Organized by Garage48 in partnership with Startup Estonia, the European
Commission Representation in Estonia, and the Nordic Council of Ministers’
Office in Estonia, the event gave women from Ida-Virumaa and beyond the
opportunity to develop and digitize their business ideas with hands-on support
from experienced mentors.
Since 2019, the Empowering Women initiative has supported women entrepreneurs in launching and growing businesses, starting in Ukraine and expanding to Estonia in 2022. The program helps women develop micro-businesses and startup ideas through mentorship, workshops, and hands-on hackathons. Participants – including Ukrainians, Estonians, and other residents – gain practical skills in digital tools, business planning, and startup thinking, while connecting with the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The two-day Idea Garage on October 25-26 in Jõhvi provided a unique opportunity to turn ideas into action, fostering economic independence and strengthening community resilience. It brought together bright ideas, active participants, and bold visions.
Throughout the weekend, participants engaged in a comprehensive learning
experience covering key aspects of launching and growing a business. They
explored how to validate their ideas, ensuring their concepts addressed real
market needs, and learned techniques for designing sustainable business models
that balance profitability, impact, and scalability.
LEARNING, MENTORSHIP, AND INSPIRATION
The event consisted of several components: greetings from program partners, an inspirational story, a psychological support session, hands-on
workshops, 1:1 mentorship, a lot of networking, and a final pitch.
Thanks to the Hungarian Embassy in Tallinn, participants gained
real-world perspective from Emöke Sogenbits, Managing Director at
Raumedic Estonia AS, who shared her inspiring journey of building an
international business from Estonia.
Eda Mölder from
Eluliin guided a session on psychological resilience, emphasizing the
importance of being aware of potential challenges – ranging from personal to
financial – when starting and growing a business. She shared practical
strategies to stay motivated, manage stress, and maintain focus.
Expert mentors from The Cyborgs combined one-on-one guidance with
short, focused workshops to help participants “readjust the optics” of their
ideas. Ilya Vasilyev explored AI and design tools, Yana Delyukina
guided participants through Customer personas and Idea feasibility, and Jelena
Oshepkova led sessions on Business sustainability and digitalization,
equipping participants with practical skills to apply immediately.
Angelika Nöps (METK) shared insights on financial planning, including budgeting, cash flow management, and preparing for investor engagement – essential skills for turning ideas into viable businesses.
Meanwhile, Maarika Truu, Garage48
host and mentor and member of the Balanced Economy 2040 vision team Rohetiiger,
guided participants through problem identification, solution development,
business canvases, and pitching basics, helping transform ideas into actionable
business concepts.
TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTIONS
Participants applied their new knowledge to refine early-stage ideas into
promising business concepts. Teams received continuous support from mentors,
tested and validated solutions, and built minimum viable products using digital
tools like Figma or Canva. The event culminated in final pitches,
showcasing creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Top teams were awarded tickets to leading Estonian startup and innovation events, including:
- Elevant Toas – Sustainable Economy Forum, Tallinn, November 26, 2025
- Saaja (Veronika Lebedeva): A logistics app connecting cargo owners, such
as furniture stores, with transport providers with available vehicle
capacity. The platform reduces idle truck time and minimizes logistics
costs.
- sTARTUp Day, Tartu, January 28-30, 2026
- Early Diagnosis Platform for Children with Special Needs (Natalja Lapp): AI-driven platform offering quick recommendations for educational adaptations.
- Gaja (Iryna Vynnyk & Taisiia Nistiurina): AI-driven femtech app analyzing diet and cosmetic impacts on hormonal and vaginal health.
- Joylist (Kristi Opikova & Anne Vana): Gamified mobile app helping children complete
tasks while reducing parental stress.
- W3N 2025, Narva, December 4-5, 2025
- Microbusiness Bookkeeping (Elise Marie Veskioja): Mobile invoicing and payment solution for
micro-entrepreneurs.
- Drink App (Julia Taro): AI-powered app tracking daily water intake automatically.
- Anti-Scam Simulator App (Julia Smirnova): Simulator training users to recognize and resist phone fraud.
- Estonian Language Learning App (Diana Smirnova): AI-assisted platform for personalized Estonian
language learning.
Other presented ideas reflected a diverse range of social and commercial ventures – and the ways to digitalize them:
- Kids Activities Estonia – Triaz (Jen Grinkin): AI chatbot helping parents quickly find age-appropriate after-school activities using a verified local database.
- Adult Kindergarten (Liubov Leontjeva): Community space for young adults with special needs to access structured post-school activities.
- Natural Soap Brand (Marina Kozitskaja): Handmade, eco-friendly soaps, expanding sales through digital marketing.
- Massage Therapy & Women’s Club (Olga Kalinina): Wellness initiative combining massage, skincare, and body-awareness practices.
- Clothing Brand Launch (Yeva Halushka): Fashion brand empowering women with personalized, high-quality clothing.
- Kohtla-Järve City Guide App (Tatjana
Amerhanova):
Audio-guided tourism app making Kohtla-Järve’s history accessible and engaging.
THE NEXT STEPS
The Empowering Women Estonia Idea Garage gave participants the tools,
mentorship, and inspiration to focus, refine, and begin validating their
business ideas. Over two days, they gained confidence, practical skills, and
networks, laying the groundwork for future development.
We look forward to
following their journeys and celebrating their successes as they move forward,
and we are excited to welcome them – and many more aspiring entrepreneurs – to
upcoming Empowering Women events.
Initiatives like these
demonstrate how targeted support, practical guidance, and community engagement
can empower women-led ventures to thrive, innovate, and contribute meaningfully
to economic growth and social impact in Ida-Virumaa, Estonia, and beyond.
#G48EmpowHer
#IdeaGarage #EmpoweringWomenEstonia
The event was brought to you by: Garage48, Startup Estonia, Euroopa Komisjoni esindus Eestis, Põhjamaade Ministrite Nõukogu esindus Eestis.
Partners and Supporters: Kood/Jõhvi, Cyborgs, Embassy of Hungary in Tallinn, Eluliin Mittetulundusühing, Rohetiiger, sTARTUp Day, and W3N
