Aljaž Osetič is a 4th-year student at Velenje High School. And like every high school student, he also has to take the matriculation exam first, and then study. But Aljaž was not satisfied with just anything, he enrolled at the exclusive entrepreneurial university in Watson, USA, where only fifteen students per year are taught by Nobel laureates. He successfully passed the entrance exam, and so this year at the end of August, he is going to face new challenges. Even earlier, he will finish his project with the Trjajalnik team, where they developed a product to shorten the reaction time of firefighters during an intervention (a sign that a volunteer firefighter places with a magnet on the roof of his vehicle when driving in an emergency). What does the future alma mater bring and what does the project mean for firefighters, below.
1. You are one of the young entrepreneurs participating in Trjajalnik, and part of the team that developed a product to shorten the reaction time of firefighters during an intervention. Tell us more about this project.
In Velenje, several of us visited Mati's (ob. Matija Goljar) entrepreneurial circle. First, we learned a lot there, but then it was time to move on to realizing our ideas. We found that we operate in similar areas, even if in different places around Velenj. For example, we were interested in firefighting, entrepreneurship in general and sports. But then, after a really long conversation with Matija, it dawned on us and we immediately knew that we wanted to do something right for the firefighters. We found that the biggest problem is the reaction time and what happens to us firefighters at that time. We came to the realization that we had to make a product in this direction, and that's how the sign was created, which a volunteer firefighter uses a magnet to place on the roof of his vehicle when driving in an emergency. In any case, the development of the product ran so quickly because we all knew the field of firefighting and its problems.
2. What stage is the product at - will it be available for use in the real world soon? What plans do you have for him? Are you planning to market it in Slovenia or abroad?
we are doing great with the product. It's great because we have a member of the team who was not such a passionate firefighter, but is a pure multi-tasker and really knows technical things. We have already sorted out a lot of the bureaucracy, we still have quite a bit of work to do and we will be able to put it on the shelves. We have two channels through which we will sell it. Through ProZir, which also supported us financially, and the website Gasilec112, which will help us via e-mail and the social network Facebook.
3. Did any interesting anecdote happen during product development?
The most interesting anecdote is the whole process, that is, from the idea to the final product. All these arrangements, meetings, help from the right people at the right time, who, for example, introduced us to the Alibaba website and the fact that you can achieve what you want with just one email sent. No one teaches us this at school, you learn everything through experience - and thank God they told us and made it possible at Prajjajalnik.
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The surroundings were both happy and surprised and confused. Everyone was happy that I was doing it and that I was doing something that was different, that I was doing something that others weren't. But nobody really understood what it meant and what I was doing. I got the feeling that we are still in socialism, where everything is from the state and you can't do anything on your own.
5. You were accepted to study at Watson University in the USA, for which you also received a scholarship. What is your study program? Why did you decide to study abroad and why this particular university?
Matija introduced me to the university personally. When the circle was over and the others left, I always stayed and talked to Matija. I knew that a Slovenian college would not bring me what I wanted, so I thought this alternative was excellent. It also helped that two students of Prjjajalnik had already attended this university (Jernej Pangeršič and Anja Krašovec).
I don't know that much about the university yet, I could say more after my education there, but I certainly immediately connected with their mentality - you have to use what they will teach you for the good of others. I also liked the fact that they are aware that the school system in the USA is similarly bad as in Slovenia and that they want to change it. Of course, I was also attracted to the subject of entrepreneurship and the college, which allows you to adapt the curriculum to your interests and hobbies.
6. The selection process for admission to the university, where only 15 students are admitted annually, was probably quite difficult. Can you describe to us the course of the selection process? How did you prepare and what was the hardest part for you?
The application is very difficult, the university receives an enormous number of applications, the questions are complex, almost essay-type. But at no point was I asked for grades. The only thing that mattered to them was what I was doing on the side and why I was doing it.
A recommendation also helps with every application. I was lucky enough to have two. The first one from Matija, since at that time I also started working on Trjajalnik's social networks, and a recommendation from George Deris, who I had the opportunity to meet in the summer and who saw potential in me. A few years ago, he himself was a professor at this university.
After submitting the application, there was a Skype call, they were interested in many things, mainly about my opinion and general thinking. It wasn't a raw presentation of data, but rather a conversation with a 'psychologist' who is also the director of Apple.
7. What do you expect from the future? Do you intend to return to Slovenia?
I definitely plan to return to Slovenia. The goal is to gain as much knowledge and experience as possible, maybe even an investment, and then come back and ensure a good result here.
