Yurii Diachenko

From market trading and product sales to VIP transportation

My name is Yurii Diachenko, and I provide VIP transportation for people to destinations around the world.

My entrepreneurial journey began with working at a market, where I sold strawberries and blueberries. I also resold sneakers, and later, together with my team, developed a product business. We created Ukraine’s largest Telegram channel and reached high sales volumes within two years. But we sold the project, and I took on a new venture: passenger transportation.

The idea for a transportation company came from the need to travel abroad legally. We needed a vehicle weighing up to 3,5 tons for this. At first, we planned to buy a van for our own needs, but saw an opportunity to use it to transport people as well.

We decided to get one or two premium vans and try to build a business around them. That was how Capital Transfer began. Today, the team has 20 people, and our main routes are Warsaw and Chișinău.

Fast marketing and a strong team

What key skills helped you launch your business? 

For me, the most important were fast marketing and a strong team.

It is important to quickly test what works and allocate funds wisely. If you see results, you need to double down on that area instead of spending time on lengthy deliberations.

From knowing nothing about cars to understanding the technical side

What were the 3 most difficult challenges you overcame in the first years of operation?

The first challenge was that I knew nothing about cars. I didn’t know how engines worked, what could break, or even the names of some parts. I had to learn on the job. Gradually, I developed a better understanding of the technical side of the business.

Another ongoing challenge is a shortage of drivers. 

Marketing as the main driver of growth

What decisions proved most effective in growing the company?

Marketing has driven the most growth for me. I am willing to invest heavily in it when I see results.  It is important to me to test different approaches quickly, find the right directions, and allocate funds where they work best.

From my first earnings to $100 000 in the product business

How did you earn your first $100?

I picked and sold strawberries

How did you earn your first $1 000?

I earned my first $1000 reselling sneakers.

How did you earn your first $10 000?

I earned my first $10 000 by working at the market and selling blueberries. My brother and I planted blueberry bushes, grew the berries, and sold them. 

How did you earn your first $100 000?

I earned my first $100 000 through Telegram and the product business. By then, we were already handling large sales volumes.

How did you earn your first $1 000 000?

Still working on it.

I can share my experience in marketing, rapidly testing different approaches, and finding areas worth investing in. I can also talk about my experience in product-based business and high sales volumes through Telegram.