ISSUE 7 FALL / WINTER 2017
SiGMA INTERVIEWS SIMON AZZOPARDI, PRESIDENT AND ONE OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF SILICON VALLETTA, WHO EXPLAINS WHY MALTA IS THE SILICON VALLEY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.
Interview | SiGMA
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Simon Azzopardi, how do you perceive the What’s driving startup growth in Malta? startup ecosystem reality in Malta? Malta has built a decent tech community through the gaming When you think of startups, you immediately industry, and furthermore, understand and operate in a highly think of Silicon Valley, London and Berlin. We competitive market. Entrepreneurs are emerging from the think of fast growth companies with silly valuations industry to set up their own startups, whether in gaming or that change the world. Even Maltese people don’t not, and we are seeing investors look at Malta closely due consider Malta as a startup hub. However, Malta does to the quality opportunities increasingly being based here. have a role in the startup world, and we have proven it. Another driver of the startup ecosystem’s importance is Before tech startups were even a thing, Malta was already the basic need to diversify our reliance on one sector a powerhouse for global companies. To name a few; GLI, and leverage Malta’s existing top rated talent and with its unicorn valuation, EC School, a global English laguage skill sets based here from across the globe. institution, as well as TOLY, which is globally renowned for cosmetics. All three had humble startup beginnings in Malta. The startup ecosystem today is very much alive with some awesome companies with bold Why did you decide to launch Silicon Valletta? missions. From Oulala that are owning the The tech startup community believed in Malta being known for its fantasy football space, to Sherpa that are achievements, as well as the opportunity should Malta accelerate its reinventing insurance. We have seen ability to be even more attractive. Therefore, a group of entrepreneurs startups raise millions of Euros and got together to develop Silicon Valletta to do exactly that, promote Malta advisory boards back local teams to as a startup jurisdiction and act as a reference point for government to solve global problems. The startup foster greater opportunities to attract talent, entrepreneurs and investors. scene is most certainly a reality, and we believe that we are just at the Silicon Valletta has been featured in some of the top global media outlets, beginning. including Forbes and Huffington Post, and helps organise Malta largest tech event Zest with the support of the MCA, attracting investors and startups to the island. Silicon Valletta have recently opened up membership and have gathered quite a bit of interest from like-minded people, all wishing to support and rally behind Malta’s potential.
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