On October 22, the Nicolaus Copernicus Superior School hosted a meeting with Fred Schmidt, a 40-year veteran of the technology and creative industries, entrepreneur from Austin, Texas, investor, and grandson of the eminent Polish scientist Jan Czochralski, a pioneer of the silicon era.

Fred Schmidt gave a lecture entitled “From Refugee to MBE – An Improbable Journey,” in which he presented his professional and life journey – from his roots in Poland to an international career in the world of technology, creativity, and business. His speech was a story of courage, perseverance, and the power of entrepreneurship in times of dynamic change. Schmidt was born in the same house in Kcynia, Poland, that his grandfather designed and where the family lived until the chemist’s death. In 2025, he regained his Polish citizenship. His biography is a remarkable combination of family heritage, international business experience, and a passion for supporting young innovators.

In his speech, he emphasized the importance of technology as a tool for connecting people and ideas, rather than as an end in itself. He spoke about the role of creativity in the innovation process, the need for cooperation between science and business, and the importance of building global bridges between research centers, startups, and investors.

The discussion touched on topics such as differences in the culture of innovation between the US and Europe, the development of startup ecosystems, and ways to support young entrepreneurs in Poland. Fred Schmidt pointed out that the greatest capital of the future is people who are able to combine technological knowledge with vision and empathy. He also pointed to the enormous potential of the Polish scientific and technological community in building cooperation with American partners. As he emphasized, “what once seemed local can today become global in a matter of months—if we combine passion, technology, and the courage to act.”

The lecture was followed by a discussion covering topics such as the role of creativity in a world dominated by technology, differences in innovation culture between the US and Europe, and opportunities for cooperation between Polish research centers and the American startup community.

Fred Schmidt, former managing director for international affairs at Capital Factory—the largest technology accelerator and most active investor in Texas—also shared his experiences from working with over 800 startups. He encouraged young people to develop projects that combine science, technology, and art, emphasizing that “innovation begins where curiosity and courage meet.”

The meeting ended with a Q&A session from the audience on the role of AI in creativity, investment challenges in the technology industry, and how to effectively combine science with business practice.

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Fred Schmidt – entrepreneur, investor, innovator
Fred Schmidt is an American entrepreneur and investor from Austin, Texas, who has been involved in the technology and creative industries for over 40 years. He is the former managing director of international affairs at Capital Factory, the largest startup accelerator and most active investor in Texas. He has co-founded and run numerous companies in the United States and Europe, combining business experience with a passion for supporting innovation. He is the grandson of the eminent Polish scientist Jan Czochralski, a pioneer of the silicon era. Born in Kcynia, he regained his Polish citizenship in 2025.