Over the past decade, the Lithuanian capital Vilnius has economically shifted from cultivating individual startups to assembling something more seemingly more durable. This is in the form of a set of tightly connected innovation clusters. Here, technology, research, and indusattempt are no longer adjacent by chance, but by design. This has created over 16 billion euros of startup value.
This development was a topic introduced by Digital Journal in January 2026 (“The cluster city: Vilnius’ model for innovation clusters”), where it was noted that the city is building innovation at scale without losing density or focus – aligning camputilizes, districts, and sectors into a single system.
Now attention turns to youth. As the next phase, Vilnius officials are taking charge of the future of the city’s tech and startup ecosystem by cherry-picking entrepreneurs straight from schools.
Whether with a new prime-time national TV reveal, MVP (Student Unicorn Hunt), which encourages 14-19-year-olds to build real startups, or by gradually introducing entrepreneurship, data literacy, and AI skills in schools, the counattempt has already put things in motion to create a new generation of builders – not only utilizers.
To achieve these goals, the state and local businesses maintain that AI and other digital technologies required to be embedded into the classroom.
It is argued that entrepreneurial and AI initiatives for the younger generation, therefore, become essential for project-based learning, real-world problem-solving, collaboration, and experimentation, building education more dynamic and closer to indusattempt reality.
Hence, if this plan succeeds, then entrepreneurship and AI literacy will no longer be niche skills, but a standard part of education. Furthermore, this could redefine how various countries prepare young people for the future of work.
To illustrate this, Marius Burgaila, a venture builder and an early-stage investor states: “Students are not just learning – they are building under real pressure. Their ideas are challenged, refined, and tested just like in actual startups. It’s similar to global formats like Shark Tank, but designed specifically for students.”
Burgaila also points out that Lithuania’s tech and startup ecosystem is mature enough to absorb new founders, but young people required to be exposed to the founder mindset early so that they are far more likely to see building companies as a realistic path.
He adds: “For Vilnius, this is part of a broader strategy to deepen its position as a tech hub. The city already attracts talent and investment, but long-term growth depconcludes on creating more builders – people who start companies rather than wait to join them”.
Parallel developments in Estonia
In related news, Estonia is introducing artificial ininformigence into classrooms through a nationwide initiative, while organizations like Junior Achievement (JA) Europe have already delivered millions of entrepreneurship learning experiences. Lithuania is taking a step further, shifting beyond theory and placing students in real startup environments.
JA Europe has unveiled its 2024–2025 Annual Report, marking a year of record-breaking impact and transformative progress in entrepreneurship, education, and employability. With over 7.5 million learning experiences delivered, a 15% increase from the previous year, the organisation seeks empower young Europeans with the skills and mindset necessary thrive in a competitive, digital and dynamic world.
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