Funzi’s Founder Aape Pohjavirta, a serial entrepreneur and longtime entrepreneurial activist, shares a practical solution to tackle the challenges of the world:
Founder at Funzi. Social good entrepreneur. Transformative education and sustainability activist.
I am worried, very worried. Rant follows. [TL;DR: An impactful solution to many of the big problems of our world can be found through entrepreneurship. Scaling up entrepreneurship training is a critical component in reaching the United Nations SDGs by 2030. However, nobody seems to care. That must change.] The world is changing faster than ever before, and uncertainties are shaping the world more often than before. Amidst all of these developments, there are billions of people who are uncertain about their future work, and it is this uncertainty that fuels the radicalism that we see in so many societies in the world. Why do I worry? Because I see a lot of politicians and decision-makers globally talking about possible solutions to the challenges of the world, but I see only very few coming up with practical solutions and plans. Why is that the case? Simply because the problems that must be solved are simultaneously complicated and complex and global and local. They are problems that are ‘wicked problems.’ Problems that have no simple solutions. Yet, a solution exists, a single solution that will solve all problems as well as possible, as fast as possible, and as frugally and sustainably as possible. That solution is entrepreneurship. Instead of hoping that the companies and structures that got us here would get us out of here, let us focus on creating solutions that get us to a better place. What worries me is that nobody seems to care anymore. About a decade ago, the entrepreneurial use of new technologies and research findings was celebrated and promoted. I personally saw and experienced the tremendous impact of Aalto Entrepreneurship Society & Startup Sauna & Slush and the Global Impact Accelerator financed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. But instead of complaining about the situation, we need to do something about it. If you're not a part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. We at Funzi have solved one part of the problem: we give everyone with a mobile device access to an impactful mobile course about how to become a Founder - and we have a blended learning program ‘Entrepreneur Launchpad’ that communities, learning institutions, and hub operators can use at very friendly terms. In order to create the hundreds of millions of new jobs that the world needs over the next decade, we need to start tens of millions of companies. It’s a monumental task that requires new approaches and tools. But most importantly, it all starts with a decision. Your decision. What will you do next? LiG [Images from the glorious past of an entrepreneurial future]
