More than a hundred young idea authors and aspiring entrepreneurs have joined a programme where ideas once left on paper will, over the next three months, be developed into real business solutions and working prototypes that reach actual customers.
Imagine having a million-dollar business idea that’s been sitting in your mind for ages, but you’re not sure where to start. That’s exactly the challenge a hundred students and high schoolers took on in IGNITER, a programme launched on September 29. Over the course of three months, participants will attend workshops, meet experienced mentors and turn their ideas into first working prototypes ready to be tested in real markets. The programme is run by TalTech’s Startup Centre, Startup Garage, and Swedbank, who emphasize that such initiatives give young people the chance to test their ideas and take their first steps in entrepreneurship.
According to Astrid Maldre, Head of the Small Business Segment at Swedbank, supporting initiatives like IGNITER is part of the bank’s broader mission to promote entrepreneurship at every stage of growth. “We believe that entrepreneurship flourishes where there is both knowledge and strong support. Young people create the future, which is why Swedbank is committed to supporting projects that nurture their entrepreneurial mindset. Projects like IGNITER provide valuable hands-on experience and help young people grow and develop as entrepreneurs,” Maldre said.
The opening event of the programme was filled with energy as participants used every moment to exchange ideas and make new connections. Expectations varied: “I came here hoping to develop our student company’s idea, gain useful insights and meet new people. Of course, the prize money is also a sweet goal,” said Karmo, whose student company Sumae produces beach towels that can be folded into a bag. Karl added that what he values most is feedback: “I’m looking forward to hearing outside perspectives and new ideas on how to improve our concept.”
From the organiser’s side, Markus Veltri from Startup Garage stressed that learning also comes from failure. “I want them to experience as many failures as possible, as quickly as possible, because that’s the foundation upon which later success is built,” he said.
Over the next three months, participants will take part in workshops on problem validation, prototyping, and business model testing. They’ll also receive one-on-one mentoring and practice pitching their ideas. The programme will culminate in Pitching Day in December, where the best teams will be awarded tickets to sTARTUp Day and Swedbank’s €2,500 grand prize. TalTech Student Ventures will additionally provide funding and mentoring to help the most promising ideas advance to the next level.
In a broader sense, the programme is more than just an exercise for students or high schoolers. It’s an investment in an entrepreneurial generation capable of testing ideas in the market and building real businesses. Every student company, prototype, and startup contributes to Estonia’s entrepreneurial culture and strengthens the competitiveness of a small but ambitious nation. Led by TalTech, IGNITER gives young people early experience that helps them create jobs and bring new solutions to market in the future.