Our story
In the early 1990s, Ali Giray, a Kurdish refugee who moved from Turkey to Finland, was forced by circumstances to act as an interpreter for his parents, his friends, and eventually even for strangers while still a child. He experienced firsthand how even the smallest things can become complicated when there is no common language.
Ali recognized the need to improve the accessibility of interpreting services. He met Heikki Vepsäläinen, who has a background in software development and is now Youpret’s CEO and CTO. Heikki’s technological expertise also attracted a third partner, Teemu Purmonen, a seasoned professional from the business world. From the very beginning, the team has also included Pekka Nurmela, a specialist in digital business.
Youpret has transformed the interpreting industry in Finland – and is now bringing the same innovation to Iceland. Before the company was founded, getting an interpreter was difficult, expensive, and time-consuming. We developed an intelligent app that makes our entire wide network of interpreters just a phone call away. The app connects clients with interpreters across the country, including remote areas, enabling our services to operate efficiently throughout the whole country and bringing work to where the interpreters are.
From the very beginning, Youpret has aspired to be the fairest provider of interpreting services in the language industry. Our goal is to grow responsibly, and the B Corp sustainability certification demonstrates that we are already well on our way to achieving it.