Led by TalTech’s student organisation Startup Garage, the TalTech Startup Centre and Swedbank, the free incubation program IGNITER returns this autumn semester. The program welcomes all students interested in entrepreneurship. Applications are open until 18 September, and the program begins on 29 September.
IGNITER is a recurring incubation program that has already sparked entrepreneurial ambitions in many students. This autumn, Startup Garage, TalTech Startup Centre and Swedbank once again join forces to offer a practical, action-focused journey – from identifying a problem and conducting first interviews to developing an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and pitching on stage.
The program is fast-paced yet supportive. Every week participants can look forward to diverse workshops, mentoring sessions and teamwork. Each step comes with a concrete outcome: problem hypothesis, customer profile, value proposition, prototype, and first metrics. Along the way, students build a network that extends from fellow classmates to experienced founders.
“The strongest business ideas are usually born in diverse teams. To help students find teammates with different skills and backgrounds, we created an open program that also welcomes entrepreneurship enthusiasts from other universities. Many successful companies today are founded by young people, and we believe IGNITER will give rise to several of Estonia’s next success stories,” explains program coordinator Rasmus Kalep.
You don’t need to have a ready-made idea to join – curiosity and a willingness to experiment are enough to start. With the support of mentors and peer-to-peer coaching, students will take part in rapid problem-solving and lean development workshops, conduct customer validation, and test product–market fit. The goal is to reach a first MVP, a version that can be tested in the market and used as a basis for the next informed steps.
The semester culminates with Pitching Day, where the best teams will present their ideas to a panel of experts. Swedbank has set up a €2500 main prize for developing the winning idea, and the top teams will also receive tickets to sTARTUp Day – ensuring that connections and opportunities extend beyond the university.
If you want to take your idea from paper to practice, IGNITER provides the pace, the tools and the support network – all you need to bring is courage and drive.
Who can join? All university students interested in entrepreneurship.
When? 29 September – December 2025.
How to apply? Submit the short form by 18 September 2025.
The program is in English.
If you have any questions, write to: start@taltech.ee