From student project to a thriving bootstrapped business, Ukraines MacPaw has been sticking to its guns for 10 years

MacPaw Releases Redesigned CleanMyMac With New Features

Some of the founders are still getting their businesses established—an effort complicated by the war. Responding to customers was no small task — because they answered every single inquiry. In the early days, Kosovan also shared his email address on hacker websites, offering free licenses to those who might have tried to hack CleanMyMac otherwise. “This developed a loyal user base of early adopters,” explains Kosovan. As the entrepreneur continued relying on his own time and skills, he struggled to find competent employees he could afford. “I was lucky because my intuition helped me hire the right people, including many friends and classmates,” he says.

• Today, MacPaw products have more than 30 million users worldwide.
• It’s quick and easy to cross-check product compatibility with your preferred operating system on the MacPaw website.
• It combines multiple cleaning utilities into one comprehensive package.
• Freeing up RAM often serves as a one-click remedy for slow or glitchy apps.
• Developers distributing their apps through alternative app marketplaces will have to pay €0.50 for each first annual install per year after reaching the 1 million installs limit.

However, we’re all united by our love for our Motherland, determination to keep going, and hope that peace will return to Ukraine. With truth and humanity on our side, we’re confident that we’ll overcome all the challenges and win. Also, we updated our most-used app CleanMyMac X with the Suspicious Apps category (Uninstaller module) based on technologies the engineers used in SpyBuster. But as war affects everyone without exception, regular citizens join the fight in any way they can. We also provided conditions for the remote work of team members. We’ve also faced some new challenges after Russia’s massive attacks on Ukrainian energetical infrastructure facilities.

‘I went to Greenland to try to buy it’: Meet the founder who wants to recreate Mars on Earth

With CleanMyMac X you can remove unnecessary files, old caches, logs, and large hidden files. This will also help boost your Mac’s performance and speed by managing startup items and running maintenance scripts. The regular scans and updates will keep your Mac safe from malware and privacy threats. While the service is being likened to an alternative app store, to be clear, it will involve a subscription for all-you-can access to its apps, which is not Apple’s App Store model. When the full-scale Russian invasion started, it was uncertain what was going to happen in the next couple of weeks or even days. Nobody knew if businesses would be able to continue to work or if the country would collapse.

Kosovan was disqualified from Ukraine’s subsidized education, but he was determined to finish his degree. He returned the same year, working three jobs to pay his tuition. Yet again, he took his own approach and had another disagreement with the same professor. “The argument got so heated that the professor said she would give me the highest grade if I didn’t take the final exam.” You can also eject all your connected devices with a single click, which is a feature I can’t live without now. An all-in-one, system optimization service to keep your Mac running clean and fresh.

And it’s not easy to maintain work during power cuts that can last hours or even days. In 2022, for 237 hours, we worked in our office with no electricity using only power generators. Some of our team members joined the Defence Forces of Ukraine to stand up for the country. We at MacPaw, provide moral, informational, and financial support to everyone who needs it, including those defending Ukraine.

For instance, get pet cameras by Petcube, use Grammarly, increase work productivity with Readdle apps, protect your homes with the professional Ajax smart alarm, etc. MacPaw has primarily offered Mac-focused apps through several subscription tiers, allowing users to download companion iOS apps for those services. However, with this Setapp mobile marketplace, the company believes it can address millions of iPhone users in the EU. MacPaw was one of the first companies to agree to Apple’s controversial DMA agreement for distributing apps through a non-App Store medium. The company is still not set on the business model and user experience, so it opted to release this initial version as an open beta.

Free access at Squarespace to online webinars

Over the years, I have used CleanMyMac X numerous times to help free up tons of space on my Mac and keep it running smoothly. Haidamak’s heart started racing when he heard news about the war. Every day, Haidamak receives notifications about his abnormally high heart rate from his smartwatch.

Small Businesses In Ukraine Band Together To Raise Their Profile Around The World As Many Contend With The Daily Challenges Of War – Forbes

Small Businesses In Ukraine Band Together To Raise Their Profile Around The World As Many Contend With The Daily Challenges Of War.

Posted: Sun, 01 Sep 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Ukraine-based Mac and iOS app developer MacPaw announced today that it is releasing its alternative mobile app store Setapp thanks to the new Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules in the EU. The company has been testing the app store under closed beta for a few months now with select users. MacPaw is now allowing all users to try Setapp Mobile in open beta. MacPaw is also providing Ukrainians with free access to its virtual private network app, ClearVPN. (The company said 75,000 people already started using it.) It’s also providing a free year of subscription to CleanMyMac X to journalists covering the war in Ukraine. So far, MacPaw products and services are operating without disruptions, the company said.

The European Association of Software Engineering has launched a service for helping Ukrainian tech people get jobs. WEEDAR created a loyalty and distribution platform for cannabis brands. They relocated the team to Europe as the war began, though some have chosen to come back to Ukraine already. A bootstrapped cybersecurity company from Ukraine recognized by Gartner, Clutch and Splunk. Before the war, UnderDefense had a team of 60 in Ukraine, opened offices in Malta and Poland, and increased its presence in the USA to guarantee the continuity of its operations.

• He made international news in 2016 when he purchased Tekserve’s private collection of Apple computer products at auction.
• This feature keeps users proactive about their system’s health, which MacPaw says will ensure better performance and longevity for their Macs.
• This article is part of Tech.eu’s highlighting of remarkable Ukrainian startups on the one-year anniversary of the Russo-Ukrainian War.
• Others went to stay with parents or friends in the countryside.

Developers distributing their apps through alternative app marketplaces will have to pay €0.50 for each first annual install per year after reaching the 1 million installs limit. Regulators are already investigating Apple’s terms to figure out if they are in compliance with the DMA. A malware removal tool will help you eliminate malware and spyware that might have infiltrated your system.

Apple’s Mac App Store ‘Losing Devs to the Great Unknown’: Survey

Simply because I am not a fan of third-party antivirus software. I’ve never run antivirus on my Mac, and on Windows, I use the built-in Windows Security. In doing a scan of my MacBook with CleanMyMac 2024, however, the privacy tab served up quite a few things that I don’t care to actually take care of—and you shouldn’t either.

‘A bumpy ride:’ CEO of MacPaw, developer of apps for Apple devices, on business during war – Kyiv Independent

‘A bumpy ride:’ CEO of MacPaw, developer of apps for Apple devices, on business during war.

Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

He is the co-founder ThePathfounder.com newsletter; TheEuropas.com (the Annual European Tech Startup Conference & Awards for 12 years); and the non-profits Techfugees.com, TechVets.co, and Coadec.com. He was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2016 for services to the UK technology industry and journalism. My biggest concern with SetApp is my concern about the content on any subscription service—namely, that it can disappear at any time. If an developer removes their app from SetApp, you’ll be allowed to keep it, but you won’t receive any updates and can’t reinstall it. That doesn’t feel good, though I’m not sure it’s much different from the fact that any operating-system update can break compatibility with apps and force users to buy compatibility updates. If you’re looking to do a quick clean up prior to tomorrow’s MacOS launch, CleanMyMac X uses a special algorithm to track down gigabytes of hidden, unnecessary files.

Petryk heads up public relations at MacPaw, a Kyiv-based startup that specializes in Mac software. The company publishes popular and well-regarded apps like CleanMyMac X and runs the innovative app-subscription service Setapp. But right now, MacPaw staffers face something far more menacing than Mac malware and junk files. These apps encompass a variety of categories, including productivity and business tools, creative and design software, lifestyle tools, utility apps, and more. The current version of Setapp offers dozens of apps for $9.99 per month and up, depending on the platform and number of devices.

Many have been challenged by the constant disruptions and trauma of war, particularly since the Russian invasion in 2022. Oliiarnyk devoted herself to learning how to run her business, OLIZ, and today sells scarves she designed with her 10-person team through the company’s website, on the crafts marketplace Etsy and other venues. The country has changed since then, and is a more secure place to run a company. But it still has a long way to go, which is why Kosovan has a heavy investment in the health, stability and security of his company and employees.

The founder says the greatest strength of the company is the people. He says the company happened and succeeded due to the team’s passion and desire to create something new. To promote the program, the developers worked on its distribution. In particular, they began to work with all platforms available back then that recommended useful software for Macintosh computers. The company also targeted Google advertising for potential buyers from different countries and thoroughly analysed user feedback.

You can even get access to 3D design tools with Autodesk, or sort your home security systems with SimpliSafe. Whatever your software needs, our Online Software coupons are sure to help you save on your subscriptions. The application was first launched in 2008 by MacPaw as a simple cleanup utility to help Mac users clean and optimize their machines.

The legendary repair shop predated Apple stores by more than 10 years. Its collection spanned nearly three decades, including almost every Mac ever released. For Kosovan, it honors a company that ignited the passion that changed his life. In MacPaw’s early days, it was difficult to run a tech company from Ukraine. Corrupt law enforcement often raided businesses, blocking operations until they were paid a bribe. This threat made Kosovan consider moving abroad, but his stubbornness and patriotism kicked in.

Over time, the utility has evolved with each new release, becoming more of an all-in-one solution for Mac care. CleanMyMac X is a powerful software designed to keep your Mac in optimal condition. It combines multiple cleaning utilities into one comprehensive package. It operates by scanning your entire Mac system to identify unnecessary files, performance bottlenecks, and potential security threats. It utilizes advanced algorithms to detect and safely remove junk files, including system cache, user cache, log files, broken downloads, and outdated updates.

The app has over 30 tools to help manage your Mac’s performance and disk space by removing unwanted junk and large files, uninstalling old apps, and more. Along with Setapp, this year it made two significant moves on this path. First, by merging its software development platform DevMate with UK firm Paddle and acquiring Finnish software product The Unarchiver, which brought with it around 18 million users. Since Spend With Ukraine launched, it has helped the members generate about $500,000 in additional collective revenue, Klen says.

The main idea of the MacPaw Space is to be the birthplace of change. Despite the fact that the official opening of the MacPaw Space and the Museum is still ahead, in 2021 several dozen events were hosted here. The office has an exposition of the retro Apple devices, gym, recording studio, kitchen, garbage sorting station, meditation room, play area, and more. The first cat was brought from the basement of a car service station, and the second one was brought to the office by one of the team members. Oleksandr Kosovan recalls that before 2014, the world knew very little about the technological companies from Ukraine.

He has interviewed Tony Blair, Dmitry Medvedev, Kevin Spacey, Lily Cole, Pavel Durov, Jimmy Wales, and many other tech leaders and celebrities. Mike is a regular broadcaster, appearing on BBC News, Sky News, CNBC, Channel 4, Al Jazeera and Bloomberg. He has also advised UK Prime Ministers and the Mayor of London on tech startup policy, as well as being a judge on The Apprentice UK. GQ magazine named him one of the 100 Most Connected Men in the UK.

MacPaw’s software has been downloaded in over 180 countries, with the United States representing 41% of the company’s user base, closely followed by Europe at 40%. The remaining 19% are users from various other countries, showcasing the global appeal of MacPaw products. This resilience in turn means the Ukrainian IT market has retained its appeal to global investors.

Scroll down to the bottom of the MacPaw store page and find the section labeled “Already have a coupon code”. For more Black Friday deals on Apple’s entire product lineup and tons of Apple-related accessories, check out our full Black Friday roundup. One of my biggest fears in deleting duplicate files is that I always have the possibility of messing something up and not being able to easily place everything back where it belongs. I do daily backups with Time Machine and BackBlaze, but having to go back to those to recover a few files would be a headache. Gemini 2 calms those nerves by having a prominent area to view all the recently deleted files and allowing you to place them back where they originally were. Gemini 2 helps you find those files so you can quickly sort and delete any unnecessary ones.

I definitely noticed that there’s more storage space since cleaning out a bunch of programs, files, and a few duplicates. If you’ve owned a Mac for any length of time, you’ve likely heard of CleanMyMac. It’s software designed to tidy up your Apple computer’s files, documents, applications, and more. The 2024 update for the application brings a refreshed and simplified UI alongside AI improvements and more.

To support himself, Kosovan found a job as a Microsoft Windows system administrator, making the equivalent of $150 a month. When he saw the iMac G4 in a computer shop, he fell in love — but could barely afford the keyboard. But he saved up, bought it and eventually convinced his family to help him buy a Mac PowerBook, too. When Kosovan was 12, his father emigrated to France to provide for the family. “You could earn 50 euros a day working illegally, which was a lot of money for us,” he explains.