
How to make small talk without dreading it
Small talk goes better than you think. How to make small talk at work, with strangers, and at a party, with practical lines and expert-backed advice.
A self-improvement app with 1M downloads and 400,000 monthly active users, RiseGuide helps you replace doomscrolling with structured micro-learning backed by real expert insights — so you can become a better version of yourself.
In 2020 “doomscrolling”became one of the Oxford English Dictionary’s words of the year. Post-pandemic digital fatigue had everyone exhausted — and despite 53% of Americans wanting to reduce their phone time, only 10–12% successfully stick to strict app usage limits.
Four years later, in 2024, Oleksandr Matsiuk founded RiseGuide to turn the world’s most addictive devices into a tool for learning and growth. He believes you can’t restrict your way out of digital addiction — the only real solution is strategic substitution: replacing mindless scrolling with a “smart” scrolling experience that redirects the same dopamine loop toward learning and self-growth.
That idea shaped RiseGuide: an alternative to passive consumption, with thousands of hours of expert knowledge distilled into short, mobile-friendly lessons that are easy to learn and apply — helping you improve your mind, communication, and discipline.
We believe that human experience is the greatest source of knowledge. Nothing can replicate or substitute it. Learning from the successes — and the failures — of others gives us unlimited opportunities for growth.
I was always fascinated by biographies of remarkable people — how they explained their path, what made them successful. I wanted to aggregate that knowledge and make it accessible. That’s what RiseGuide is: unrealized potential is the world’s greatest tragedy, and we’re here to change that.Oleksandr Matsiuk· Founder & CEO, RiseGuide

Oleksandr Matsiuk is a Ukrainian entrepreneur based in Warsaw with a track record in venture capital, product development, and growth.
He holds a Master’s in Strategy and International Management from the University of St. Gallen and a Bachelor’s in International Business from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
Previously, as Head of Growth at SKELAR, he analyzed 5,000+ startups and launched several zero-to-one projects. He went on to co-found Trible, a platform for creators, where he led product strategy and operations from inception to a successful exit and acquisition.
Oleksandr was raised in a culture of high expectations, and developed a philosophy of “maximums” — always aiming to turn potential into action. That mindset, combined with hands-on experience across startups, VC, and product scaling, shaped his vision for RiseGuide.
Connect on LinkedInFrom a single observation about modern attention — to a self-improvement movement.
The Oxford English Dictionary names doomscrolling a word of the year. Post-pandemic digital fatigue reaches its peak.
Oleksandr Matsiuk launches RiseGuide with a clear mission: turn mindless scrolling into expert-led growth scrolling.
RiseGuide launches SEEK — a closed-loop search engine powered by verified expert knowledge, processing 10,000+ searches per day.
RiseGuide hits 400,000 MAU with 1,000,000 total downloads and a 4.6/5 rating across stores.
Smartphones are no longer a source of regret but a catalyst for untapped potential.
Four building blocks that make learning stick.





Small talk goes better than you think. How to make small talk at work, with strangers, and at a party, with practical lines and expert-backed advice.


