Misha Lanin
Strategic Content
Humanitarian Logistics
Journalism
misha.lanin@gmail.com
Sideko (2025)
Sideko can automatically generate SDKs, documentation, mock servers, and CLIs from any API spec. Now, how does one possibly explain this to a non-developer?
I joined forces with Sideko in early 2025 to tackle this. The product spoke for itself, but it needed a content strategy that could engage non-technical stakeholders without losing credibility among developers.
The most logical next step, naturally, was to compare APIs to the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Eiffel Tower, revisit the downfall of Nokia and its lasting impact on software, and explore what the bicycle can teach us about AI agents.
Sumsub (2020-2026)
Sumsub is a global platform for anti-money laundering, digital identity, and fraud prevention. I joined when it was still an early-stage startup, settling into a key editorial role as the company grew to 1,000+, expanded across continents, and became one of the most recognized brands in the space.
In an otherwise crowded segment, our differentiator was creative content and powerful storytelling. As Editor, I aligned tone across teams and regions, helping turn dense regulatory material into stories people actually wanted to engage with.
At Sumsub, we’ve been able to achieve an oxymoronic goal: creating viral compliance content. That is, a 475k+ subscriber YouTube channel, brand-owned media, reports on fraud and regulation cited by the UN, and much more.
Ukraine (2022-2023)
I arrived at the Hungary–Ukraine border (Tiszabecs-Berehove) in the first week of the war and rapidly scaled a humanitarian operation on the ground, resulting in my permanent relocation to the region for 18 months. I fundraised by communicating the exact needs on the ground, raising tens of thousands of dollars on social media overnight and converting it into direct, immediate, and transparent aid.
Over 36,000 pounds of food, medicine, and critical supplies into Ukraine. I also arranged temporary housing for displaced families, coordinated safe onward resettlement across Europe, ensured delivery of power generators during infrastructure bombings, and partnered with brands like Ford to procure vehicles for logistics and evacuation.
Because I was physically present on the ground, I communicated directly with those in need to deliver what was needed, when and where it was needed. I partnered with both governmental and non-governmental organizations on both sides of the border to ensure fast, safe passage of aid across a deeply complex and fragile logistical corridor.
Jalopnik (2019-2021)
Jalopnik is one of the most-read automotive sites in the world. As a journalist, I covered car culture across Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and my hometown, New York City, using the automotive world to tell deeper stories about history and society.
My features include the demise of the Soviet Union and how it gave rise to Japanese car culture in Siberia, the limousines that ferried Wall Street power brokers around when they crashed the global economy in 2008, why Finnish people risk their lives to watch rally cars crash in the woods, and more. Most of my stories drew over 100,000 views in under 48 hours and ranked among the site’s best-performing articles.