WomenInTech. Success stories of Georgian women transforming the country's IT industry

Natia Kukhilava, Tbilisi, CTO at Helio.AI, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram

About myself

I am the co-founder and CTO of Helio.AI, a Georgian startup that builds an AI Agent for recruiters with ATS and a gamified personality test. Our goal is to help recruiters save time on manual tasks so they can focus on more important, creative, and enjoyable work. Helio already operates in six countries, including Kazakhstan and is backed by 500. 

In addition to Helio.AI, I am also an AI researcher at the GAIN consortium, where I work on emotion recognition using EEG signals and facial video. I collaborate with AI research institutes in Germany and France on this project, and we have already published our research in prestigious scientific journals.

Last year, I was honored to be listed in Forbes 30 Under 30 in the “Tech & E-Commerce” category. I also teach at the Georgian Technical University and have been a guest lecturer at Stanford University. 

I have around seven years of experience in tech, and I am even more passionate about it now than I was when I started.

I graduated from the Tbilisi Public School of Physics and Mathematics, so I was surrounded by technical subjects from a young age. But my true introduction to programming and robotics came during my bachelor’s studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

That was when I got completely hooked — I started participating in every hackathon I could. At first, I mostly lost, but I did not mind. Those competitions taught me resilience and gave me some of my happiest moments — especially the first time I won.

Through hackathons, I discovered what I loved most — the thrill of creating something from nothing in a short time. That realization led me to co-found my first startup with friends. It did not succeed, but it gave me invaluable experience. And, in a way, it set the foundation for everything that came after — because that was when I knew for sure that I wanted to build, innovate, and push technology forward.

How I got into IT

My career started in a rather unexpected way — at a hackathon. I was there to compete, but I left with my first job in tech. Some company representatives were there, talking to different participants. When they spoke with me, they were surprised by my enthusiasm for tech and the way I talked about my project. That conversation led to an interview, and that is how I landed my first role, working as an .NET intern.

At the time, I was still studying Electrical and Computer Engineering at university. During a machine learning course, I had a turning point — I realized AI fascinated me like nothing else before. So I decided to shift my focus entirely.

From there, I worked as an AI engineer for several years, constantly learning — through my job, side projects, and online courses. I was always seeking ways to push my knowledge further. Now, I am a researcher at the GAIN consortium, focusing on emotion recognition from EEG signals and face video. At the same time, as the CTO and co-founder of Helio.AI, I lead the entire tech side of the company while still personally developing the AI myself.

About stereotypes

Georgia is a developing country, and like many others, it has faced challenges with stereotypes in tech — especially regarding women in the field. I have encountered some obstacles throughout my career, but I have also seen positive changes over time.

For example, when I was in school, some people suggested that, as a girl, I should attend a regular public school instead of one specializing in physics and mathematics. But I was lucky — my family never paid attention to such opinions. They always supported me, and when I chose my career path, they were my first and strongest supporters.

I believe the situation is improving, though challenges may still exist. In the end, if you truly want to do something, just follow your heart and go for it. No matter the obstacles, you will always find a way to succeed.

Obstacles for women in IT

One of the biggest challenges is the people around us and the lack of role models. When you are young, you often look up to someone and dream of becoming like them. For example, many boys admire football players, which inspires them to train hard and pursue a career in sports. But for girls, there are not as many well-known female tech leaders, making this career path seem more distant and difficult to achieve.

On top of that, society often reinforces the idea that tech is not for women. Going against these stereotypes requires a strong mindset and determination. In my case, my family played the biggest role in keeping me motivated. They always supported me, encouraged me, and helped me follow my dreams — something I will always be grateful for.

Recommendations for those who are just starting their journey

Giving advice is never easy because some things can only be learned through experience. But I will share what has worked for me in the hope that it helps others.

First, do not be afraid to change directions in your career. In the beginning, you need to explore different fields to figure out what excites you the most. Once you find it, focus on it and aim to become as skilled as possible in that specialization.

And do not worry too much about technology evolving too fast. In reality, new breakthroughs do not happen as often as it seems. The key is to build strong fundamentals — once you do that, you will realize that many so-called “new” technologies are just small improvements on existing concepts. With a solid foundation, you can easily spot these small changes and adapt quickly without feeling overwhelmed.

Another important piece of advice: do not rely only on your job to grow your skills. Simply completing assigned tasks will not make you truly excellent in your field. Try to build as many side projects as possible. Who knows? You might enjoy that type of work so much that a side project could turn into your own startup or company. Side projects push you to solve different kinds of challenges and force you to seek out best practices. In my experience, I have learned far more from personal projects than from any task assigned to me at work.

Finally, follow your dreams and remember — if you truly decide to change the world, you will. This is the moment when your life changes forever. 

Tatia Tsmindashvili, Tbilisi, senior deep learning researcher @Impel, co-founder @Quaka.AI, LinkedIn

About myself

I am a senior deep learning researcher at Impel, where we develop AI tools to help automotive industry enterprises streamline their operations. I lead research efforts by evaluating new technologies and determining which best fit Impel's needs. Recently, I co-founded Quaka.AI, a startup that provides businesses with meaningful insights by simulating real-world discussions and decision-making, removing the need for traditional focus groups. I am also someone who always has a lot of ideas — and in some parallel universe, I might have been a marketer who specializes in Christmas commercial video planning. 

How I got into IT

I started my career as a software engineer, but my interest quickly shifted toward AI and data science. The devastating COVID-19 pandemic became a turning point — I dedicated myself to learning, which led me to transition into data engineering at TBC Bank. This phase provided me with a strong foundation in handling large-scale data and optimizing workflows.

From there, I moved into data science, joining Impel. This was a key stage where I applied AI techniques to solve real-world challenges and refine my expertise in machine learning. Over time, I progressed to a senior deep learning researcher, now focusing on advancing AI methodologies.

Beyond AI, I have always been curious about neuroscience and biomedical engineering. My academic journey in biomedical engineering and medical informatics allowed me to explore neural signal processing and AI-driven emotion recognition from EEG signals, further shaping my perspective.

More recently, I co-founded Quaka AI, a startup that simulates real-world discussions and decision-making. This entrepreneurial step represents a new phase in my career — one where I aim to bridge AI research with impactful business solutions.

Each stage of my career has been a learning experience. While I am still navigating my path, one thing is certain: I want my work to have a real impact on people.

I have always enjoyed mathematics and physics, and while preparing for my national university exams, my physics tutor inspired me to apply to the Free University of Tbilisi. I was admitted to study electrical and computer engineering on a full national scholarship — my first real achievement, or as we say in Georgian, „გამარჯვება“ — victory. More than anything, my time at Free University taught me how to learn effectively and navigate the world of technology. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been surrounded by so many great individuals — my coursemates, my friends, and those who have always been a source of inspiration.  

About stereotypes

I have not personally faced stereotypes in my career, largely thanks to the supportive environment I grew up in. However, I know that biases still exist, particularly around women in tech, though the situation is improving. Growing up, some relatives told my mother I had a “man's brain” because I excelled in math — something I never reacted to, but it reflects lingering stereotypes that both men and women can face.

Obstacles for women in IT

I believe one of the biggest challenges is the fear of rejection. While this is not exclusive to women, I have noticed that for example, women are generally less likely to ask for salary increases compared to men. At its core, I believe this stems from a fear of rejection or undervaluation.

I will not say I have fully overcome this, but what has helped me improve is focusing on growth — constantly learning, building, and collaborating with others. By putting myself in situations where I contribute, create, and engage with peers, I gain the confidence to advocate for myself. Progress comes from action, and every step forward makes it easier to push past that fear.

Recommendations for those who are just starting their journey

I feel fortunate to be in a position where I can offer advice to many people, but even if it helps just one person, that makes me happy.

Looking back, one of the most valuable things I learned at university was not any single subject — it was how to learn. That realization was groundbreaking for me. The second major lesson, which I actually gained at Impel, was the mindset of approaching every challenge with: “I may not know how to solve this today, but I am absolutely certain I will figure it out”.

So, my advice? Always adopt this mindset when tackling something new — problems have a way of getting solved when you approach them with determination. Another piece of advice, though it may sound cliché, is that every bit of effort — every hour spent building, learning, and improving — will be appreciated at some point. You just do not always know when. So keep working hard.