Unlocking new horizons: What Start Smart coaches learned about AI and entrepreneurship

The Start Smart entrepreneurial training course, focusing on leveraging generative AI, has not only empowered young newcomers to establish a business in Finland, but also provided a significant learning curve for its coaches Marina Berzina and Muntaser Al-hamad from Startup Refugees.

Both coaches benefitted from the train-the-trainer model, provided by Haaga-Helia as part of the Upbeat project, where generative AI trainer Johanna Mäkeläinen provided them with lesson plans, training materials and a wide variety of AI tools. After the initial training both Marina and Muntaser brought their unique perspective on AI to the table.

AI as an everyday efficiency booster

Marina began her AI journey with a basic understanding, primarily using ChatGPT to review her writings for errors. However, acquiring the latest know-how and sharing her expertise with Start Smart participants profoundly transformed her way of working with AI. In her own words: “I have found out that there are much more tools and those tools can do much more than I was asking them to do”.

As a photographer and coach, Marina now generates teaching materials with AI tools and, when her own photos are unavailable, uses AI-generated images. She also leverages AI-powered Photoshop to drastically reduce the time spent on tasks like removing objects from backgrounds, turning hours of work into a couple of clicks.

Another concrete example of AI’s practical applications comes from Marina’s personal life: she and her husband used Google’s LM Notebook tool to convert a huge camera manual into bite-sized instructions. The tool even allowed them to make a podcast and listen to the instructions while driving, a technique her husband now applies in his daily job.

The benefits are echoed by Muntasar, who finds AI incredibly helpful in his role as a business advisor, particularly when dealing with information in Finnish. He notes that AI makes it easy for him to check the information in English and quickly access resources, ultimately making him more efficient and aiding in providing consultation to customers.

Empowering entrepreneurs: from idea to launch

Marina advises those starting their AI journey to brainstorm ideas with AI and ask it to find inspiration and discover examples that are not easily found otherwise. Muntasar elaborates on AI’s power to rapidly create essential business components. A full pitch deck can be generated in just minutes, and business plans, visualizations and marketing materials can all be produced in a fraction of the time they once took.

The impact of the Start Smart course and AI on aspiring entrepreneurs has been profound for both coaches. Muntasar recalls a participant who, after the first workshop, felt a surge of empowerment, declaring he really thinks that he start a business. This entrepreneur went on to register a company focused on water-saving car cleaning, utilizing AI to develop logos, create websites, and integrate technology into their service, embodying the practical application of the course’s teachings.

Marina cherishes the moments when participants connect and learn from each others. She found it particularly rewarding when learners, some meeting for the first time, began sharing ideas and insights. These interactions highlight the Start Smart course’s holistic approach to learning, combining AI knowledge with peer-to-peer inspiration.

Both Marina and Muntasar’s experiences underscore a fundamental truth: AI is no longer a niche tool but an integral part of modern entrepreneurship and professional development. Through their coaching they are not just teaching about AI, they are actively demonstrating its potential, inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs to embrace these powerful tools.

Generative AI can help newcomers accustom themselves into the Finnish society and learn its culture and traditions. Muntasar has already taken the plunge into Finland’s icy waters and Marina has learned to like Finnish beer and sausages. Let’s see where their Ai journey takes them next.  

The Upbeat project is an initiative funded by the Interreg Central Baltic region programme aimed at upskilling young immigrant entrepreneurs in Finland and Estonia. In cooperation with StartUp Refugees and Estonian Refugee Council, the project seeks to address the unique challenges faced by aspiring business owners and unlock their entrepreneurial potential.