Below is an interview conducted with David Bernstein, an American Fulbright Scholar completing a Master in Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the University of Luxembourg. Dave shares with us his view on entrepreneurship and what he has learned thus far in Luxembourg. Last but not least, Dave is joining Silicon Luxembourg’s team for three months as a business development and innovation intern! I’m really delighted to welcome him on board and enable him to discover the Luxembourgish startup ecosystem on the ground!
Dave, you’re currently a student at the University of Luxembourg completing a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Why did you choose this training program?
Entrepreneurship and innovation are two big “buzz words” that are constantly being thrown around in the world we live in today. However, I am a strong believer that they are more than just “hype” and are truly important to understand if you want to succeed in any type of business. Even in an established firm, entrepreneurial and innovative skills are now highly sought after in job candidates.
Furthermore, I am from the United States and wanted a more comprehensive worldview of these two topics. Given that Luxembourg is at the heart of Europe, I felt like it would be a great location to study. I feel fortunate to have been named a US Fulbright Scholar to Luxembourg and to be able to study these two great topics at an up-and-coming University.
What have you learned about entrepreneurship in your course so far?
There are three big points about entrepreneurship that I have learned in my course thus far. Firstly, entrepreneurial skills can be very useful in either a startup or established firm because the problem solving and teamwork skills involved are invaluable in either setting. Secondly, if you are starting a venture, the team is critical to the startups success! Lastly, the most successful entrepreneurs have passion for what they do and when they see a significant customer need, they aim to satisfy it.
Would you like to launch your own company someday?
After I complete my current degree and Fulbright experience in Luxembourg, I will return to the United States to earn a joint MD/MBA degree. Thus, I think my future will involve the health care industry. At some point, I would definitely like to start a company in the health care sector that helps in some way to deliver the highest quality care at an affordable price. With the incredible advancements in technology, I believe that there will be a significant increase in startups in the health care field, and I would love to be part of that movement.
How do you find the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Luxembourg?
Luxembourg is currently a hidden gem for entrepreneurs and startups, but it will not stay hidden for very long. The entrepreneurial ecosystem is strong and only improving. As the government and private corporations invest in initiatives to promote the “startup scene,” people are realizing more and more the immense potential of starting their business at the heart of Europe in Luxembourg.
What would you like to share with other students or young entrepreneurs?
I am a big believer that the more experiences people have, the more types of problems they will successfully be able to solve. Thus, I would urge other students and young entrepreneurs to engage in as many different experiences as possible!
Thank you Dave and welcome on board!
