Ostap Vykhopen’, Co-founder and CTO of Mantis Analytics and a graduate of the UCU Business School’s Master in Technology Management program (Class of 2024), has over 20 years of experience in IT outsourcing. His journey spans from launching a volunteer initiative to support Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council at the onset of the full-scale invasion to building a global deep-tech startup that now collaborates with NATO StratCom, defense ministries across Eastern Europe and NATO member states, and leading U.S. universities.
How do you transform a volunteer-driven marathon into a sustainable business model? How do you shift from a service mindset to a product-oriented approach? And how can a business school ecosystem help attract investment? Read our interview with Ostap Vykhopen’ to find out.
From Supporting the State to Recognizing Business Potential
– Ostap, Mantis Analytics emerged in March 2022 as a volunteer response to the challenges of war. How did the transition happen—from a “marathon of support” for Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council to realizing that this should become a business?
It happened organically, but very quickly. In 2022, I enrolled at UCU Business School. For me, that decision felt similar to entering a specialized mathematics and physics high school back in the 1990s—it was preparation for a world that was only beginning to emerge.
During my studies, I was approached by my future business partner, Maksym Tereshchenko. Together, we realized that our volunteer initiative focused on combating disinformation had tremendous potential. By late spring 2023, we sat down, signed a founders’ agreement, and decided to transition the project onto a business track.
– You spent more than 20 years working in outsourcing. How did studying at UCU Business School help you shift from a service-oriented mindset to a product mindset?
The impact was transformative. Before business school, my thinking was centered around delivery: someone would bring me a client, and my job was to execute as effectively as possible.
UCU Business School exposed me to the entire business-building process—from A to Z. It provided the framework, environment, and mindset for creating something from the ground up. I realized that in a startup, you have to create value yourself, understand the impact you are generating, and think much more ambitiously.
Bringing Structure to Chaos
– In your master’s thesis, you described the transformation of Mantis Analytics in detail. Which parts of the program became the “building blocks” that helped bring order to the company’s processes?
At first, we operated in what I would call “volunteer chaos”: twenty people, each contributing in their own way and on their own schedule. To build a business, we needed clarity about the product we were creating, ownership of responsibilities, and a sustainable operating model.
Several courses were particularly valuable. Alex Shehda’s IT Strategy course, as well as modules on R&D and Product Management, helped us establish a strategic foundation. Valerii Pekar’s courses, for example, helped me systematize my understanding that the world had become fundamentally less stable and that organizations must learn to adapt to constant change.
– You also introduced the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) methodology within the company. Was that a result of your studies as well?
You could say that my studies laid the foundation for my knowledge. I had been familiar with OKRs before, but it was at UCU that I learned how to apply them effectively. Today, we set strategic objectives on a monthly and quarterly basis and hold regular planning sessions. These practices help us stay focused and aligned.
Community as the Greatest Asset
– You often mention that the most powerful tool at UCU Business School is not only the classroom experience but also the community itself. How did the UCU ecosystem support you in the early stages?
The community is the school’s “hidden superpower.” It is a network of people who inspire you and challenge you to grow. Our first investor was Adrian Slywotzky, a visionary who has inspired generations within the UCU Business School community. His belief in us was a major turning point. After our pitch at IT Arena, we were informed that we had secured a $50,000 investment. That investment became a powerful signal to other venture funds that Mantis Analytics was a company worth backing.
Even after graduation, those connections remain strong. I still speak with my thesis advisor at least once a month. We have informal gatherings with classmates and an active alumni chat. It is a living network of advice, expertise, and support that continues to create value long after the program ends.
From Ukraine to the Global Market
– Today, Mantis Analytics is much more than a tool for countering disinformation. It has evolved into an AI-powered platform for simulating the impact of geopolitical risks. Who are your clients today?
We help organizations anticipate the consequences of strategic decisions, particularly those affecting supply chains. In professional terms, this is referred to as simulation-based analysis. Our AI platform enables organizations to assess how events such as tariff escalations, wars, political crises, or disinformation campaigns may impact the availability of critical resources, supplier reliability, and the condition of strategic assets. These simulations can be conducted at multiple levels—from geopolitical scenarios involving nation-states to local operations and individual suppliers.
Our clients include a major Canadian defense company, security service providers in the United States and the United Kingdom, a Ministry of Defense of a NATO member state, and leading think tanks across Europe and North America. We also work closely with our partner, the New Lines Institute, whose expertise in the field is invaluable. At Sam Houston State University in the United States, our platform has become an integral part of an academic course. We collaborate with universities such as Johns Hopkins SAIS and Georgetown University, and we regularly conduct training sessions and workshops in partnership with NATO StratCom and the Institute for War and Peace Reporting.
Advice for Future Entrepreneurs
– What advice would you give to UCU Business School students who are trying to transform volunteer initiatives into sustainable businesses?
My main advice is simple: find your first paying customer before you find your first investor.
A paying customer without external funding is the strongest proof that your value proposition is real and works in the market. Secondly, do what you genuinely enjoy, keep learning continuously, and remain adaptable. The old world of stability is behind us, and success increasingly belongs to those who can learn and evolve the fastest.
