Ukrainian entrepreneur's app is blowing up in Silicon Valley - Here's how he did it
Ukrainian Max Lytvyn created the popular app Grammarly (photo: flickr.com)
Grammarly is a well-known AI-powered online platform that helps users write in English more effectively. Few people know that a Ukrainian built this app. Here is the story of how a guy from Kyiv, Max Lytvyn, built a multibillion-dollar company in the United States.
What is known about Max Lytvyn
Maksym Lytvyn was born on December 3, 1977, in Kyiv, where he received his basic education. He later graduated from the International Christian University in Kyiv with a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems.
He later moved to the United States, where he got an MBA in marketing and finance from Vanderbilt University.
He currently lives in Canada and holds Canadian citizenship.
How Lytvyn created Grammarly
Before Grammarly was founded, Lytvyn worked in the "black academic market." Graduates of the International Christian University began their business journey by selling term papers. In the early 2000s, they launched several websites offering texts written by foreigners for American students.
However, a "white streak" for their reputation soon followed.
The friends created the MyDropBox company, a platform for detecting plagiarism in academic papers. The project was successfully sold to Blackboard Inc., where Lytvyn worked as Product Strategy Director.
In 2009, Max Lytvyn, Oleksii Shevchenko, and Dmytro Lider founded Grammarly, an online service for improving written communication in English.
Max Lytvyn with business partners Oleksii Shevchenko and Dmytro Lider (photo: MC.Today)
"Happiness is not in money, but in doing good things used by millions of people," was the motto of the young entrepreneurs.
Initially targeted at students, the service quickly gained popularity in business, journalism, and the tech sector. As of 2025, more than 30 million people use Grammarly daily, and the company is valued at 13 billion dollars.
However, the founders call Forbes' estimate "inaccurate." Nevertheless, they do not disclose the company's financial details.
At Grammarly, Max Lytvyn is responsible for the growth strategy. Under his leadership, the company continuously improves its AI algorithms, adds new features, and expands its global presence.
Max Lytvyn (photo: Forbes)
Max Lytvyn's net worth
In 2020, Max Lytvyn's net worth was $250 million. At that time, he ranked 36th on Forbes' list of the richest Ukrainians.
Two years later, in December 2022, Lytvyn's net worth had grown to $2.3 billion, placing him second on Forbes' list of wealthiest Ukrainians.
In 2023, "NV Business" estimated Max Lytvyn's fortune at $865 million. He ranked seventh among the richest Ukrainians.
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According to Forbes, Max Lytvyn's net worth is estimated at $1.9 billion in 2025. He is listed among the world's wealthiest people. He currently resides in San Francisco.
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After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Lytvyn took a clear civic stance: Grammarly ended business operations in Russia and Belarus and donated all revenue from those markets to support Ukraine.
What is known about Grammarly
Grammarly is an AI-powered online platform that helps users write more effectively in English. It provides recommendations on grammar, spelling, punctuation, style, tone, and even detects potential plagiarism.
Grammarly's headquarters are in San Francisco, their offices are in Kyiv, New York, Vancouver, and Berlin.
There are several tiers:
- Grammarly Free – a free version with basic grammar and spelling checks
- Grammarly Premium – advanced features including style, tone, and plagiarism detection
- Grammarly Business – tools for team collaboration, brand consistency, and admin controls
- Grammarly for Education – support for students and educators in the learning process
Over time, the service has received several awards from authoritative sources. For example, TIME included Grammarly in its list of the 100 most influential companies.
Fast Company recognized the service as one of the most innovative AI companies. The app is also one of the best cloud companies on the Forbes Cloud 100 list.
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Sources: Wikipedia, Forbes, NV Business.
