Who can participate?

The training programme is open to all refugee and migrant background youth aged 15-29 residing in Estonia who have a business interest, business dream, business idea or existing business. The Start Smart training programme combines entrepreneurship with AI to help you create, innovate, and grow your own business. Whether you're starting small or dreaming big, Start Smart is where your journey begins. The workshops will be conducted in Russian, but some knowledge of English is required, as the tools used in the training will be in English.

How does it work?

The training programme runs from April to May 2025, consisting of four workshops, preceded by a kick-off event and is concluded with an online cross-border hackathon together with participants from Finland. The training sessions are separated into four weekly workshops spanning three hours each with assigned homework. 

The training covers the following topics (subject to change):

Workshop 1 - Understanding ​AI basics​ (basic technologies and definitions​, ecosystems and tools​, prompt design​, ethics and legal issues​)
Workshop 2 - AI for Business Planning​ (market and customer understanding​, defining the business idea​, Interactive Business Plan canvas)​
Workshop 3 - Business Prompting ​(AI tools for business​, AI for different business tasks​, AI for industry specific information​, AI enabled​ business coaching​)
Workshop 4 - AI for Business Success​ (marketing, sales and customer service​, cross-border business and networking (Q&A)​, future-proofing business)​

During the six week training programme, you will learn to utilize generative AI for business planning, ideation, operational tasks, branding and marketing as well as all the important things you need to know to start a successful business and to increase your competitiveness and growth potential. You will also network with other participants and trainers. 

To learn more about the training programme, please join the online information webinar on 31 March from 17:00 to 18:00.

Once your application for the training programme is approved, you will receive all necessary instructions. Participants will be announced on 08 April, participation confirmation is due 10 April. The training programme kick-off event will take place on 16 April in Tallinn and the training programme will end with an online cross-border hackathon event on 21 May 2025, where participants from Estonia and Finland will be joined together.

How to apply

If you are interested in participating in this programme, please keep an eye on this page. Next groups will start in Autumn 2025.

Applications will be evaluated by a jury of experts on digital tools, entrepreneurship and labour market, based on their motivation and participation criteria.

If you have any questions, please contact grete.karelsohn@pagulasabi.ee. 

Start Smart entrepreneurship training programme is part of UPBEAT project – Upskilling Immigrants for Business Planning and Entrepreneurship using AI Technologies. Project partners are Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Startup Refugees and Estonian Refugee Council. Project is co-funded by the European Union, through the Interreg Central Baltic Programme.