Valentyn Oleksandrovych Tkachenko

At 15, working at a sawmill — then an online lawyer for every driver

I am Valentyn Tkachenko, an entrepreneur from the village of Moshny in Cherkasy Raion, and the founder and owner of the company «Atlant24». My professional journey began with an early desire for independence: at 15, I earned my first 100 dollars working at a sawmill. Later, I headed a sales department, where I achieved my first significant financial result.

The turning point came when I left my salaried job — that was when the idea emerged to create a service where a lawyer is always available to drivers online: quickly, conveniently, and affordably. Seeing the shortcomings in interactions between police and drivers, I set out to give people effective tools to protect themselves and feel confident on the road.

That is how «Atlant24» came about — a service specializing in legal consultations and defense in road-related disputes, helping clients resolve issues quickly and get back to work without unnecessary delays.

My entrepreneurial mindset took shape through developing skills in scaling sales departments, building effective business processes, and implementing referral channels. At the same time, my personal values were shaped to a great extent by my wife and the example set by Yevhen Cherniak.

Today, I live in Vinnytsia, am growing a team of 30 specialists, and continue to improve our sales models, paying particular attention to service quality and ethical interactions with clients.

Drivers needed protection — I created an online lawyer subscription

How did you come up with the business idea?

The business idea came from a desire to provide every driver with reliable and affordable legal protection. I wanted to create a service where a lawyer is available online through a subscription — quickly, conveniently, and effectively. I saw a real need among drivers and was also guided by my own convictions, because I disliked what was happening on the roads in interactions between police and drivers.

Scaling sales, referral channels, and the ability to negotiate

What key skills helped you launch your business?

Key skills included developing and scaling sales departments, building effective sales processes, and experience developing referral channels. Communication skills and the ability to negotiate also played an important role.

A monopolist, scaling without a budget, and finding new sales funnels

What were the 3 most difficult challenges you tackled in the first years?

The main challenges included competition in a market long dominated by a single monopolist, the need to scale the company, and growing the business without a budget for targeted advertising.

A competitor used illegal tactics — we responded with referral sales

What crises has your business faced, and how did you overcome them?

The business faced fierce competition from a monopolistic company that sometimes used unethical and illegal tactics to exert pressure. In response, I chose a different approach to growth — focusing on referral sales and finding new, effective sales funnels.

Scaling the sales department and continually refining scripts

Which decisions proved most effective in growing the company?

The most effective decisions were scaling the sales department and focusing on the quality of customer service. Another important factor is the ongoing search for the optimal sales model, working on scripts, and improving sales techniques.

Rushing decisions slows business down — planning and analysis matter more

Which of your mistakes do you now consider your most valuable lesson?

The most valuable lesson for me was that I had rushed into decisions. This often hindered the effective development and scaling of the business. Over time, I understood the importance of a measured approach — planning, analysis, and considered action.

From working at a sawmill at 15 to a team of 30 specialists

How did you earn your first $100?

I earned my first 100 dollars at the age of 15, working at a sawmill.

How did you earn your first $1 000?

I earned my first thousand dollars working as a head of sales.

How did you earn your first $10 000?

I earned this amount through my own business during its first phase of active growth.

How did you earn your first $100 000?

This became possible by scaling the company, increasing sales, and expanding the customer base.

Sales departments, CRM, and referral channels — my practical expertise

Your experience: how do you systematize a business?

Building and scaling businesses, and setting up sales departments. Finding and building channels for referral sales.

In my case, delegation and regular analysis played a key role. Essential tools included telephony, a CRM system, as well as systematic analytics and reporting.

Use as many sales funnels as possible, analyze their effectiveness, and strengthen the best-performing ones

Your experience: how do you grow x2 in a year?

To achieve this result, I recommend using as many sales funnels as possible, analyzing their effectiveness, and strengthening the best-performing ones. It is also important to actively sell your products or services and continually improve your sales approaches.