Actually, the correct job title of Elena sounds like: Customer Success Manager, but this is she that manages Pentalog in Moldova. What Elena told about Pentalog was so different from my ideas about this company that I decided to avoid my questions beside the point. So, what Elena told about

Why Pentalog and how it all started?

The name “Pentalog” is in no way associated with the pentagram and logic. “Log” is a short version of “logiciel”. In French, “software.” And “penta” - because the company was founded by five French in 1993. What may surprise us right away is that for more than twenty years the founders haven’t changed, only one out of five “took a break” and created his start-up. Impressive stability of the top management.

More or less well-known information about Pentalog

The company has about 1,500 employees. 230 in Moldova. The company has offices all around the world. We can play the city name game: Orleans, New York, Boston, Lyon, Paris, Bucharest, Brasov, Iasi, Cluj, Chisinau, Hanoi, Frankfurt, London. And - Guadalajara, Mexico, if someone wants exotic cities.

What the company is engaged in and in what areas it is easier to write in English.

As an end-to-end digital services partner, we help customers boost capacity across a wide spectrum of high-demand needs, including: Software Engineering, Product Development, Talent Recruitment, Digital Marketing, Agility Consulting, and Innovation Financing.                                                                                

Areas: SaaS, eCommerce, FinTech, Media, EdTech, LegTech, IoT, HealthTech, Tourism, HR, Digital marketing.

What is Pentalog?

Most companies are dealing with outsourcing. Unlike them, Pentalog has a special approach, because it supports its customers throughout the business development life cycle. Pentalog is more than an outsourcing company in the sense of the word in which we use this definition. Figuratively speaking, Pentalog is an “accelerator” for start-ups, growing and large companies such as Tripadvisor, The New York Times, Straighterline, Rakuten and many others. And in order to return from figurativeness back to business, it’s worthwhile to talk about the Pentalog digital platform and the areas of its services.

Pentalog digital services platform

It’s worth speaking more about it. The concept is unusual and deep. Or even high, it’s already like measuring “digital platforms”. There are six “layers” in total.

The first layer is recruiting, assessing skills and, as an option, accessing the freelance platform created and maintained by Pentalog. At the same time, all freelancers on this platform were interviewed and, in fact, received a confirmation of competencies. So, all begins with staff if you miss them.

The next layer seems to be standard - IT development, support and consulting. The form of payment for these services may be unusual. But more on that later. Entities above your company will help you dealing with architecture (IT, not buildings), infrastructure and security (IT, not guards). I forgot to mention that the first three layers are Skill Value and Software Factory.

Let’s move on, to Growth Factory and consulting on growth, marketing, PR and strategy. There are two more levels left. The level of innovation and Pentalabbs, where it’s already about finance and capital, what start-up can do without them?

Special approach

So, what makes Pentalog so special? The fact that all levels of the company’s services can be provided not only for money. You’ll ask me how. Not for money, but for a share in the start-up’s capital; this is called services for equity. At the same time, Pentalog will work for its share at the highest level. Perhaps, without its services, the start-up would not have succeed, even if it had found money and bought these services elsewhere. Thus, Pentalog can start working with the founders of the start-up at the very beginning and bring the start-up to “exit”.

By the way, about exit

Pentalog has already brought three start-ups to exit. Rue de la Paye, OtoSense and Easyflyer. It’s worth noting the “scatter” of areas of activity in order to emphasize the versatility of Pentalog itself. From helping people with hearing impairments on the basis of software that analyzes sounds to France’s largest online digital printing operator (from flyers to labels).

Projects in progress

The company’s website contains more details about them, but now Pentalog has a lot of projects in progress for large and small companies, including 23 start-ups in Europe and America, in which Pentalog has invested its efforts. The areas are very different. The main thing is that the “conveyor” of start-ups is good as each new start-up gets access to all the experience gained by Pentalog experts earlier. So, if a serious start-up is going to emerge, pay attention to Pentalog services

About Elena

By the way, Elena’s career at Pentalog seems to be very indicative for the company. You can prepare a case of career development. It’s clear that the French language will not be unnecessary at all. In 2006, she started working at Pentalog as a tester. A little later, she took up business analysis and in 2009 she became a project manager. Then a scrum master. And since 2016, she has been working as the head of the office in Chisinau. Although it is written on the business card: Customer Success Manager.

* To date, French is optional. The team speaks English or French or both of them.

What has I missed? 

I’ve missed what prospects the company provides its employees for career growth and training. But this, in principle, is already understandable. Yes, and much has been written about this.

The 10,000 freelancers brought together by the Pentalog platform were personally approved by CTO Skillvalue Freelancing - Benoit Fillon. But the attitude of the company towards the staff is already clear.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a start-up now. It’d be interesting to cooperate with Pentalog

Pavel Zingan