Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andrei Rychkov. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Andrei, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I think being afraid or stressed about risk is completely normal — it’s part of being human. The difference comes from how you deal with that feeling. Over time, I learned that a lot of fear around risk comes from not fully understanding the situation. When you pause and ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that could actually happen?” — the answer is usually not as bad as it feels. Most of the time, you already have ways to handle the downside.
Another thing that helped me a lot is having support — friends, family, or even just people you can talk to. Sometimes just knowing there’s someone you can call or a doorbell you can ring makes risk feel much lighter. It doesn’t remove uncertainty, but it reminds you that you’re not alone in it.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m the co-founder and CTO of Aesty, a fashion-tech startup I’m building together with my wife, Nadia Zueva (https://boldjourney.com/meet-nadia-zueva-2/). What we’re creating is a new way for people to connect with fashion through technology — something that feels almost like having a personal stylist in your pocket.
The idea started from a simple observation: people love saving outfits they find online, but they rarely know how those looks would actually work for them. So we built Aesty — an AI that shows how any outfit might look on you, blending pieces you already own with new ones you could shop for.
What excites me most is how personal it becomes for users. Fashion is usually something people observe from the outside — on models, influencers, or in stores. But when someone uploads a photo and suddenly sees themselves wearing the look they’ve admired, something changes — it becomes real.
Our latest feature is my favorite: now anyone can try on any outfit they find online or offline — from Pinterest, Instagram, or anywhere else — and instantly see how it looks on them, on their own digital avatar with their real body shape. It’s a big step in improving someone’s confidence and making fashion feel more personal than ever.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I wouldn’t say technical skill doesn’t matter, but I don’t think it’s the most important thing — it can always be developed if you have the right foundation. For me, the three qualities that made the biggest difference were adaptability, discipline, and openness.
Adaptability is number one. The faster you learn, the faster you move. Don’t be afraid to question everything — including your own assumptions — and ask simple questions, even if they sound naïve. Most breakthroughs come from that mindset.
Discipline comes next. It’s easy to start something new, but much harder to keep it going when motivation drops. Everyone has a list of side projects they started and quit too soon. What really compounds over time is consistency — even when it’s boring.
And finally, openness. Almost any problem can be solved if people are transparent with each other. Say your concerns, ask your questions, and be honest about what’s not working — but also remember to acknowledge others’ efforts. Saying “thank you” or recognizing small wins builds trust and keeps momentum.
For anyone early in their journey, I’d say focus on these three first — they’ll give you everything else, including the technical and business skills you think you lack at the start.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was giving me freedom. From small, everyday choices to big life decisions — like moving 10,000 kilometers away from home at 18 to study — they always trusted me to figure things out on my own.
It wasn’t neglect; quite the opposite. They always made sure I was okay, but they never tried to control my decisions. They just wanted to know I was doing well. I could do (or not do) my homework when I wanted, go out when I wanted — well, except after 10 p.m. — and that sense of trust made me independent early on.
Even though we didn’t have much, they made sure I could still enjoy things like a cinema ticket or a school trip. That mix of freedom and care shaped how I live and build today — taking responsibility for my own path while remembering to stay kind and grounded. I love my parents and I’m deeply grateful for my childhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aesty.ai
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrei-rychkov
- Twitter: https://x.com/im_moonko
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