# Alek Vernitsky

> Alek Vernitsky co-founded GetGoing, whose assets BCD Travel agreed to acquire in 2016, and co-founded aviation software company Portside with Alek Strygin in 2017. He led Portside as CEO until the March 2026 announcement naming Brandon Holden as his successor, continuing as a strategic advisor and board member with a focus on customers, product vision and AI innovation.

- **Role:** Co-founder, Strategic Advisor and Board Member at Portside
- **Organizations:** Portside, GetGoing, BCD Travel, thredUP, Bain & Company, Gap Inc., YPO, Brandeis Marin
- **From:** Odesa, Ukraine
- **Education:** B.A., Legal Studies, University of California, Berkeley, MBA, Harvard Business School
- **Known for:** Co-founded two travel and aviation technology businesses, GetGoing and Portside., Led GetGoing through its corporate travel pivot and the 2016 BCD Travel asset purchase agreement., Led Portside during its $50 million Series B financing in February 2023.

## Career timeline

- **2002-2005** — Project manager at Gap Inc., according to public career records.
- **2007-2009** — Attended Harvard Business School.
- **2009-2011** — Worked at Bain & Company as a manager.
- **2011** — Co-founded GetGoing with Alek Strygin and Ilya Gluhovsky; served as CEO.
- **2012** — GetGoing participated in Y Combinator’s Summer 2012 batch.
- **2014** — GetGoing partnered with BCD Travel to power its hotel booking platform.
- **2016** — BCD Travel announced an asset purchase agreement with GetGoing; Vernitsky joined as SVP, Product Strategy.
- **2016-2017** — Served as SVP and Head of Product at thredUP.
- **2017** — Co-founded Portside with Alek Strygin.
- **2023** — Portside announced a $50 million Series B led by Insight Partners.
- **2025** — Portside launched Horizon for larger and more complex flight operations.
- **2026** — Brandon Holden succeeded him as Portside CEO; Vernitsky continued as strategic advisor and board member.

## Achievements

- Co-founded two travel and aviation technology businesses, GetGoing and Portside.
- Led GetGoing through its corporate travel pivot and the 2016 BCD Travel asset purchase agreement.
- Led Portside during its $50 million Series B financing in February 2023.
- Named as a co-inventor on the 2014 published patent application Using Multi-Destination Searches to Facilitate the Purchase of Travel Itineraries.

## Latest updates

- **2026-03** — Portside announced new Vista Equity Partners investment and named Brandon Holden CEO; Vernitsky continued as strategic advisor and board member.
- **2026-04** — In a joint interview with Holden, Vernitsky described plans to work with large customers requiring multiple solutions and complex implementations.
- **2026-09** — Portside announced investment in four core scheduling systems and practical AI capabilities, including Roger AI scheduling assistance in beta; this is company context following his transition.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alekvernitsky

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/alek-vernitsky
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-25