„You don’t have to be in U.S. to create your own company. You can be successful in Moldova as well. Everything depends on you”. These were the words with which the famous American investor in start-ups and co-founder of the investment fund I/O Ventures, Paul Bragiel, has begun his public speech at the Government. Bragiel spoke to over 100 guests about his success story, about his life experience and the obstacles he encountered during his business activity.

 „My work activity was like a long journey. It was hard. There were even moments when I cried, but I went ahead. Since you're not dead yet, you can fight to win, in order to succeed and to be successful in the end”, said the investor. In his opinion, good things come back to each of us, that is why he urged young people to communicate their ideas, create partnerships and act together. „It does not matter what country are you from, what nationality do you have or where are you working. The talent you have is the most important thing”, he added.

When asked by Sergiu Nagailic, one of the event participants, which were the obstacles that he encountered in his entrepreneurial activity, Paul Bragiel answered: “The most difficult thing is to start. The big obstacle is the lack of courage to begin. Also, it is difficult to make people follow you in everything you do". In his turn, Sergiu Nagailic mentioned that is a good thing when such personalities come to Moldova in order to inspire the young people.

At the public conference, the USAID representative within the CEED II project, Tatiana Durlestean, has been also presented. She says that „the simple and open manner of Paul’s presentation, including the ability to draw people's attention and to instill confidence that it is possible to initiate a startup from the ground, is impressive”.

According to the investor’s opinion, there is no need to wait for someone to do something for us, to come some old man and help us financially. It depends on each person. „Namely this principle helped me to lay the foundations of three companies”, emphasized Paul Bragiel. So far, the investor initiated LEFORA, an innovative product of forums which has hosted more than 100 000 communities, MEETRO – the first social network based on geolocations and PARAGON FIVE, a video game development studio with offices in USA and Poland. “I invested in companies and in people because I had confidence that they will manage in their work, that they will try and will fight for their purposes”, concluded Bragiel.

The Paul Bragiel public conference at the Government has been organized by the Center for Electronic Governance (CGE), USAID CEED II and the Foreign Direct Investment Attraction Team under the Prime Minister. 

“The Moldovan Government needs enthusiasm, talent and entrepreneurial skills. That's why we invited Paul Bragiel in Chisinau”, declared the Technology Chief Coordinator of Government, Deputy Director of the Center for Electronic Governance Technology, Iurie Turcanu.