Spark the Start! A Day of Ideas, Energy & Entrepreneurial Spirit in Tallinn

On April 11, 2025, the kick-off event for the second cycle of the “Region of Opportunities” project lit up the Estonian Business School in Tallinn. The aim of the event was to introduce the project and inspire participants to actively engage by developing and sharing their own business ideas.

Right from the start, participants were grouped into small teams — setting the tone for a day full of interaction and teamwork. The event kicked off with a warm welcome from Jelena Žovnikova, a content expert and project co-lead from Estonia. She introduced the project partners and gave a detailed overview of the program, setting the stage for a dynamic and collaborative journey ahead.

The first group activity centered around a discussion on the strengths and challenges of employment versus entrepreneurship. Each group shared their reflections, which were followed by a full-group discussion that sparked fresh perspectives.

The conversation then turned to the nature and origin of business ideas. Participants, together with project partners, explored various ways of generating business ideas, drawing inspiration from real-life examples of how both global and local ventures were born.

The morning session continued with a motivational talk by Julija Bulgakova, a project mentor, trainer, and entrepreneur. Sharing the story of her zero-waste shop, she spoke openly about the rewards and difficulties faced by micro and small business owners. Julija emphasized the power of aligning business with personal passion and reminded participants of the importance of mental health and resilience in entrepreneurship.

In the second half of the day, the participants were introduced to several creativity-boosting techniques through fun, hands-on activities. In groups, they created fictional characters from random words, found new uses for everyday objects, and turned abstract doodles into meaningful concepts—warming up their imaginations and building creative confidence.

With their creativity flowing, participants turned their attention to developing their own business ideas. They shared their individual concepts within their groups and then collaborated to develop a joint idea, weaving together key elements from each group member’s vision. At the end of the session, each group pitched both their individual and group ideas to the rest of the participants in an open and encouraging setting.

The day was filled with motivation, creativity and collaboration. The ideas presented—both personal and shared—were thoughtful and promising. The event left participants energized and looking forward to the next project meetings, eager to take their ideas to the next level.