Hey there, fellow dreamers and innovators! I’m Viktoriia, a passionate 2nd year Master’s degree student in Software Engineering at the University of Tartu. Are you a student yearning to dive headfirst into the thrilling world of startups? Hold onto your hats because Estonia, a beacon of innovation nestled in the Baltic region, is calling your name. Picture a land where digital dreams come true, mentorship flows like a river, and collaboration knows no bounds. Estonia’s startup ecosystem isn’t just a network; it’s a vibrant family where ideas sprout wings, failures pave the way to success, and opportunities stretch as far as the eye can see.
Startup Lab & Startup Day
Once I arrived in Tartu in August, I heard about sTARTUp Day 2022, and though I have yet to attend, my curiosity was piqued. Shortly after, in September, an announcement about the Idea Hackathon from UT Startup Lab caught my attention. I joined a ” Grable ” team, and our journey in STARTERtartu began.
Throughout the semester, we immersed ourselves in various workshops. These sessions covered everything from perfecting our pitches and understanding the business model canvases to designing compelling products/services and mastering the art of marketing. The highlight was the Mentor Feedback Carousel, a unique opportunity to meet experts, pitch our ideas, and receive invaluable feedback that steered us in the right direction.

After months of hard work and dedication, our team showcased our idea at the Delta X competition in December. Our efforts paid off, and we secured our tickets to sTARTUp Day 2023 in March. The scale of the event was awe-inspiring – startups, investors, and passionate individuals from different corners of the world came to Tartu, united by startups. During this vibrant atmosphere, our team pitched in the Kaleidoskoop, a student pitching competition that added a thrilling chapter to our startup journey.

The autumn round of Startup Lab was intense, active, and incredibly valuable. It marked a significant milestone, but the hunger for knowledge and the drive to excel didn’t end there.
Courses at the University of Tartu
You are wondering where to get the necessary knowledge for your startup or to understand better technical aspects (microservice architecture, cloud technologies) or management (product or business processes of a company of any size). The University of Tartu offers many valuable courses. I will describe four courses I took last spring – they comprehensively helped me develop skills useful for creating/managing startups. What’s more worth noting is that the lecturers are experts in their fields who are always happy to share their experiences and help students in every way possible.
Enterprise System Integration – MTAT.03.229 [https://courses.cs.ut.ee/2023/esi/spring]
The course offers a technical deep dive into the subject. Develop expertise in constructing a microservice architecture based solely on textual descriptions and implement it using Java (Spring Boot). Upon completion, you will have the skills to create a robust Minimum Viable Product (MVP), making this course exceptional for aspiring developers and entrepreneurs.
Cloud Computing – LTAT.06.008 [https://courses.cs.ut.ee/2023/cloud/spring]
This course covers cloud technologies, providing hands-on experience with various services, including Serverless and Edge computing. The knowledge and skills acquired are invaluable for launching and running startups, enabling easy scalability and global accessibility, which are essential for success in today’s digital landscape.
Software Product Management MTAT.03.325 [https://courses.cs.ut.ee/2023/spm/spring]
It equips students with vital skills to manage digital products effectively. Here, you can learn how to develop a business model, define and determine the MVP of a digital product, create product roadmaps, work with different product metrics and conduct user testing. It’s a very intensive course that will give you a different perspective on a digital product.
Business Process Management MTAT.03.231 [https://courses.cs.ut.ee/2023/bpm/spring]
It comprehensively explores key principles and methodologies in managing business processes across their entire lifecycle. Starting from identification and redesign to automation and monitoring, this course strongly emphasises the use of business process models as a tool to analyse and enhance business operations.

So, remember that Estonia is not just a destination; it’s a launchpad! With events like Startup Day and enriching courses from the University of Tartu, your dreams of entrepreneurial success can take flight. Join me in this thrilling adventure, where innovation knows no bounds, and every idea has the potential to change the world.
Let’s explore, learn, and create a new unicorn together!
Links:
https://startuplab.ut.ee
https://startupestonia.ee
https://investinestonia.com
https://startupday.ee
https://courses.cs.ut.ee