Jeff Wallace: Azerbaijani Startups Can Bridge Eastern and Western Markets
Jerusalem, 10 February, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Baku (Azertac) – Azerbaijan’s favorable business environment and attractive opportunities created for foreign investors, as well as the tax and customs privileges applied, constantly increase the interest of foreign investors in our country. Successful joint projects with foreign investors are being implemented in many areas such as renewable energy, industry, agriculture, tourism, transport, logistics and digitalization.
We present an interview with Jeff Wallace, founder of Global Kinetics, a market accelerator for early-stage and mid-stage customers in the US market, and a veteran enterprise mobility expert.
Wallace is also the co-founder of the mobile and online platform, Silicon Valley in Your Pocket (SVIYP). The platform gives entrepreneurs from around the world access to Silicon Valley content, training, and connections as they build their businesses.
As an expert on the startup ecosystem, how do you assess the current entrepreneurial landscape in Azerbaijan and what unique opportunities for development do you see?
With growing interest in sectors such as energy technologies, agricultural innovations and fintech, Azerbaijan’s entrepreneurial landscape is on a promising trajectory. Here, startups can leverage the country’s strategic location to act as a bridge between eastern and western markets. I had a great opportunity to work with several people in the Azerbaijani startup ecosystem to help foster numerous startups. This could help build strong cross-border collaborations between Azerbaijani startups and Silicon Valley mentors.
How should entrepreneurs in Azerbaijan use partnerships and collaboration to accelerate their development?
Entrepreneurs in Azerbaijan should prioritize creating strategic alliances, both locally and internationally. Collaboration with established companies, universities, global accelerators, and industry consultants can bring new knowledge and resources to drive growth, especially in fast-growing sectors. Through the “Silicon Valley in Your Pocket” platform, we help startup founders from around the world learn the evolving startup methods of Silicon Valley. Our goal is to help the entire startup team gain credibility and experience.
What business directions can you offer to Azerbaijani entrepreneurs?
I recommend that Azerbaijani entrepreneurs turn to structured mentoring programs with regional and global expertise. This can provide targeted advice, especially when the guide is a combination of local experts and international mentors. If startups want to expand into new geographies, using mentors in those target regions is crucial to gain both credibility and connections in the region, greatly facilitating market entry.
How do you imagine the role of global connections with international mentors for entrepreneurs in Azerbaijan?
Global connectivity is essential for entrepreneurs to access international markets, ideas, and mentorship. Connecting with global mentors can help bridge knowledge gaps, provide strategic perspectives, and open doors to partnerships that support long-term growth beyond local borders. Through the Silicon Valley in Your Pocket platform, we leverage a team of experienced mentors from around the world to help founders on their startup journey. We provide subject matter expertise and industry connections, including product-market fit, capital raising, and market commercialization.
Can you describe how your SVIYP project can help develop ecosystems, for example, in Azerbaijan?
SVIYP is a virtual startup accelerator that provides expertise to entrepreneurs around the world based on the “Nine Marks of Startup Success.” These core attributes assess startups on critical dimensions: product-market fit, competitive advantage, go-to-market strategy, business model, team strength, financial strength, market appeal, fundraising ability, and story quality.
SVIYP leverages this framework through its accelerator programs. These programs combine face-to-face and virtual learning with data-driven assessments. Supporting over 3,000 founders in over 40 countries, they offer specialized programs, including U.S. market penetration and AI strategies for startup founders. The platform works with a variety of stakeholders, including governments, universities, investors, mentors, and startup founders, to strengthen local startup ecosystems.
Once startups score highly on nine key attributes, SVIYP facilitates partnerships with eligible investors. They also provide access to Silicon Valley mentors, networking opportunities, and a comprehensive repository of resources including templates, guides, and calculators.
