IYIE 2010 Award winner
IYIE 2010 AWARD WINNER – ERNESTS ŠTĀLS
British Council is happy to announce that the winner of International Young Interactive Entrepreneur award 2010 is Ernests Štāls.
Ernests is 27 years old entrepreneur, who runs his enterprise ‘Soon’ (http://radio.soon.lv, http://televizors.soon.lv), a company, which specializes in interactive internet and mobile solutions. Ernests has graduated from Ventspils University with a degree in economics.
Ernests did his IYIE Award final presentation and Q&A interview via Skype from Aalto University, where he took part in Aalto Venture Garage – a coaching event for entrepreneurs in Finland.
As IYIE 2010 Award winner Ernests is going from October 13th to 23rd to the UK to undertake 12 day long UK interactive industry programme along with other international IYIE 2010 award winners.
The finalists’ presentations took place in British Council Latvia office on September 22, when all 8 shortlisted candidates showed their presentations and answered to questions of jury panel.
Here is what several members of national jury said about Ernests performance:
“In his presentation during IYIE finals in Riga, Ernests demonstrated good knowledge of interactive sector, passion, innovative approach in product design and promotion as well as substantial previous entrepreneurial experience in the field. Together with excellent communications skills, these are all very important determinants which should ensure Ernest’s success in global arena and we all wish him very best in the IYIE competition in UK and his further entrepreneurship career.”
Dr. Arnis Sauka, Research Fellow and director of Entrepreneurship Courses at Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Head of IYIE Award Jury
“Oscar Wilde once said that it is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious. Ernests definitely is among the charming ones – very social-driven, willing and being able to share experiences with others. I also have a great respect to his work in interactive area.”
Martins Dambis, Managing Director at CUBE
As the second best finalist jury nominated Miķelis Baštiks from graphic design studio Asketic, who is developing such projects like www.Burtustype.com, which is a showcase of selected typography from the Baltic designers and Blog www.plikums.lv, which introduces the best Latvian graphic design works and designers. One of the Jury’s favourite participant was also Maris Pazars with his project www.buzzpodium.lv, which some of the Jury recognised as a product with the great international markets potential.
As the IYIE Award follow up activity British Council plans to organize an event with the UK’s interactive entrepreneurs as guest speakers where all IYIE 2010 award participants will also get an insight and feedback from Ernest’s experience and impressions acquired during the UK tour.
