# Mikhail Tokovinin

> Mikhail Tokovinin is a Russian software founder, operator and author who co-founded QSOFT before creating amoCRM, the sales platform known internationally as Kommo. His career runs from teenage computer trading and cold calls for web-design work to a self-funded SaaS product, a San Francisco office, a majority investment by 1C, stadium-scale business events and a public body of practical, sometimes contrarian thinking about sales and management.

- **Role:** Co-founder of Kommo (formerly amoCRM)
- **Organizations:** Kommo, amoCRM, QSOFT, AIC+QSOFT
- **From:** Moscow, Russia
- **Nationality:** Russian
- **Education:** Automotive engineer, Moscow Automobile and Road Construction State Technical University (MADI)
- **Known for:** Co-founded QSOFT and helped grow it from a three-person, roughly $1,000 start into an established web-development company., Created amoCRM as a self-funded SaaS product for small and midsize sales teams., Opened a San Francisco office in 2011 as part of the company's international expansion.

## Career timeline

- **c. 1995** — As a teenager, bought, repaired and resold used computer equipment.
- **2003** — Graduated from MADI as an automotive engineer after working as a systems administrator while a student.
- **2004** — Co-founded web-development studio QSOFT with Denis Mitrofanov and Alexander Sukhov.
- **2009** — Began developing self-funded SaaS products, including the sales system that became amoCRM.
- **2011** — Opened a company office in San Francisco to learn the US market and support international expansion.
- **2012** — Launched amoCRM as a focused cloud CRM for small sales teams.
- **2015** — QSOFT formed an alliance with digital design company AIC.
- **2016** — 1C acquired a 51 percent controlling stake in amoCRM; management remained in place.
- **2018** — Organized an amoCONF event for 25,000 attendees at Moscow's Olympic Stadium.
- **2022** — Co-authored the sales book 'Sales to People: amoCRM in the First Person' with Matvey Kardash; amoCRM's international brand became Kommo.
- **2024** — A 2024 edition of 'Sales to People' was published by Alpina PRO.
- **2025** — Discussed international growth, the economics of SMB software and AI in a long-form interview with Oscar Hartmann.

## Achievements

- Co-founded QSOFT and helped grow it from a three-person, roughly $1,000 start into an established web-development company.
- Created amoCRM as a self-funded SaaS product for small and midsize sales teams.
- Opened a San Francisco office in 2011 as part of the company's international expansion.
- Led amoCRM through a 2016 transaction in which 1C acquired a 51 percent stake while the management team stayed in place.
- Helped evolve amoCRM into Kommo, a messaging-focused CRM brand serving businesses internationally.
- Organized a 25,000-attendee amoCONF event at Moscow's Olympic Stadium in 2018.
- Co-authored the book 'Sales to People: amoCRM in the First Person.'

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Continued publishing business commentary and promoting new YouTube episodes through his public Telegram channel.
- **2025-02** — Appeared in a long-form interview with Oscar Hartmann about international market expansion, SMB software economics and AI.
- **2024-11** — A conference talk about his path from early ventures to amoCRM was published as a Biz360 profile.
- **2024** — Alpina PRO published a 2024 edition of 'Sales to People: amoCRM in the First Person.'

## Links

- Website: https://www.kommo.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikhailtokovinin
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mtokovinin

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/mikhail-tokovinin
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-26