Vlad Malanin

Surgeon-turned-AI scientist and co-founder & CTO of SpeedSize, an AI-powered media optimization SaaS that helps brands deliver high-quality images and video with improved performance; led the company from ~$400K to ~$6M ARR while remaining capital-efficient.

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Dec 17, 2025 • 25min

Bootstrapping Through War to $6M ARR: A SaaS Founder Story

Vlad Malanin, a surgeon-turned-AI scientist and co-founder of SpeedSize, shares his journey scaling an AI media optimization SaaS from $400K to $6M ARR with only 25 employees. He discusses how SpeedSize helps brands maintain image quality while boosting performance and the importance of a partnership-led go-to-market strategy. Vlad reveals the challenges he faced during wartime, including dwindling cash reserves and tough founder decisions. Discover his insights on capital efficiency, enterprise pricing, and the path to retaining founder control while navigating growth.

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