Hey, I'm Nik Kotov - a product builder, investor, and strategic advisor.
I started out as an engineer, but now I build and invest into wonderful B2B SaaS companies.
I thrive on guiding founders from vision to reality, offering strategic advice, mentorship, and capital, driven by a firm belief in innovation and a commitment to supporting underestimated founders.
About me
I'm a self-taught engineer, originally from Russia and raised in the United States.
My passion for technology started at age eleven when I began repairing computers for friends and family, leading to a full-time IT job by the age of 15. My career has since evolved from IT support to cloud engineering and DevOps, eventually founding several businesses.
Beyond my professional life, I am fortunate to share my world with a wonderful wife and three amazing children.
Clients
Current Work
Alderlake Capital
We invest early (pre-seed+) into wonderful B2B SaaS companies.
Alderlake Clarity
ProServ provider specializing in startup advisory; we function as an essential extension of the founding team, aiding in achieving focus and progress forward.
Alderlake Momentum
In-house venture studio that develops profitable SaaS businesses.
Kotov Family Foundation
Nonprofit organization that re-invests back into my community.
The Blueprint
Subscribe to my monthly newsletter where I share my experiences.
Past Work
Atomized (2019 - 2022)
Founder & CEO. Atomized helped developers launch well-architected environments and infrastructure rapidly in AWS. Atomized went through Y Combinator's Summer 2020 batch and went on to raise $500k.
itOS (2022 - 2023)
CPO. itOS helped IT Managed Service Providers put their business on autopilot. I've lead product, strategy, design, and everything in between. itOS was acquired in 2023.