Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariia Shirokova.
Hi Mariia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been fascinated by people who choose change.
Whether it’s moving to another country, launching a business, or simply deciding to change your life—I’ve always admired people who take that leap.
Looking back, it makes sense that my own journey naturally evolved around those moments of change.
I studied law, but early on I realized that my heart wasn’t in becoming a lawyer. Instead, I started experimenting with entrepreneurship. Over the years I built several businesses in tourism, hospitality, immigration and visa services. Every project taught me something new, but they all had one thing in common—they helped people explore new places and new opportunities.
Then, in 2022, my own life changed unexpectedly.
I moved to the United States, became an immigrant myself, and suddenly experienced everything I’d spent years helping my clients navigate. It gave me a completely different perspective. That’s when the idea for ReSpot truly came to life—an AI-powered platform designed to make relocation and adaptation simpler, more transparent, and less stressful.
Today I’m building ReSpot, an AI-powered relocation platform, co-founding Marlex Studio, a venture studio where we help founders turn ideas into technology products, and serving as a General Partner of The Ventures Award Miami, connecting entrepreneurs, investors and the startup ecosystem.
At the same time, I continue developing my YouTube project about women entrepreneurs because I genuinely believe that sharing real stories inspires more people to build something of their own.
For me, every chapter has been connected by the same idea: helping people embrace change with more confidence.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Honestly, I don’t think entrepreneurship is ever supposed to feel easy.
Every stage of my journey came with a completely different challenge.
COVID nearly stopped the tourism industry overnight. Later, moving to the U.S. meant starting over—building a new network, improving my English, understanding a completely different startup ecosystem, and proving myself again in a new country.
One of the biggest mindset shifts was moving from running traditional businesses to building a venture-backed startup. Those are two very different worlds. In a traditional business, you focus on today’s customers. In a startup, you’re constantly balancing product, fundraising, long-term vision, and uncertainty.
I’ve also learned that asking for help isn’t a weakness. Some of my biggest breakthroughs came because mentors, advisors, co-founders, and other entrepreneurs were willing to share their experience.
Looking back, every difficult period eventually pushed me toward something bigger than I had originally planned.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Marlex Studio?
Marlex Studio is a venture studio and product partner for non-technical founders building AI and technology startups. We help entrepreneurs turn ideas into scalable products through product strategy, MVP development, AI implementation, and Fractional CTO services.
Too many founders spend months and thousands of dollars building the wrong product. We believe the hardest part isn’t writing code—it’s building the right thing from the start.
That’s why we don’t just build software—we become part of the founding journey. We work alongside entrepreneurs from the earliest stages, helping them validate ideas, make smarter product decisions, avoid expensive mistakes, and prepare for growth and fundraising.
I’m especially proud that many founders come to us before they’ve written a single line of code. They’re looking for a trusted partner who can translate business ideas into real technology without requiring them to become technical experts themselves.
We believe great technology starts with understanding people, not just building software. Our mission is to make startup building more accessible by helping founders launch faster, build smarter, and create products people genuinely need.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that building a startup has become more accessible—but building a successful company hasn’t become any easier.
AI has changed the way we build products. It helps founders move faster, test ideas quickly, and accomplish things that used to require much larger teams. But technology alone doesn’t create successful businesses. Execution, customer validation, and resilience will matter more than ever.
The founders who will succeed are those who stay close to their customers, solve meaningful problems, and remain flexible as the market changes.
I also think we’re moving toward a much more connected startup ecosystem. Great ideas can come from anywhere, and collaboration between founders, investors, mentors, and venture studios is becoming one of the biggest competitive advantages.
That’s why I’m passionate not only about building ReSpot, but also about helping other founders through Marlex Studio and supporting the startup community through initiatives like The Ventures Awards Miami. I believe innovation grows faster when people share knowledge, support each other, and build meaningful connections.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marlex.studio/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryshirokovaa/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryshirokova/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@IsaidsoUS
