At the end of March, the Empowering Women entrepreneurship program concluded in Estonia for the third time, with a record number of participants starting the programme – 110 women from all over Estonia, including Ida-Virumaa, Hiiumaa, Tallinn, Tartu, and more.
The Empowering Women Estonia entrepreneurship program is aimed at supporting women who arrived in Estonia from Ukraine due to the war and are interested in entrepreneurship. For the first time, Estonian women were also invited, adding even more diversity and experience. Several international teams were formed during the program, in which both Ukrainian and Estonian women worked together. The Empowering Women program began in October with a business plan hackathon, from which 41 teams were selected to move on to the incubation program.
During the 4-month incubation period, teams received additional support to develop their business ideas through needs-based mentoring. They participated in various workshops that provided essential entrepreneurial knowledge and also joined the MindSpring mental health program by the Estonian Refugee Council. Participants gained new insights on topics such as market research, funding sources, marketing and branding, as well as AI, digital tools, and ESG principles. The teams also had the chance to participate in a mini-hackathon focused on developing websites and online stores over a weekend.
On March 31, a Demo Day took place in Tallinn, where participants presented
their business ideas developed over four months and shared their journeys.
Special awards were presented to teams whose solutions stood out for their
practicality, innovation, or sustainability.
Swedbank employees’ favorite award went to: Nutikorv
- Nutikorv is a digital solution that simplifies daily meal planning and grocery shopping. The platform allows users to discover and save recipes, create weekly meal plans, and generate smart shopping lists based on their plans and frequently bought items. Nutikorv helps save time, reduce food waste, and make more thoughtful purchasing decisions.
Other notable teams that received awards such as Latitude59 and Impact Day tickets include:
- Artner.ee – A unique art buying and selling platform that makes classical Estonian art accessible and connects collectors, gallery owners, and enthusiasts.
- ONEJOB – A work process management platform for companies that integrates workflow, client information, and reporting into a single system.
- EcoBaltica – Offers exciting tours in the industrial and natural landscapes of Ida-Virumaa, introducing the region's unique energy production history, modern power plants, beautiful nature, and architecture.
- SilversClub – An app aimed at the silver generation (seniors), promoting active and healthy aging through events, learning materials, and digital services.
- Hoolest – A concept focusing on supporting women in preventing burnout and developing self-care skills. The Hoolest program combines movement in nature, coaching, recovery practices, and mindful beauty care. It helps women find balance, strengthen confidence, and form healthy habits—both mentally and physically.
- 3Dizi Printing Studio – A new creative studio offering 3D modeling, 3D scanning, reverse engineering, and 3D printing. Their creations include lighting fixtures, toys, technical parts, and models of buildings and nature.
EENA also awarded a €250 grant to teams founded by Ukrainian women:
- Artelier – A fashion brand that creates high-quality, long-lasting designer clothing for women. The focus is on elegance, comfort, and conscious consumption – garments made to measure and suitable for both special occasions and everyday wear.
- Simple Beauty – A beauty studio based in Tartu offering a range of beauty services in a cozy and relaxing environment.
Hooandja also gave special awards to four teams (Puhtad Sabad, She Walks, Vabaduse Tants, Linda) who will have the opportunity to launch their crowdfunding campaigns on the Hooandja platform under special terms.
Supporting entrepreneurship has been a priority for the Swedbank for over 10 years.
"It’s incredibly impressive to see the impact the Empowering Women program has had for the third year in a row on how women move forward with their businesses. The program has provided inspiration, confidence, motivation, and social support – helping many turn their dreams into reality. Together, we often achieve more than we would alone”.
– Triin Preem, Startup Segment Lead, Swedbank.
For the Estonian Refugee Council the goal was to support the independent coping of refugee women with economic challenges of the adaptation, and entrepreneurship is one of the ways to achieve this.
“Together with partners, we are organizing the third season of the Empowering Women program in Estonia. This year, the Refugee Council carried out activities that supported the mental health of refugee participants and fostered community cohesion and integration.”
– Grete Karelsohn, economic wellbeing program specialist at the Estonian Refugee Council
The Empowering Women entrepreneurship program has become a thriving platform where Estonian and Ukrainian women can develop their business ideas, bring them to life with the help of mentors, and learn and inspire each other together.
“The program organized by Garage48 provided the needed community, expert knowledge, and mentoring support. The mystery I had been mulling over for years – how to turn my idea into a business concept that combines my values, skills, and knowledge – is finally solved.”
– Mari Kirss (team Hoolest)
Thank you all lead mentors, partners, and experts for your guidance and helping our teams throughout the program. A huge thanks to all the teams that participated in our programme! We hope this program gives you a strong launchpad – now it’s time to keep flying! Wishing you lots of success on your journey ahead!
The program is co-funded by Swedbank, Garage48, Estonian Refugee Council, Estonian Women’s Business Association (EENA) together with the Coca-Cola Foundation, Narva Creative Incubator OBJEKT, and the European Union.
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