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Looking back at 13 years of Espeo Software

Espeo Software History

2008 – the year it all began. This is when Sylwia and Paweł Rogowicz, after several years of working in Finland, decided to return to Poland and work as outsourcing partners for a Finnish IT company.

In the beginning, the plan was simple – start a civil partnership and work together for the same employer. However, the knowledge and sympathy for the Finnish market as well as high ambitions made them decide to expand the company with new people, with whom they started creating projects for Polish and foreign entities. At that time, the plan was to hire about 20-40 employees.

Today, Espeo has 65 people with a plan to hire at least several dozen more. Read more to learn about Espeo Software’s history.

Espeo Software History

The beginning: an office in an apartment and two employees

“I remember when we conducted our first job interviews on an old couch in our apartment in Jeżyce (Poznań district). Now such a situation seems comical. I am surprised that the first people trusted us at that time considering the conditions but we did not even have a problem with recruiting.” recalls Paweł Rogowicz.

As the company grew, the team extended and Espeo gained new customers. One of the first major projects was for a company from Warsaw, thanks to which the team increased by another eight people and Espeo temporarily operated in two cities.

“From the very beginning, we had no problem with trusting new employees – we always have great trust in the people who join us. It is very rare for us to have any problems with the teams. At some point, we noticed how important it is to adjust the culture of an employee to the company, and so far it is one of the most important aspects in the recruitment process. Our people are guided by similar values. This makes our team extremely well-coordinated and communicative which is highly appreciated by our clients.”, adds Sylwia Rogowicz.

Espeo Software History

Constant development: new office and the first Finnish employee

As the team expanded, it was a natural step to find a new office. It was located in the heart of Poznań, next to the Old Market Square. The team consisted of 13 people back then.

At that time, Espeo carried out projects for several markets, including Poland, where one of the largest recipients was the Polish Public Administration. These projects helped the company grow and gain a reputation.

In 2015, the first Finnish employee, a Sales Specialist, joined Espeo and the company acquired a Finnish identity. Following that, Sylwia and Paweł decided to focus their activities only on the Finnish market, which Espeo has been doing ever since.

“Finland is a very innovative nation. The companies there are up to date with trends, operating agile, and using the latest technologies. We took over the modern work model from the Finns. I think we were also the first company in Poland to work with Agile methodology.” says Sylwia.

Do you want to know more about working at Espeo and why you should join us? Read this article: 5 best things about working at Espeo (Part 1).
Espeo Software History

Breakthrough moments in Espeo Software’s history

Having been working for Espeo since the beginning (when the initial location of the company was still in Jeżyce district), Tomasz Liberski, our Service Delivery Director, became the first partner of the company.

“Thanks to the decision about starting a cooperation with the first partner, we were able to strengthen the team and expand the company.” recalls Sylwia.

Dominik Zyskowski, a Software Consulting Director, was the second to join the group of partners. As Paweł Rogowicz confirms, it was the shared vision and concern for the company that made Dominik and Tomek partners. After several years of working together, it was the natural order of things.

Espeo Software – a Polish company with a competitive advantage on the Finnish market

What has been distinguishing our company for 13 years? As a Polish company operating for Finnish clients, it is certainly a presence on local markets. Our team communicates with the client in Finnish from the very beginning and conducts the sales process in this language, being able to meet at any time. We also offer the same through local project management while working with the client. We are the only Polish company that can offer such a model on the Finnish market. “Thanks to this, we are able to build a unique relationship with customers for whom we are a “next door partner”, explains Paweł Rogowicz.

We can compete with local companies from Finland thanks to the larger crew and the number of programmers we provide.

As Sylwia and Paweł recall, despite many difficulties they experienced while establishing the company from scratch, these better moments, the trust of partners and gaining new clients determined the many years of success. As they say, the fact that a business is run by a marriage helps to run it through 100% trust in the other person and common concern for the success of the business.

Want to read more about Espeo Software and get to know our customers? Check out our customer stories here.
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The amazing Finnish culture – TOP 3 characteristics when it comes to work

The amazing Finnish culture

We value Finnish culture very much and we often identify with it, since it is definitely a part of our DNA. What should you know when starting a cooperation with a Finnish client? Or maybe you are wondering what it is like to work in a company with a Finnish team? Read about our experiences and nothing should ever surprise you.

From this article you will learn:

  • What are the 3 cultural features that distinguish working with Finns
  • What is worth paying attention to during communication
  • What are the do’s and don’ts during meetings
The amazing Finnish culture

Finland – a country associated mostly with beautiful forests, lakes and reindeer herds. Also known for Nokia, being home to Santa Claus and Moomins. What distinguishes Finland as well is the fact that its inhabitants have been announced the happiest citizens in the World (World Happiness Report 2021). How is that possible? They might owe it to their incredible culture which unquestionably makes this nation unique.

At Espeo Software, our team is co-created by Finns. We have the wonderful pleasure of collaborating with clients from this country on most of our projects.

Finnish culture – take your time when necessary

When it comes to projects, it is necessary to know that Finns are calm perfectionists. It’s an ideal nation to work with. They know how important it is to prepare for the project, so they first give time to think and prepare the task well before the developer starts implementation.

Additionally, while requiring a good quality code, they do not put pressure on the speed of its writing. This amazing characteristic shows that high requirements can be combined with understanding and respect for the project team.

Do you want to learn more about the work culture in our company? Check out the article about the 5 best things about working at Espeo.

Silence is golden in Finnish culture

Finns like to keep quiet. Not only in everyday life, but also during business meetings. What for other nationalities often means awkward silence, is perfectly normal for Finns and they feel like a duck in water. Therefore, it is best to be patient and understanding. Silence from the other side does not always mean bad negotiation or wrong communication. Understanding another culture can be more rewarding.

Advice from Dominik Zyskowski, our Software Consulting Director:

“I happened to feel awkward at meetings when no one was talking. Probably if it weren’t for the knowledge that Finns like to be silent during business talks, I would try to “talk it over”. Finns like silence and it is good to be able to read well what it means at a given moment.”

Finnish culture – trust in the first place

The culture of trust and business transparency are definitely the characteristic features of a cooperation with the Finns. Especially during continuous projects, it happens that team members are invited to business meetings, during which not only the issues of the project, but also the entire company cases are discussed. This builds a great sense of trust on the part of the client and strengthens the relationship, which is a great and appreciated experience.

“Working with my Finnish client is like working in a product company. We are involved in various organizational meetings. We are not only developers but we also have an influence on the product. Each of our ideas is considered by the client. The Finns are calm, they appreciate reliability and punctuality.”

Maciej Kozłowski, our Lead Android Engineer
Did you enjoy learning more about the Finnish culture? Join us and become a part of it!
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5 best things about working at Espeo (Part 2)

5 best things about working at Espeo

Having many different companies to choose from, you might be wondering – why should I apply to Espeo? There are many good reasons but let’s have a closer look at the best ones, selected personally by our employees.

Read the 1st part of this article

From this article you will learn:

  • What are the best things about working at Espeo
  • How do we make our employees the owners of the company
  • How we stand out from the competition
5 best things about working at Espeo

4th best thing about working at Espeo – Atmosphere

It is a value that cannot be created overnight. At Espeo, our atmosphere has been built for 13 years and now we can honestly confirm that it’s unique. By joining us, you are not only gaining a new job, but also new friends, that will support you any time. Atmosphere is a value that people create, so we asked them to comment on this topic. Dawid Urbański shared with us looks like from his perspective:

“3 years ago, when I started working at Espeo, I was very pleasantly surprised that the second message in my email box was office carnival party information. At this party I started getting to know people and their Espeo history. It turned out (and confirmed in practice) that these people, despite their obligations at work, are friends with each other.

They meet for various activities, board games, beer, weekend getaways. Now I am trying to make my contribution so that people integrate with each other and do not treat work as an unpleasant duty and colleagues as enemies or competitors in the race for money.

Espeo Day has also become an interesting binder among people, it is a weekly “Christmas Eve” with the fact that it is organised at a different time of the day – depending on the “menu”. Partnership relations and a good atmosphere are something that is still marked by former employees as a huge advantage of this company.” 

Should anything be added here? Definitely not! We can only confirm David’s words by mentioning that 4.5 is the average rating employees give to the “Team Partnership” aspect during Exit Interviews. They most often point to cooperation and interpersonal communication that you won’t find anywhere else. And that’s totally true!

5 best things about working at Espeo

5th best thing about working at Espeo – Transparency

Is open communication important to you, as well as sharing experience and getting feedback for your work, both positive and critical? If so, you need to hear about another great thing about working with us – Transparency. At Espeo, we follow open and clear rules in cooperation with each other and with our customers. It is a part of our work culture and one of our core values respected by everyone, including management, who share their successes, failures and knowledge with others.

One of the people who contributed to the culture of our company and for whom its values are extremely important is Sylwia Rogowicz, HR Head and Espeo founder. What is Transparency for her?

“To me, transparency isn’t only about sharing information with people, it’s just one aspect of that value.”

Moreover:

  • Every quarter we have a presentation with details about the company’s situation. Thanks to its town hall format, you can ask questions to each of the management board.
  • We also have a very transparent payroll system for our people in delivery. Our employees know exactly what they have to do to get a promotion and a raise.
  • Transparency in communication with the client. For us, it means building partnership relations, which makes our cooperation with Finnish clients a perfect match.
  • We expect employees to be transparent with us and to communicate clearly about problems, challenges and effects in their work. Due to this value, we do not have any anonymous boxes for requests or complaints. We try to build an environment where various problems or ideas can be addressed without objections.
  • This value also guides us in communication. It is important that our employees know what we expect from them. It allows them to plan their own work well, work efficiently and calmly”.

While being transparent with all of these subjects, we give you some control over the company. In time you might start to think like the owner, because at Espeo you ARE the owner! Doesn’t that sound like a perfect place to work?

Follow us on Instagram for more insights about working at Espeo.

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Entrepreneurship Software

5 best things about working at Espeo (Part 1)

5 best things about working at Espeo

Having many different companies to choose from, you might be wondering – why should I apply to Espeo? There are many good reasons but let’s have a closer look at the best ones, selected personally by our employees.

Nowadays the IT market is growing rapidly day by day. In Poland and all over Europe, more and more software houses are being established. This makes it harder to reach potential candidates and gain the best specialists on the market. Many companies offer similar benefits and office supplies. Remuneration rates are growing intensively, chasing the competition and being very high compared to other markets. Therefore, the company should provide its candidates not only with decent pay, but also with work conditions and opportunities that will be attractive to them and will bind them with the company for longer.

From this article you will learn:

  • What are best things about working at Espeo
  • How do we make our employees the owners of the company
  • How we stand out from the competition
5 best things about working at Espeo

1st best thing about working at Espeo – Growth

We love to see our employees grow. That’s why by joining Espeo, you will get an individual training budget and decide how to use it. It might be a workshop, conference, studies or even an individual psychological therapy – anything of your choice based on your needs. You will get an experienced Team Leader that can help you to choose courses to develop your skills. Additionally, we share our knowledge during internal weekly Lightning Talks, webinars and meetups.

At Espeo, we give you the responsibility for your own development – we do not practice annual summary interviews. Instead, we give you the option of evaluating competences twice a year, and based on them, opportunities for promotion.

Have a look at how Grzegorz Olejniczak, our Frontend Developer, grew with Espeo and get to know his perspective on development:

“I started working with Espeo as a Junior Frontend Developer less than 2 years ago, without any previous commercial experience. I am a living example of the fact that Espeo can provide a person of my profile with optimal conditions for development, expecting only the will to improve qualifications. Having access to the proper tools (including substantive support, internal training, access to platforms with online courses or the opportunity to participate, within the training budget, in a course I chose), resulted in gratification of my achievements in the form of regular promotions. During the whole process, I never felt left to myself. In case of doubts and when dealing with formalities, I could always count on the support of Team Leader and other, more experienced people I met here.”

Interested in joining #EspeoCrew? Check out our open job positions and apply!

2nd best thing about working at Espeo – Responsibility and independence

We create solutions for international clients who trust us a lot. While working on the project, they are flexible and give us the opportunity to influence the tools we work on in the project and are always open to suggestions. That’s why from your first day, you will get a lot of autonomy and freedom to act. Just look at the project that we have been co-creating for 11 years already – Oikotie. Here, our clients become our partners in business and while being transparent with their plans, they invite us for business meetings. It is also a huge responsibility for their business results.

Additionally, we support our people in their business competences – our programmers play the role of client’s technical consultants and we develop them in this area. Immediately after joining the company, you will take part in a training focused on cooperation with the client, where you will be taught the secrets of effective communication and gain the necessary knowledge about significant cultural differences. In addition, at subsequent stages, dedicated team leaders support our team members in the context of working with the client. Thanks to this, despite the high responsibility in the project and independence in technical customer support, you will always be supported.

5 best things about working at Espeo

3rd best thing about working at Espeo – Flexibility

It is obvious that when hiring top experts, we want them to be satisfied with their workplace. And we believe it is possible thanks to work flexibility in different areas. Just after signing your employment contract, you will be asked about the work equipment you would like to work on. Whether you prefer Dell or Macbook, you have a choice of system and we will provide you the best accessories. Also regarding contract preferences – whether you prefer a contract of employment or B2B formula – the choice is yours. We are open to both forms of cooperation, the decision is on your side.

By working with us you will get 24h access to our office in the center of Poznań with multiple working areas, full kitchen facilities and relaxing chill spaces. We encourage you to arrange your workday around your life. That is why regardless of whether you like to start work at 7 or 10 o’clock. It is your choice and the office is always open for you with fresh coffee and all facilities needed. There’s also a rooftop garden open in summer!

See open job positions