Eight years ago he left school to found his first start-up, and today he is doing deals in the double-digit million range: Larry Liu is a partner and managing director and last year alone achieved €10 million in sales with OriginX GmbH. In 2021 he was listed in the German-speaking Under 30 list. Today we ask him what happened to the list maker in the meantime.
Were you surprised that you made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list? Who did you tell first?
Larry Liu: To be honest, it's no surprise that I made the Forbes 30 under 30 list. I knew it would happen. After leaving school at the age of 18, I fully dedicated myself to entrepreneurship and decided to give it my all. For me, it was a complete decision, and I set myself the goal of making it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 one day in 2016. My parents were always afraid that I would fail after dropping out of school. It was a very emotional moment to show you my nomination for the first time. In particular, they are the only ones who know how bad I grew up and how I was no better off than anyone else when I started my own business. I started my own business without any funding, entrepreneurial or any other family background. I often worked part-time on construction sites, participating in surveys or handing out flyers to earn extra change. Nothing was given to me, and I was never too bad for anything. These beginnings motivated me to keep going and to never give up because I had nothing to lose. At the same time, this phase of my life taught me more to appreciate the importance of humility and perseverance.
What has changed for you since you made the Austrian Forbes 30 under 30 list?
LL: Being included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list has changed a lot for me and is seen as a kind of “Oscar” in the world of entrepreneurship. I feel that this award is often a benchmark and the first topic discussed in a business meeting, especially when dealing with many older business partners. Of course, this has also increased my visibility in general, and I get talked about and congratulated more on the street, at the gym or elsewhere. This public recognition has certainly strengthened my position in the business world, which shows how meaningful such an appointment can be. On a more personal level, it psychologically confirmed to me that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Achieving this goal of becoming a list maker has always been a big dream of mine and it has come true.
For the future, what do you have planned for your company?
LL: By the end of this year, I plan to expand my business portfolio to eight companies. In recent years, my focus has been primarily in the medical field, particularly in innovative programs to prevent cancer and combat the shortage of skilled workers. I was able to achieve €10 million in sales last year with OriginX GmbH alone. Experience in trading medical products, especially with governments, has enabled me to expand our expertise in oil trading. Geopolitical changes have reshuffled the cards, giving us a unique opportunity to gain a foothold in the oil procurement sector, where we have successfully worked with state-owned oil companies. However, my involvement was not limited to medicine and commerce. I also work as an investor in real estate, stocks and currency and forex market. I am supported by a team of more than ten experts who are not just analysts but real geniuses and some of them are autistic. Your unique ability to recognize patterns and analyze complex data has been an integral part of my success as an investor and allows me to make informed decisions with effective risk management to ensure consistent returns over the long term. A particularly exciting project was my involvement with Clevio AI software company specializing in AI solutions for popular large enterprises. Clevio AI has a team of over 100 software developers based in Prague. I firmly believe that artificial intelligence has tremendous potential for the future and may be the last significant invention humanity needs. At all of my companies, we use artificial intelligence (AI) in a variety of ways, from financial market forecasts and investment decisions to company valuations and various support tasks. AI allows for exponential growth without disproportionately increasing costs through additional staffing costs. This technology will soon become essential for many companies. I want to actively participate in this development and contribute to change the world positively. Additionally, my stated goal is to take at least one of my companies public and achieve a valuation in the billions. This ambition drives me to push boundaries and set new standards every day.
