In this exclusive interview, we talk with Alexey, a senior software developer at Meta, and his wife, Valeriya, a long-time yoga and meditation practitioner. Together, they’ve crafted OceanMind, a wellness app that takes users on a structured inner journey – fusing movement, breathwork, meditation, and community. Below, they share what inspired the project, how they co-created it, and why mindful tech might just reshape our inner lives.
Alexey, tell us about your role at Meta.
Alexey: I lead mobile-app projects at Meta, especially on the advertising side, which is the engine for Meta’s revenue. I manage cross-team coordination and hypothesis testing. It’s a big responsibility, but I thrive on it.
How did your journey in tech begin?
Alexey: It started at age seven, with a ZX Spectrum. My sister and I typed BASIC to load games, and then began coding our own. That curiosity drove me through university (after a detour into lasers and optics), and I jumped into work even before I graduated.
Was health-tech on your radar early on?
Alexey: Not initially, but I’ve always used tech to streamline life. I’ve built apps and gadgets for personal routines. When wellness became central, tech naturally followed.
Valeriya, how did your wellness journey evolve?
Valeriya: Fifteen years ago, I began yoga and spiritual practices, deepening them during a year in Indonesia. I studied physical postures, breathwork, meditation, Kriya Yoga, visceral massage, and visited the retreats globally. I created a system that integrates these paths into a cohesive, transformative practice, and knew it was time to share it.
Why an app?
Valeriya: Most wellness apps felt fragmented – either just breathwork, yoga, or meditation. I wanted something holistic and structured, like a guided book rather than a collection of loose chapters. So I built my own system and realized it could become a digital companion for others.
What is OceanMind all about?
Valeriya: It’s a mobile app that guides users through transformational courses based on structured progression: movement, breath, meditation. We’re launching with our signature, author-led course – but plan to host content from trusted global teachers, woven into community-driven experiences.
Alexey: Our focus is on long-term development, not just stress relief. OceanMind creates lasting inner transformation through intention, awareness, and discipline.
How does it differ from Headspace, Calm, or Alo Moves?
Alexey: Those apps offer standalone sessions: stress relief, fitness, or breathwork. OceanMind is a progressive journey – every module builds on the next. It’s about growth, not quick fixes.
Valeriya: It’s like the difference between fragmented online tutorials and a thoughtfully authored book. We design for momentum and depth.
How do you divide the work as co-founders and partners?
Alexey: I build the app, and Valeriya crafts the content and backend logic. Our communication is seamless – if one of us attends a meeting, the other knows exactly what was said. Collaboration is natural.
Any creative disagreements?
Alexey: Mostly technical. I bring corporate-grade standards from previous experiences. Valeriya brings experiential depth. We debate, compromise, and ultimately improve the product together.
How did the name OceanMind come about?
Valeriya: On a 2024 Hawaii trip, we combined a silent Vipassana retreat with a deep dive among sharks – and heard whales’ songs through our whole bodies. That profound harmony gave birth to our vision and name.
What does wellness mean for both of you?
Alexey: For me, it started with physical activity. With Valeriya’s influence, I discovered mental and emotional well-being, not just ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body,’ but real integration and depth.
Do you believe tech can be healing?
Alexey: Absolutely! Tech is like a book or tool: it only works if a person truly wants growth. With inner motivation, the right app can support profound transformation.
When will OceanMind launch, and what does success look like?
Alexey: We’re aiming for this fall, and we are very excited about it.
Valeriya: In five years, emotional and psychological health will be seen as equally important to physical health. We want to be part of that shift.
Alexey: True success is inner peace, time freedom, and doing what we love, and if OceanMind helps others find that, too, we’ve done our job.
OceanMind is set to launch in fall 2025. Follow the journey at oceanmind.app
