How To Become a Master in the Startup Decathlon

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Inga Külmoja

Yrjo Ojasaar is an internationally successful entrepreneur, consultant, negotiator, and an occasional angel investor. He is also a valued teacher in our master’s programme entitled Design and Development of Virtual Environments. Yrjo gave a quick online interview with his initial reflections on the MIT Global Startup Workshop that is taking place in Tallinn this week, the upcoming disruption in global education, constituents of good entrepreneurial education, and start-ups.

@ Good afternoon, Yrjo! You'll be leading a panel discussion at the MITGlobal Startup Workshop today - what to expect from this event?
March 25, 2013 2:32 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu

@ @ has given us over 20 Nobel laureates and startups that employ over 3 million people - so expect a lot 😉
March 25, 2013 2:34 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ great insights about entrepreneurship, exciting new ideas and motivation to take businesses global
March 25, 2013 2:35 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ We'd be very interested in some Nobel laureates, too 😉 Do you know if many Estonian startups are taking part?
March 25, 2013 2:36 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu

@ there were several startup founders at the welcome MIT reception sponsored by US embassy & I have seen familar faces today
March 25, 2013 2:37 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ Can we speak of any trends in the global startup scene?
March 25, 2013 2:40 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu

@ hot topic has recently been #education
March 25, 2013 2:40 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ lots of disruption coming in the next few years in that market
March 25, 2013 2:41 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ great interview with@ http://t.co/4yO9uAJhQq: why 50% of Universities will be gone within 15 years
March 25, 2013 2:42 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ Khan Academy and others are creating tremendous innovation in this niche
March 25, 2013 2:43 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ So these changes in #education are related to the massive open online courses? #MOOC
March 25, 2013 2:44 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu

@ absolutely, that model is showing how online education can in fact be far superior to classroom teaching
March 25, 2013 2:47 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ it is also democratizing education, so Ivy League quality can be within reach of anyone and everyone
March 25, 2013 2:47 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ traditional education will be revolutionized adding practical and entrepreneurial experiences, & much better instruction
March 25, 2013 2:49 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ why listen to ur local out of date prof, if you can learn from the best in the world (+ rewind, comment, share, etc)?
March 25, 2013 2:51 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ You are teaching in our Master's programme: Design& Development of Virtual Environments (@). How is #MOOC affecting it?
March 25, 2013 2:50 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu

@ integration of best of breed teaching + visuals + exercises is a must to stay relevant
March 25, 2013 2:52 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ If we talk about @, then what are these virtual environments? Please bring some examples.
March 25, 2013 2:54 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu

@ from @, @, down to any internet based community and business
March 25, 2013 2:57 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ And what skills do you need to build such virtual environments?
March 25, 2013 2:58 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu

@ interdisciplinary skills are key - understanding the psychology of users, design, and business modeling are all important
March 25, 2013 2:59 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ another key aspect is working with international teams across time zones and cultures
March 25, 2013 3:00 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ So it's not just about coding?
March 25, 2013 2:59 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu

@ coding is just one of element, to be successful you have to approach this like field a decathlon
March 25, 2013 3:01 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ you have to be good at many things to succeed internationally, technical part is only 1 aspect
March 25, 2013 3:01 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ Is it best to learn everything yourself, or should you rather invest in teamwork?
March 25, 2013 3:02 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu

@ softball Q 😉 Team is everything - I dont know a singe person, no matter how capable who could pull off 1man show for long
March 25, 2013 3:03 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ Ok 🙂 So all the viable skills that you mentioned - you & your colleagues are teaching them @?
March 25, 2013 3:06 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu

@ @ is a super program taught by people who are tops in their field, so lessons are über practical and entrepreneurial
March 25, 2013 3:07 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ but come check out for yourself - our lessons are open - stop by @ in Tallinn
March 25, 2013 3:09 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

See also what first-year student Himshwet Gaurav thinks about the master’s programme: Design and Development of Virtual Environments:

After a break in the MIT Global Startup Workshop, Yrjo answered a few more questions:

@ Are technological startups mostly for very young people - the generationthat grew up with the Internet, computer games, gadgets?
March 25, 2013 5:17 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu

@ average age of gamer 37 game buyer 41 - so tech startups are relevant for everyone http://t.co/Dz81Uuaa22
March 26, 2013 6:00 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ This weekend a #Garage48 event Tallinn Music 2013 was taking place. Thereseem to be plenty of startup events? Can there be too many?
March 25, 2013 5:19 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu

@ Max# people should get a taste of entrepreneurship, we are entering the age of #freeagents 4us lifetime employment =myth
March 26, 2013 6:03 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ What do you think about the saying that coding is becoming the new Latin?
March 25, 2013 5:20 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu

@ & world is becoming the new #Rome, our lives r fundamentally affected by code daily we should at least speak a few words
March 26, 2013 6:05 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

@ And finally, coming back to the disruption in education - how will it be affecting Estonian universities & their programmes in Est-n?
March 25, 2013 5:22 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite
@TartuUniversity
University of Tartu

@ triumph/disaster -depending on how open the leadership is in seizing the opportunities that revolutions present
March 26, 2013 6:08 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@yrjo
Yrjo Ojasaar

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