Kristofs Blaus, Tech Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of StartSchool and Nutrameg
Latvians are a successful nation, and before the Soviet occupation, we were among the 10 wealthiest societies in Europe (measured by GDP per capita), right behind France and Norway. We have shown enough determination and unity to win our free country twice. What new momentum can we unite for now so that, within our lifetime, we can see Latvia once again among the leaders of European prosperity?
Just as a century ago, prosperity was achieved through reforms in the critical sectors of that era — agriculture and industry — today, with decisive investments in the defining sector of the 21st century — technology — we can place Latvia at the forefront of European prosperity. In neighboring Estonia, more than 13,000 professionals are now working in startups, and this year, the turnover of startups will exceed three billion euros. In less than 20 years, Estonians can boast 10 unicorns, four of which have achieved this status in just the last three years. It is worth paying attention to the dynamics of the technology sector — under favorable conditions, growth becomes exponential. A visit to Tallinn is enough to see how the development of the technology business has positively transformed the entire society and environment — architecture, roads, restaurants, culture, etc. Thus, although the technology business may not employ many people, it creates disproportionately large value capable of transforming the entire society. If we act now and invest in the future of the technology business, we will see our Latvia once again in the leading positions in Europe.
A Handful of Technology Leaders Influence the Welfare of the Entire Society
Unlike agriculture, industry, and similar sectors, the technology business is not a mass discipline and will not be the numerically largest sector with the most employees in the near future. However, this is not a flaw of the sector but its magic—a small group of highly prepared and motivated professionals make up the elite of the technology business. This is true both for the world's technology epicenter, Silicon Valley, where behind the largest global tech companies and their growth stories stand just a few thousand leaders, and for our neighbors in Estonia, where all of today's unicorns have roots in the former Skype team. Therefore, it becomes a possible mission—with relatively small investments, we can lay the foundation for changes so that our children will come to know Latvia as a completely different society—an example for other countries. With this motivation, we, tech entrepreneurs and investors, united and founded StartSchool—to prepare smart, knowledgeable, and ambitious technology leaders in the coming years. Such leaders are currently lacking both in Latvia and globally. The school's graduates will drive the technology business environment—motivated leaders with their hearts in the right place, patriotic, sharp-minded, and equipped with world-class knowledge. In the spring, we received over 700 applications, and in September, the first 100 students will begin their studies in tuition-free spots funded by today's technology entrepreneurs with the motivation to see Latvia as a prosperous country.
Why Should Entrepreneurs Support StartSchool?
Because we can. How much success in business has come from waiting for others and hoping? The Freedom Monument was built with public donations. It was our own parents, not bureaucrats, who stood in the Baltic Way. Fifteen or twenty years ago, when our generation of entrepreneurs was just starting, the powerful entrepreneurs of that time helped the then-young ones by donating mentoring hours, organizing conferences, providing tech hub desks, etc. This helped the young ones understand something and get started. Now it is simply our generation's turn to take up the baton and do what we can for the greater good. Another argument is that well-prepared future leaders will compete less cannibalistically with local companies and will create more new world-class companies. The greater the business success in Latvia, the more every company benefits — there will be more outstanding professionals, and a larger overall market of knowledge and opportunities. Currently, StartSchool is looking for founding partners — companies that will support the school for its first three years until it becomes financially self-sufficient. It would be wonderful, after 10 years, when StartSchool graduates dominate Latvia's technology business (just as Stockholm School of Economics in Riga graduates dominate leadership and finance), to pat yourself on the back and say — yes, I contributed when there was an opportunity and it all began. I invite you not to stay on the sidelines and join the circle of founding partners, where you will undoubtedly recognize friendly faces and companies!
Comments