The Empowering Women Entrepreneurship Programme in 2023 is organised by Garage48 and Estonian Refugee Council, in partnership with British Council in Estonia, Swedbank Estonia, LHV and BPW Estonia - Business and Professional Women Organisation Estonia. Together we wish to empower refugees in making their first steps in becoming entrepreneurs.

WHO CAN TAKE PART?

The programme is designed for refugees in Estonia to start their entrepreneurial journey here - either by developing an entrepreneurial mindset and learning the skills from scratch, or by continuing their entrepreneurial path with already existing knowledge and in the Estonian context. 

You can participate with your entrepreneurial experience and your business idea from various fields - education, culture, health & wellness, food production & catering, arts & crafts, and everything else.

We’re welcoming you from every location in Estonia! A large part of the activities take place virtually, the transportation and accommodation costs to on-site events in Tallinn will be reimbursed. The activities are happening on evenings and weekends. Participation is free. The programme is held in English and Russian languages.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

1. Join the open pre-webinar series, to learn about the whole programme and the entrepreneurial environment in Estonia.
2. Sign up for the Idea Garage, to develop your business idea and find team members.
3. Apply to the Entrepreneurship Programme, to develop your business plan and compete for a spot in the mentoring programme.  
4. Start implementing your business activities and get guidance for getting initial funding in a 6-month mentoring programme.

PRE-WEBINARS

29-30 August 2023 @ ONLINE ACROSS ESTONIA

An introductory webinar series is open for everyone interested to learn more about the Empowering Women Entrepreneurship Programme and the entrepreneurial environment of Estonia.

• 29 August 18.00-20.30: Overview of the Empowering Women Entrepreneurship Programme and successful entrepreneurs with a refugee background share their stories
• 30 August 18.00-20.00: Introduction of the Estonian entrepreneurial environment  

IDEA GARAGE

9 - 10 September 2023 @ Tallinn, Palo Alto Club

Idea Garage is a two-day workshop for developing business ideas with a problem-based and design-thinking approach, as a result of teamwork and mentoring. The goal of Idea Garage48 is to develop your business idea and value proposition that match your vision and skills to the local market needs. You will be doing that with the guidance of mentors, in workshops and teamwork sessions over the course of the two days. 

75 participants are selected to the Idea Garage, based on entrepreneurial motivation, business idea potential, and social and economic vulnerability. You can apply as an individual or a team. 

Join the Idea Garage Facebook event to keep up with all the updates.

deadline extended to 5 September 2023, 23.59

Entrepreneurship programme

23 September - 8 October 2023 @ ONLINE ACROSS ESTONIA

Finals in Tallinn, Oct 8th, at Palo Alto Club

The entrepreneurship programme is a combination of the best elements of a hackathon and a business incubation. During two weeks you will get new knowledge about entrepreneurship, develop your business plan, and create the initial design of your product or service through various workshops and lots of mentoring. All activities are supported by experienced local and international entrepreneurs and experts in practical workshops, group mentoring and one-on-one mentoring settings. The goal of the entrepreneurship programme is to develop a business plan that becomes a stepping stone for implementing the business idea, getting initial financing and finding additional business development opportunities. 

All participants will get to present their business plans and work done during the programme at the on-site finals in Tallinn, in a 3-minute pitch. The top 15 individuals or teams will be selected by the jury to move forward to a 6-month mentoring programme. 

NB! Applications to the Entrepreneurship Programme open after the Idea Garage, and are open only to the persons and teams, who have gone through the 2 days of the Idea Garage. The application deadline is September 12th, 23.59.

50 individuals or teams will be accepted to the Entrepreneurship Programme, based on the business idea potential, fit to the Estonian market, and needed skills and motivation in the team.

Join the Entrepreneurship Programme Facebook event to keep up with all the updates.

Mentorship programme

Through the course of six months, the starting entrepreneurs will get to work with mentors to get additional guidance in applying for initial funding and making the first steps in launching their business activities in Estonia.

If you have any questions, write to noora@garage48.org.

The program is funded by British Council in Estonia, Swedbank Estonia and BPW Estonia - Business and Professional Women Organisation Estonia and Coca-Cola Foundation. The programme is also supported by Atea, Impact Day, Pärnumaa Ettevõtlusinkubaator, Telliskivi Loomelinnak, Tilk!, Estonian Fashion Festival, HOIA Home Spa, Kadarbiku, sTARTUp Day, Craftory, Põhjala tehas, Taimne Teisipäev (Food Innovation Summit), Siin ja Sääl, Tallinna Loomeinkubaator, Hyrv, and Splash.

This project is carried out in cooperation with British Council in Estonia to support social cohesion as part of the People to People Cultural Engagement Programme. Find more info about British Council’s work in Estonia at www.britishcouncil.ee