Pre-incubation programme "Ideas Nest"

This is a pre-incubation programme aimed at 1st and 2nd level students in higher education who want to actively engage in entrepreneurship development, but need basic knowledge and support in the process of getting from idea development to the pre-start-up phase (seed phase). On the course you will learn both entrepreneurship theory and do practical tasks where you will get help from our team of mentors. Participants will be able to work in a group on a selected idea, developing it into a business phase that could take part in a hackathon or an idea competition at the end of the programme.

The aim of the project

1) Acquiring and practising basic (impact) entrepreneurship knowledge - Provide students with the knowledge and tools to support the development of responsible entrepreneurship that has a positive impact on society. To provide the basis for knowledge-based (impact) enterprise and/or project creation that supports the principles of sustainable economy, sustainable agenda, and open governance.

2) Creating innovative and sustainable solutions in an interdisciplinary environment - Encourage students to develop ideas that support social, economic and environmental sustainability. Encourage students from different disciplines to work together to find diverse and creative solutions to current challenges.

3) Experiencing the process of pre-incubation and acquiring (impact) entrepreneurship skills - Provide students with practical experience of developing an entrepreneurial mindset and idea in the start-up phase, validating the idea, and evaluating the impact. Support learning through practical assignments and mentoring, allowing participants to meet with experts from within and outside Tallinn University (e.g. experts in the field of impact entrepreneurship in Estonia).

4) Applying innovative and sustainable development principles to business - To guide students in creating (impact) enterprises and solutions to problems using project-based learning, based on 'sustainable lifestyle' principles. Encourage students to develop environmental awareness, responsibility and entrepreneurial mindset that support the sustainability mission of Tallinn University.

5) Developing the start-up entrepreneurs and innovation leaders of the future - Provide participants with the confidence, competencies, and practical experience to continue developing their start-up idea in partner organisations' accelerator and/or incubation programmes. Work with Tallinn University's EXU team to potentially scale the idea further to have an even greater positive impact in the future.

Projekti tulemused

Three groups were formed at the beginning of the programme - "Culture for all", "Avasta"; and "Zero-Bin App" One group was rewarded with a free incubation programme by the Tallinn Business Incubator. 15 students from 20 finished the programme successfully. Students had a chance to participate in the Impact Day 2025 event with costs covered by Tallinn University and discounts offered by the partner organisations such as KELL They also offered mentoring and participated in the final pitch event with valuable feedback to the groups. 

Time of occurrence
Autumn 2025/2026

Project members

Law (1)
Social Entrepreneurship (2)
Digital Learning Games (1)
Computer Science (1)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (1)
Social Entrepreneurship (4)
Law (2)
Social Entrepreneurship (1)
Adult Education (1)
Public and Business Management (1)