Interview with Reza Ghiabi in the book “A Study of Eight Years of Iranian Information and Communication Technology”

The book “A Study of Eight Years of Iranian Information and Communication Technology” entitled “Reckless Hope” was published. The technology and innovation ecosystem is entering almost a decade of its formation in the country.

Information technology historian and book author Ali Mohammadzadeh spoke with Reza Ghiabi about forming a startup ecosystem in the country and its future. In the book’s third volume, he writes about the reason for talking to Ghayabi: “Reza Ghayabi was active in the first generation of startups in the country as a consultant and mentor, and he has good international experiences in the startup ecosystem.”

In his absence from observations in the early days of the emerging ecosystem, he says: Some were tired or unable to leave. Even some people who could have emigrated were returning to the country, and I felt I could help. “So I was a mentor at about forty Startup Weekends held between 1990 and 1994-95, passing on what I was learning from the industry to the kids and helping them get acquainted with the real world of Iran.”

Regretting that the country’s youth have become more frustrated with the startup ecosystem since 1990, he said of regulation and improper organization in this area: We can not use it to its full potential. (Some trustees) find the youngsters annoying. It would be better if they did not find it annoying and nothing needed to be organized! “Young Iranians are the beating heart of Iran and have kept it alive.”

Regarding the performance of the Vice President for Science and Technology, especially regarding the facilitation of licenses, Ghiabi says, “The mind of an Iranian is caught in obtaining a license, and in doing anything, he asks the question, with whose permission and with what license is the relevant work done?” We have an economy based on rent and information power, and for this reason, there is even a market for buying and selling licenses. The deputy has naturally performed well and, in my opinion, has tried to build an island for people who have different ideas. “But experience has shown that the island is unlikely to be sustainable and that supporting startups requires national determination.”

He also criticizes the performance of startup mentors in the country, saying, “One of our tragedies is that many people here go from new mentors to management and career success, not the other way around.” You have to be somewhere in another industry to be a role model. Consulting is an important technique, as much as production and sometimes even more so. We need pragmatic mentors and consultants. “I say you can not advise on something until you have done it yourself, and you should have done it at least on a scale.”

Reza Ghayabi emphasizes the events in the country’s innovation field: “I see the event as a medium, and every medium has two heads; it both speaks and hears. An event is inherently an appointment; we come together to say and hear, think about something, or enter a new space of thought. We can not say that we hold a startup event, and after that, you will become an entrepreneur! “That’s why society is so frustrated with events and sees no way out because instead of learning and socializing, it expects immediate entrepreneurship from the event.”

Reza Ghiabi, in response to what advice he has for the next generation in the startup ecosystem, says: “First of all, I have learned that this generation does not listen much to advise from us and says that if you have the right advice, use it for yourself! The fact is that we have remained in our work as a generation! We must make the new generation, the majority of the country’s population, comfortable and do whatever they want. They have the right to do whatever they want, and if it is to our detriment, it is our problem. We must try not to give too much direction to this great force and this beating heart that is in the heart of our country and go its own way. This generation does not even want to belong to its decade; how do we expect it to belong to our company? How do we expect it to belong to our brand? My advice to them is to do whatever you want. Get your rights from this world. Make the world a better place. Do what they have not been able to do before. You have the energy and the power, and you have the consciousness. If today’s your decision to be like this, it’s fine. You wanted to stay, and you wanted to go, you wanted to come back… But whatever you do, you are Iranian, and everything has a meaning. One thing in your DNA and one thing in your religion and thought have been with you since you were born. Deal with these. Once you get along with them, you can serve them and be served by them. “It is then that Iranian culture becomes sacred to you, and whatever your beliefs are, whatever they are, becomes valuable.”

The book “A Study of Eight Years of Iranian Information and Communication Technology entitled Untold Hope” was published in April 1401 by the Information Age Analysts Company. This book is provided in three volumes, including the yearbook of information technology news, thirty-two specialized report titles, and twelve detailed interviews with industry experts and experts.