Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
Ukraine-raised and Netherlands-based global tech entrepreneur, and an alumnus of the Dutch Startup Visa Program (2020). Former global IT projects manager at IKEA and Ford. Since 2019, Nick has been the full-time CEO of Localie — a thriving community that connects travelers with verified locals to create unforgettable trips and authentic experiences ❤️ Localie has generated over $1.7M in sales and is now actively expanding into the US, UK, and Canadian markets. Nick has successfully raised over $500K in pre-seed funding from leading VC institutions, including Silicon Valley-based Unpopular VC — recently ranked #3 among the most resilient VC firms, right after YC and Sequoia Capital, based on AngelList data 🚀
Localie is an international community of world citizens spread across 70+ countries. Founded in 2018 as a side project by Nick Nedelchuk, it has since grown into a fast-scaling business with its headquarters in the Netherlands. With Localie, you have your people everywhere — wherever you’re headed! • Travelers use Localie to design their most memorable trips. • Locals are meeting travelers and showing them around their places, taking them off-the-beaten paths. • Video production teams and event organizers rely on Localie for on-site support in remote locations. All of this is made possible by our hand-picked locals, who provide unique, insider knowledge. In 2022, Localie has introduced Localie Hubs — local communities in cities with the highest demand. These hubs organize: 🎤 Events featuring inspiring speakers 🎭 Theatre performances & live music shows 🤝 Networking trips & meetups 🌍 Community-building activities Yet, we launched the pilot Localie Hub in Amsterdam, bringing together over 2,200 local community members — with more cities joining soon! 🚀 Some key achievements so far: ✅ Survived COVID — the worst crisis for international travel ✅ Generated over $1.5M in sales with over 26,000 users worldwide ✅ Raised $500K+ in venture capital from top investors like Unpopular VC, ranked #3 among the world’s most resilient VC firms (based on AngelList data)
Leading global IT projects and sub-projects for various locations: ONE IIG - O365 Migration and setting up the one IT environment for all Inter IKEA Group companies. Responsible for establishing IT services and support organization within involved companies and branches - IKEA Industry, Inter IKEA Systems, Range & Supply group (20 countries in total). Store Fulfillment Project - Leading IT component for high-prio management strategic initiative to transfer stores into 2-in-1 customers fulfillment center, piloting in Delft, Netherlands. Focus on IT infrastructure and in-store logistics business solutions.
Coordinating and managing medium and large commercial projects (total cost over $30 mln) for MEGA shopping centres - the largest shopping centres chain in Russia with 14 malls operated by IKEA. Located countrywide from St.Petersburg to Novosibirsk, they have over 2 mln sq m retail space, 275 million visitors annually, 135,000 people employed at the shopping centres. Major projects: • Customer Care Project Redevelopment of one of the leading shopping centres in St.Petersburg, Russia, aiming to create a meeting place of the future. Concentrated on commercial part: customer needs, hospitality, market trends analysis, ROI evaluation. Coordinated concept development by a well-known French architectural company and its further implementation. • Smart Parking system country standard definition Being a part of the experts group, represented Business IT component. Performed an intensive research of the world leading smart parking systems. Steered results through top management committees to get an approval for further investment. Brought extra business benefit to the system.
Countrywide and international IT projects related to the new systems implementation, investigating new technologies. Support multiple legal entities of IKEA Group in Russia: MEGA shopping centers, IKEA stores, industry, supply and trading groups. Major projects: • One IKEA Russia TV Launch Created and implemented the new way of corporate communication for over 50 IKEA offices and stores in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Led the process from solution definition stage to exact technology implementation, content strategy alignment and launch. • Unification of IT architecture in the shopping malls Coordinated design principles development for IT infrastructure for 14 shopping centres belonged to IKEA in Russia from Novosibirsk to St.Petersburg. Made it to meet the latest business and technology requirements (server room and related engineering systems, structured cable network, LAN/WLAN infrastructure, CCTV organization).
Supported multinational project team with meetings facilitation, information gathering and analysis, coordination of the workload and reporting . Actively used PMP techniques. Major projects: • Automation Manufacture Suppliers Connectivity (vehicles assembly) Significantly decreased the time of spare parts delivery to conveyor and enhance efficiency of the vehicles assembly process by providing an integration between plant production systems and supplier’s ERP. • ITIL Processes in Electronic Docflow System Launch Analysed business processes to identify those possible to automate in accordance to ITIL security regulations. • Production systems launch for start assembling the new Mondeo Renovation of the conveyor to support the new SYNC computer installation to the assembled vehicle and its further automated provisioning. • Mid-size projects New technologies and business IT processes implementation, existing systems or infrastructure adjustments
Key responsibilities: • Designating and enhancing IT function processes to obtain a full compliance with ISO and Ford internal standards related to information security and confidence. Documenting processes according to ISO requirements (procedures and instructions preparations) in both languages English and Russian, concurring documents with senior management from all plant departments. • Collaborating with numerous plant departments and business functions to accumulate their needs and deliver a proper solution able to satisfy all parties. • Managing several projects impacting St.Petersburg BIT, security and controls (starting from solution definition finishing by business systems amendments, management and users trainings and distributing appropriate documentation). • Support the preparation phase and handling the General Audit of IT function. • Organizing strong cooperation of IT function with other departments regarding numerous projects and questions, preparing presentation and presenting them, leading the meetings. • Meeting minutes preparation, collaborating and coordinating with different internal and international teams on the way to implement the project.