Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayk Hakobyan.
Hi Hayk, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story started with a strong interest in technology and problem-solving. I was always drawn to building things that were practical, useful, and could make work easier for people and businesses.
Over the years, I grew from hands-on software development into engineering leadership, working across full-stack development, infrastructure, automation, logistics, dispatch systems, and business operations. That experience gave me a clear understanding of how much businesses depend on reliable software — not just beautiful websites or apps, but systems that actually solve real operational problems.
That is what led me to start VLO LABS. I wanted to build a company focused on practical technology: custom software, automation tools, CRM systems, logistics platforms, and AI-powered solutions that help businesses become more efficient.
Today, VLO LABS represents the combination of my technical background and business mindset. We focus on understanding real problems first, then building the right technology around them. I’m still very hands-on, and I believe that the best software is not just technically strong — it should be useful, reliable, and create real value for the people using it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road. The technical side was never the only challenge. I was comfortable building software, but building a company around software required a completely different set of skills.
One of the biggest struggles was learning how to turn technical ability into real business value. Early on, I had to learn that clients do not just want code — they want trust, clarity, reliability, and a solution that actually fits how their business operates. Especially in areas like logistics, dispatching, transportation, and custom CRM systems, the problems are usually messy. Every business has its own workflow, exceptions, and old habits, so the challenge is not just writing software. The challenge is understanding the operation deeply enough to build something people will actually use.
Another struggle has been balancing engineering with business development. I have spent years working as a software engineer and engineering leader, while also building VLO LABS and trying to grow it into something bigger. That means switching between very different roles: writing architecture, managing infrastructure, talking to clients, thinking about sales, reviewing contracts, exploring government opportunities, and deciding which ideas are worth pursuing.
There were also the normal challenges of credibility and momentum. When you are building a company, especially in custom software, people need to trust you before they give you serious work. That trust takes time. You have to prove that you can deliver, communicate honestly, and stay involved when things get complicated.
But those struggles shaped the way I approach work today. VLO LABS became less about simply building apps and more about solving operational problems with practical technology. The difficult parts taught me to be more realistic, more direct, and more focused on creating systems that businesses can actually depend on.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
VLO LABS is a software and technology company focused on building practical systems for businesses with real operational challenges. We specialize in custom software, automation, logistics technology, data systems, internal tools, and AI-assisted workflows.
A lot of businesses are still running important parts of their operations through spreadsheets, disconnected tools, manual follow-ups, and outdated processes. Our work is about taking those messy, time-consuming workflows and turning them into reliable digital systems that help the business run more smoothly.
A major part of our experience is in operations-heavy industries, especially transportation, logistics, dispatching, routing, and workflow automation. These are areas where technology can have a direct impact. A better dispatch system, automated reporting, cleaner data flow, route optimization, or a custom internal platform can save time, reduce mistakes, and give business owners much better visibility into what is happening every day.
What sets VLO LABS apart is that we approach software from both the engineering side and the business side. We are not just trying to build something that looks good on the surface. We focus on understanding how the business actually works, where the bottlenecks are, what the team struggles with, and what kind of system will be useful long term.
I am proud that VLO LABS is a practical brand. We are not built around hype or buzzwords. We are built around problem-solving, reliability, and helping businesses modernize in a way that actually makes sense for them.
What I want readers to know is that VLO LABS is for businesses that have outgrown manual processes and generic tools. We help turn complicated operations into organized systems that support growth, efficiency, and better decision-making.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something that may surprise people is that I am not the typical “always networking, always pitching” tech founder. I can go to events, meet people, and talk about business, but honestly, those environments can drain me pretty quickly.
My natural place is much quieter. I am more comfortable thinking through a problem, building something, testing ideas, and staying close to the actual work. There were times when I was so attached to what I was building that I would sleep with my laptop next to me — almost like I did not want to disconnect from the problem I was working on.
That probably says a lot about me. I am not driven by the performance side of entrepreneurship as much as the building side. I like the part where an idea slowly becomes real, where a messy problem starts to make sense, and where something that used to be manual or confusing becomes a working system.
Another thing people may not know is that we recently created a sister company in Las Vegas called Desert Acacia. For me, it represents the next chapter — continuing to explore practical technology, automation, and new business opportunities from a city that is full of movement, growth, and energy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vlolabs.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vlo-labs-inc
- Other: https://www.desertacacia.com
