UPBEAT

The UPBEAT – Upskilling Immigrants for Business Planning and Entrepreneurship using AI Technologies project offers AI-assisted training programs for young newcomers (ages 15-29) aspiring to start businesses or work as a light entrepreneur in Finland or Estonia.

Project addresses the shared challenge of immigrant integration in Finland and Estonia. Immigrants and refugees, due to skill mismatches or other barriers, often grapple with limited employment opportunities leading to high unemployment rates and subsequent increase of social welfare costs, talent emigration and rising social tensions. The primary objective of this project is to reverse this trend by fostering a more inclusive society through targeted upskilling in entrepreneurship and business planning using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Results

Context and problem: Across the Central Baltic region, many immigrants and refugees face barriers to employment and entrepreneurship, including skill mismatch, limited understanding of local markets, and insufficient networks. UPBEAT addressed these challenges by strengthening immigrants’ readiness for entrepreneurship and labour-market participation through AI-supported upskilling.

Idea and solution: UPBEAT developed and piloted the Start Smart training programme together with a set of AI-enabled tools. The project combined: – a modular training programme covering AI basics and business planning, – personalised learning materials and pre-assignments, – AI tools such as the Learning Assistant, Smart Guide, and Business Assistants (custom GPTs and prompt library) to support business ideation and planning.

Implementation and impact: The partners in Finland and Estonia jointly delivered five hybrid/online training programmes (two in Finland, three in Estonia). The cooperation was crucial since HHUAS has strong expertise in AI, business/management and pedagogy, while SUR and ERC provided excellent understanding of the target group, training experience and connections with potential learners. Trainers visited sessions across borders, and a joint online hackathon gathered participants from both countries. A total of 116 participants started project activities (planned: 75), and 97 achieved increased competitiveness in the labour market (planned target: 60). Graduates received a diploma and an open badge from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences.

Start Smart Training Program

UPBEAT project has published Start Smart Training Program in Library of Open Educational Resources.

This program is designed for young newcomer entrepreneurs between the ages of 15 and 29 who are aspiring to start a business in Finland or Estonia. It’s part of the UpBeat project, which is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Central Baltic Programme. Our goal is to enhance your entrepreneurial skills to improve your competitiveness in starting your own business.

Expected results

The UPBEAT project aims to improve immigrants competitiveness on labour market and entrepreneurship capabilities. Through this project, participants will be offered AI-assistance in various entrepreneurship and business planning tasks, such as market analysis, business model and value proposition design, or risk management. Projects main outputs are: 1. creation of AI-driven digital tools for upskilling in entrepreneurship and business planning, 2. creation and delivery of an AI-driven upskilling (training) program in entrepreneuship and business planning.

Duration 01.08.2024 - 31.01.2026

Total budget

Programme priority

Improved employment opportunities

Programme objective

PO6 - Improved employment opportunities on labour market

Lead partner

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences