Denys Zhadanov

Entrepreneur, Investor, Startup, Technologist

Denys Zhadanov is a Ukrainian-born tech entrepreneur. He is a founding team member of Readdle — the productivity company behind apps like PDF Expert, Spark, and Scanner Pro, used by over 250 million people worldwide. He’s also a co-founder of Alter, the first AI philosophy app. “When I was 10 years old, my parents spent their entire life savings to buy a PC. Who would’ve thought that 25 years later, my brother and I would build a tech company with over 250 million people using our products?” Under his leadership, Readdle became a global success story: bootstrapped, highly profitable, and awarded App of the Year by Apple. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Bloomberg, TechCrunch, Forbes, and more. After stepping down from day-to-day operations, Denys took a two-year sabbatical — studying philosophy, neuroscience, and the future of humanity, while supporting children affected by the war in Ukraine. That journey led to his latest venture: Alter — the world’s first AI-powered philosophy app that brings ancient wisdom into the age of artificial intelligence. “In the world of AI, wisdom is not optional — it is necessary. We are under a terrific obligation to produce more reliable models of rationality and wisdom, so the machines we train can be geared toward the good and the beautiful. These machines must become silicon sages, not mechanical monsters.” Denys is passionate about the art of living a good life, which means cultivating virtue, acquiring wisdom, and pursuing meaning. In his free time Denys likes to race cars on a track, fitness challenges, angel investing and helping others.

Helping Ukraine 🇺🇦 win this war. Apps, Technology, neuroscience, philosophy, film making, fitness and racing. 250 million people who use our apps.

We must create silicon sages, not mechanical monsters

Designing spaces.