What’s it like to work at Brainence? Our culture, values, and people-first approach

Brainence turns 9 this summer. We’re now old enough (but still, forever young) to pause, look back, and see which milestones and moments shaped the company.

We’ve got plenty to be proud of: from edtech and healthcare platforms that truly make a difference, to senior engineering teams that consistently deliver client products on time and on point.

But all of that is just the result — a very logical outcome of the team we’ve built and the culture we’ve naturally created that’s kept us going and glowing. A culture where people stick together, tackle challenges head-on, and treat every new phase as an adventure.

Read on as we share (and proudly brag about) what makes us Brainence.

The story behind Brainence: from two friends to a thriving software company

It’s as simple as that: back in 2016, two friends — Andrii Kornytskyi and Ivan Dochynets — started with a project of their own. Eventually, the project required more and more talent and niche expertise. So they brought together their friends who were just as hungry for challenge and driven to create exciting, meaningful solutions.

Their tiny two-desk office no longer matched their ambitions. When searching for a new space, the name for the company sign came quickly — we knew the word “brain” had to be front and center. We wanted to highlight our strongest asset. And that’s how Brainence was born.

Here’s how we introduced ourselves to the market in 2016: “Brainence is a young team of professionals in outsourcing and software development services with dedicated and experienced developers who provide web and mobile development from scratch”.

As the team grew, so did our expertise, expanding into dedicated teams of niche senior tech talent, web, mobile, SaaS, and customization development. Today, we offer end-to-end services — from UI/UX design and QA to DevOps — covering everything startups, mid-sized businesses, and enterprises need.

We asked our CEO, Andrii Kornytskyi, to reflect on the original goals behind Brainence — and whether they still hold up today. His answer? They do.

“Brainence was never just about work — it’s a part of life. We spend so much time here that relationships matter, not just as colleagues but as friends. From the start, people have been the top priority. We’ve always done everything we can to support our team and protect their roles, no matter what.

When it came to processes, our goal was never to copy ‘by-the-book’ frameworks that didn’t fit us. We started simple — to make everyone’s life easier and boost productivity. Processes evolved over time, but the priorities stayed the same: people, speed, and focus.”

— Andrii Kornytskyi, Co-founder and CEO

Nine years, 50 experts, and five offices later, we know exactly what got us here. Which brings us to…

Our core values

It all starts with one word: people.

Most of us have been here for 3–4 years. Some have stayed since day one. That kind of consistency is rare, and it’s a big part of what makes Brainence feel like more than just a job.

Over the years, we’ve learned that when you put people first — your team, your clients, your users — everything else falls into place. Better ideas, stronger delivery, fewer late-night Slack messages. When work feels worth showing up for, good things follow.

“For us, trust isn’t an abstract value — it’s a daily practice. Inside the team, it shows up through openness, honest feedback, and genuine care for each other. We don’t shy away from hard conversations or mistakes, and we’re always there to help each other grow. It’s all about building warm, human relationships. We check in, celebrate the small wins, and go through tough moments as one team.

That same mindset applies to how we work with clients. Clear communication, transparent processes, promises kept. We dig into not just the tech task, but the business context too — so we’re not just delivering a solution, we’re part of the journey.

At the end of the day, our goal is simple: make the collaboration work for the team and for the client. That’s how you build real success.”

— Anna Vasylko, COO

Everything starts with trust. The kind of trust you earn by being straight with each other every day. Whether it’s client feedback, a missed deadline, or a big win, we keep it honest. No micromanagement, just real conversations: regular all-hands for the big picture, 1-on-1s for what matters personally.

But trust alone doesn’t create momentum. Fun matters, too. And we’re not talking forced fun or team-building bingo, just being around people you genuinely like. A shared joke on a call and chill Friday lunch go a long way.

We also know that great work doesn’t come from burnout. That’s why work-life balance isn’t just a line in the handbook — it’s how we work. You set your hours, you log off when you need to. You take care of your people and yourself.

Learning is another non-negotiable. We’re curious by nature, always picking up new tools and experimenting. Whether it’s a formal course or just time to explore something new, we make space for growth.

And finally, we’re not here to build a team of lookalikes. We’ve got different backgrounds, beliefs, working styles. That’s the point. We listen and learn from each other, making better decisions because of it.

Work-life balance and flexible workspace

We don’t believe productivity depends on being tied to a desk. Great work happens when people have the freedom to focus, think, and recharge on their own terms.

That’s why Brainence has been remote-friendly long before it was trendy (or mandatory). Today, we work across different time zones, countries, and setups: some from home, others from our Lviv office, for those who prefer whiteboards and coffee breaks with teammates.

But flexibility isn’t just about where you work, it’s about how. You want to log in early and wrap up by 4? Go for it. Need a break mid-day for a walk, a kid pickup, or just your brain? Do it. We trust people to manage their time and get the job done, without micromanagement.

And when life happens (because it does), we adjust. Sick day? Family emergency? Burnout creeping in? Say it, and we’ll find a way through. That’s not a perk, it’s just how you treat humans you respect.

We believe you do your best work when you don’t have to pretend everything’s fine. So we build teams where people can speak up, take real time off, and come back better.

Career growth that goes beyond perks

Career growth at Brainence doesn’t mean a ping pong table and a course subscription. (Though we have the course subscriptions, minus the ping pong.)

We’re talking about real progress that shows up in your skills, your confidence, and your pay stub.

From day one, you’re trusted with ownership. Whether you’re building architecture from scratch or joining a long-term product team, you’re encouraged to shape how things are done, not just follow specs.

We work with clients who expect excellence and give our people the room to rise to it. That includes exposure to multiple industries (healthcare, e-commerce, edtech, and more), evolving stacks, and the kind of challenges that keep you sharp. And if there’s a tool or domain you want to master, we’ll support that with mentorship, resources, and hands-on projects that stretch your skills.

“We’ve always supported and encouraged our team’s drive to grow professionally. That hasn’t changed — only the ways we inspire that growth have evolved. Whether it’s covering half the cost of courses, sending people to international tech events and conferences, or celebrating team members who lead tech talks and workshops, we keep investing in people who invest in their craft.”

— Ivan Dochynets, Co-founder and CTO

Growth means getting recognized. We review performance regularly, give transparent feedback, and actually talk about what you want next. Senior doesn’t mean static here. There’s always a path forward to team lead, tech lead, or deeper specialist roles.

And if you’re not looking to climb the ladder fast? That’s fine too. We value depth just as much as progression. Want to stay an expert in your craft without getting buried in people management? That’s a valid path here.

A place shaped by people

If there’s one thing that’s stayed true through all nine years of Brainence, it’s this: the team defines how we work and grow.

We don’t force values from a handbook or try to engineer belonging. We listen, adapt, and build around what actually matters to our people.

“One of our biggest strengths is open communication. There’s a real culture of feedback here — people aren’t afraid to ask, suggest, or speak up, because they know they’ll be heard. No red tape, just a friendly, people-first atmosphere shaped by the team itself (credit to our recruiters who do an amazing job bringing in the right folks).
We’re always improving — from better office setups to stronger benefits, and even run regular offline events to keep the real connection alive. We track trends, rethink processes, and actually listen to feedback. As Brainence grows, we make sure our people grow too.”

— Solomiia Shastina, HR Manager

That kind of environment isn’t something you can fake, and it’s why many of us have stayed for years. Some since the very start.

If that sounds like your kind of place, you might want to take a look at our vacancies.