Colleges Become Startup Incubators: Some Students Intern at Their Own Companies

Young people are increasingly opting to build their own businesses rather than waiting for traditional employment, according to Nikolaj Ambrusevič, head of the International Business Department at VIKO's Faculty of Business Management. Students are arriving with business ideas and even prior entrepreneurial experience, eager to apply their knowledge and test new solutions.

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Young people are increasingly choosing not to be employed, but to create their own businesses.

Ambrusevič notes that college classrooms are becoming incubators for innovative startup ideas. These range from handmade goods and virtual solutions to expanding auto repair businesses, developing e-commerce platforms, and improving delivery services. The current generation of students is characterized by their drive, boundless creativity, and a focus on practical benefits and comfort.

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Current students are distinguished not only by their curiosity but also by their desire to immediately apply the knowledge gained, to test the latest solutions. The new generation is characterized by enthusiasm, dream-building without any limits, the search for benefits, and ensuring comfort.

Gediminas Paulauskas, a VIKO alumnus, exemplifies this trend. After graduating, he worked abroad before returning to Lithuania and starting an e-commerce store. However, his passion for parkour eventually led him to establish the Lithuanian Parkour Association and ultimately to his current role leading "360 Arena." He credits his studies with providing not only knowledge and time management skills but also the courage to pursue his ideas.

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Modern students are not afraid to experiment, to take risks, to change the business models being developed, and they adapt quickly to changes. Belief in the idea, consistency in its development, and the ability to apply knowledge in practice help achieve excellent results.

Ambrusevič also highlights Jonas Jakštas, founder of "OmniBusinessLab." Jakštas developed an AI-based business during his studies, which later transformed into "OmniBusinessLab." Ambrusevič initially had reservations but witnessed the student's growth and willingness to experiment. He emphasizes that success often comes not from doing everything perfectly, but from acting, analyzing, learning from mistakes, and adapting the initial idea.

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Success is determined not only by the idea but also by the ability to implement it.