Member Spotlight: Hostinger CEO Daugirdas Jankus Joins the i2Coalition Board

Launched in 2004, Hostinger is making online success possible for anyone—from developers and bloggers to business owners. Hostinger’s AI-assisted website-building tools and hPanel technology have made getting online super-easy for over 2.5 million clients and counting.

Hostinger  is a member of the i2Coalition, and CEO Daugirdas Jankus has recently joined our Board of Directors, providing a deeper understanding of the forces that shape Internet policy in Europe. 

We spoke with Daugirdas about how he and his team rate the value of AI, hitting company milestones, and what it means to be online.

i2Coalition: Can you give us the elevator pitch for Hostinger? 

Daugirdas Jankus: Hostinger, the fastest-growing web hosting company in the world, makes online presence accessible to all entrepreneurs worldwide. We have 900 people on our team who bring e-shops, blogs, and talent-showcasing websites to life for around 2.5 million clients across 150 countries.

i2Coalition: How have you seen the hosting market evolve in recent years? 

DJ: There were a couple of significant tipping points for the whole industry. Firstly, the demand for web hosting drastically increased during the pandemic, accelerating small businesses and individuals’ need to get online so their businesses could survive the lockdowns. 

Second, the AI boom has made online presence even more accessible for everyone. As hosting services became a commodity, customers are seeking affordable, reliable, and easy-to-use tools and solutions. While sensitive to pricing, they still demand a wide range of features and customization options to suit their needs.

With growth has come some surprises, for the whole hosting industry! We experienced a short period of “holiday revenge’”’ during the summer of 2022, as people took vacations they hadn’t used during the pandemic and the creation of pages practically stopped. In 2023, we steadily grew without significant disruptions. We see that both mature and emerging markets globally still have huge potential.

Our numbers are in line with global trends, and the US was our fastest-growing market in 2023 despite North America’s web hosting market being highly competitive, with a large number of providers offering a wide range of services. 

Hostinger has been included in the Financial Times list of the fastest-growing European companies for four years in a row. The Hostinger group income increased by 64% in 2022, reaching €69.6 million, and we maintained a similar growth rate in 2023 as well, with a predicted market volume of US$345 billion by 2028.

i2Coalition: How have you been leveraging the recent advances in AI for your service offerings? 

DJ: We are AI optimists for sure, and believe that it will have a positive impact on both us and humanity. For example, launching a website used to be a boring and time-consuming task. With AI, we managed to simplify, optimize, and reduce this process to take just minutes. The Hostinger AI Website Builder empowers anyone with minimal technical experience to bring their website to life in four clicks! Currently, about two out of three client websites are created by Hostinger Website Builder. AI can now write blog posts and manage SEO tasks. Customers appreciate these services and choose them confidently. 

We have successfully integrated AI to assist the Customer Success department, and since May AI has been serving our customers by answering some of their questions directly. We are working to implement AI in all internal processes and strive to provide employees with maximum access to the latest AI tools and technologies so that monotonous tasks are minimized, and the focus is on what creates real value.

i2Coalition: What impact do you think recent geopolitical events have had on your more recent growth? 

DJ: Due to the war in Ukraine, we have ceased operations in Russia and Belarus. Services are also not available in other countries subject to international sanctions. Being a fully global company helps us grow without being disrupted or impacted too heavily by geopolitical events. We focus on delivering value to our customers and adapting to changing circumstances while maintaining a sustainable business model. 

i2Coalition: What prompted you to seek a spot on the i2Coalition board? 

DJ: To be honest, a board spot was not something I was seeking per se; however, I take it as an evaluation of all the work we are doing at Hostinger. For several years, we have been growing our footprint outside the United States, and my entry being approved proves that we have reached a significant global scale. Bringing this “rest of the world” feedback to i2Coalition seemed like such a good match, with lots of potential to generate more value for the whole ecosystem.

I am really humbled by this opportunity and look forward to contributing to scaling the i2Coalition initiatives outside the United States.

i2Coalition: Which i2Coalition initiatives connect most deeply with your team’s ethos?

DJ: At Hostinger, we aim to empower everybody with the opportunity to unlock the power of the Internet. It closely correlates with your mission to keep the Internet open as an engine for growth and innovation. 

At Hostinger, we have something similar to “The i2Coalition Insights & Innovation Committee”: our AI and Innovations, Learning and Development teams embody a similar spirit. This approach reflects the i2Coalition’s dedication to regular brainstorming and idea exchange, which we find invaluable.

Furthermore, our shared values in promoting workplace equity and inclusion align seamlessly with the i2Coalition’s efforts towards a more inclusive and diverse industry. We believe in creating an environment where everyone can thrive and succeed, and we see this mirrored in the i2Coalition’s initiatives toward a more informed, innovative, and inclusive future in the hosting industry.

i2Coalition: Where does government policy interface with your work on a daily basis?

DJ: Data protection and privacy regulations set by government bodies impact how we handle and secure our clients’ data. Compliance with these policies is paramount, and we continuously adapt our security measures to align with evolving legal requirements. 

Also, AI will bring many more changes to our industry, sparking discussions among regulators and decision-makers. By working together, internet infrastructure providers can have a unified position, better represent our customers, and support innovation. The technological future is exciting, and it’s beneficial to trust in it with a reliable ally within the community.