The story of Uljan Sharka, founder of one of Europe’s most valuable AI companies, is one of remarkable resilience and vision. His journey began during Albania’s civil war in the 1990s. At 16, he traveled to Italy alone, learning the language from scratch and using his natural tech skills to secure his first IT job.
A pivotal moment came with his first iPhone, which inspired him to join Apple. Despite lacking a degree, he used their certification program to gain entry, eventually moving to Silicon Valley. This experience immersed him in the tech startup culture that would shape his future.
In Silicon Valley, Sharka saw a gap: enterprise technology was far less accessible than consumer tech. This led him to found iGenius in Milan in 2016 with a mission to democratize corporate data through AI. The company’s flagship product, Crystal, allows non-technical users to analyze complex data using natural language.
Sharka’s approach paid off. In 2024, iGenius reached a $1 billion valuation. The company then rebranded to Domyn, positioning itself to compete directly with AI giants like OpenAI, focusing on regulated industries where data security is critical.
Domyn champions “sovereign AI,” where clients control their own data and models as a single intellectual property. This vision, supported by partners like Nvidia and Microsoft, is backed by the construction of the “Colosseum” supercomputer in Italy, ensuring computational independence.
Sharka’s goal is bold yet achievable: by the end of 2025, he wants Domyn to be considered a true “peer” of the world’s AI giants, with one of their Made-in-Italy models ranking in the top 3 worldwide for reasoning LLMs.
His story is not just a personal success; it is a powerful testament to the very mission of projects like EYE4AI: to empower young entrepreneurs with the skills and vision necessary to transform their ideas into tangible impact through Artificial Intelligence. The journey from a war-torn childhood in Albania to building one of Europe’s most valuable AI companies embodies the incredible potential that EYE4AI seeks to unlock. It highlights the critical importance of providing aspiring innovators with the right tools and knowledge to navigate complex systems, demonstrating how targeted support can help make artificial intelligence truly accessible for the benefit of organizations worldwide.
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