Partner of the Year, for Innovation in Business Analytics.{{cite web|title=SoftServe Again Achieves Multiple Competencies in the Microsoft Partner Network|url=http://itonews.eu/softserve-again-achieves-multiple-competencies-in-the-microsoft-partner-network/|website=IT Outsourcing News|access-date=28 January 2015}}

The company has won additional awards throughout the industries, including being named to the Global Outsourcing 100 list in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015.{{cite web|title=2015 GO 100 Alpha Listing|url=http://www.iaop.org/Download/Default.aspx?ID=2401|website=Iaop.org|access-date=18 February 2015}}{{cite web|title=Awards|url=http://www.softserveinc.com/en-us/awards/|website=SoftServe Inc. official website|access-date=28 January 2015}} In 2010 SoftServe was named as Ukraine's Best Employer by Hewitt Associates and in 2011 named as Best Employer in Eastern Europe.{{cite web|title=Achievements of Ukrainian IT Outsourcing Market Players|url=http://hi-tech.org.ua/achievements-of-ukrainian-it-outsourcing-market-players/|website=Ukrainian High-Tech Initiative|access-date=28 January 2015}} In 2019, SoftServe ranked seventh out of more than 130 Western European companies in the Clutch software development category.{{Cite web|url=https://itukraine.org.ua/en/clutch.html|title=IT Ukraine Association - Clutch|last=Agency|first=Volta|website=itukraine.org.ua|access-date=2020-01-24}}

• Ciklum
• DataArt
• Eleks
• EPAM
• Infopulse Ukraine

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Category:Software companies of Ukraine

Category:Outsourcing companies

Category:Software companies established in 1993

Category:Economy of Lviv

Category:Economy of Austin, Texas

Category:Companies based in Lviv