At just 25 years old, Milana Dovzhenko embodies the spirit of a serial entrepreneur with an unwavering commitment to community building. Her journey is not just about business; it’s a beautiful evolution of self-discovery, resilience, and an unyielding passion for making a difference.
From a tender age, Milana harboured a deep-seated desire to transcend societal norms and carve her path in the professional realm, unfettered by gender constraints. With origins from Ukraine but raised in the quaint town of Alenquer, Portugal, her journey began with a fervent pursuit of knowledge in the areas of health and business. With a heart rooted in empathy and a mind honed in psychiatry, Milana’s essence resonates with compassion and mindful listening, a gift that allows her to deeply connect with people’s emotions and intentions.
Fuelled by an insatiable thirst for excellence, Milana embarked on a myriad of ventures, among them the successful e-commerce endeavour, Lanternas do Céu, which she co-founded alongside Artem Kokhan. Artem, originally from Ukraine, delved into programming engineering just as political movements began to stir in 2013. Seeking a change of scenery, he ventured to Portugal solo for a summer, a journey that unexpectedly led him to stay in the country to this day.
The genesis of Bairro began when they encountered a problem in the fulfilment space with Lanternas do Céu. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, they realised the transformative potential of fulfilment technology in revolutionising online retail. Consequently, they sold Lanternas do Céu and utilised the proceeds to launch Bairro Shop—a groceries and supermarket home delivery app—driven by unwavering determination and bootstrapped resources.
Bairro wasn’t just another business venture; it was a testament to agility in a time of crisis. However, their journey was not without its trials. In May 2022, Bairro faced an exchange in market for the food tech sector and decided to pivot. With 120 people on payroll and six dark stores, the financial health of the company was fragile. It was just before this tumultuous time that their third co-founder, Maksym Gatsus, had joined their operations.
Maksym, a seasoned professional with close to a 20-year career in retail, brought stability and strategic insight to the team. Born in Kiev, Ukraine, amidst the backdrop of the Soviet Union’s collapse, Maksym’s trajectory took unexpected turns, eventually leading him to cross paths with Milana and Artem through investors seeking experience and stability for Bairro. Their collaboration marked a turning point for Bairro, propelling the company forward.
Together, Milana, Artem, and Maksym navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship with unwavering determination. Armed with the insight that only a number of top retailers in Europe offer same-day deliveries, while consumers expressed willingness to pay for this service, they launched Bairro Direct, pivoting their business model to a B2B approach. They were steadfast committed to revolutionise the fulfilment space with its client-centric approach and technological adaptability.
As such presented to the market a solution combining automated inventory management, swift order processing, and marketplace connectivity, ensuring a seamless customer delivery experience. A win-win-win solution. In a very short time they achieved financial sustainability, culminating in the operational breakeven of Bairro Direct, along with securing partnerships with major players like Viborel, Mars, and Makro, as well as smaller entities lacking logistical infrastructure.
Amidst the chaos, Milana and her Co-founders remained steadfast in their commitment to empowering communities and transforming operations. While the prospect of reaching €1 billion in revenues is enticing, the true reward lies in fixing a broken system. One key takeaway from their story is their collective narrative. It stands as a beacon of hope and unwavering spirit, driven by resilience, passion, and community dedication. It is a testament to the belief that with perseverance and a shared vision, anything is possible.
