Inc. magazine: “beautiful, undiscovered, vibrant Vilnius”

Vilnius is gaining international attention as a serious hub for startups – and not just in the usual sectors. In a recent Inc. magazine feature, best-selling author and longtime small-business columnist Steve Strauss explores the history and mindset behind Lithuania’s booming startup ecosystem, with a particular focus on its strength in defense technologies. During his visit to Vilnius for the Going Global events organized by Go Vilnius, Strauss delivered a keynote at Investor Camp and moderated a panel at the Startup Fair.

Strauss, author of The Small Business Bible and a leading voice on entrepreneurship, visited Vilnius to deliver a keynote at the Vilnius Startup Fair. What he didn’t expect, he writes, was how deeply advanced defense innovation is woven into the country’s startup landscape. In his words, he arrived in “beautiful, undiscovered, vibrant Vilnius” – only to find a world-class ecosystem producing impressive, high-tech, and powerful defense technologies.

Strauss places great emphasis on Lithuania’s own history as the driving force behind this focus. Decades of perseverance, regained independence, and a strong national commitment to sovereignty have shaped an entrepreneurial culture that prioritizes resilience, preparedness, and technological excellence. In that context, defense innovation isn’t reactive – it’s strategic.

The article highlights how this historical awareness, combined with strong public-private cooperation and a globally minded startup community, has positioned Vilnius as a fast-growing business hub in the Baltic region, particularly for founders building technologies with real-world impact.

Read the full article in Inc.:
The History Behind Lithuania’s Booming Startup Ecosystem