Goethe Business School: „Our aim is to provide our students with a comprehensive understanding of the European business landscape. To achieve this goal, we have partnered with the Estonian Business School (EBS) to meet with industry leaders and pioneers representing tech giants and innovative startups in Estonia. These companies are driving the digital and sustainable future. The first MBA study trip to Estonia by EBS has not only broadened the horizons of its participants but also strengthened the bridge between academic learning and practical business insights.“
First GBS study tour to Estonia
On the first day of the trip, the students were welcomed by Estonian Business School's rector, Meelis Kitsing. Kitsing held a workshop on future digital ecosystems. His workshop focused on government-business, government-citizen, and government-government relationships in the digital era, emphasizing Estonia's position in the global digital ecosystem. After presenting their results, the students visited the 5th floor of EBS, where the B2B incubator Startup Wise Guys has been investing in and accelerating startups for over a decade, playing a pivotal role in the European startup accelerator scene. Finally, the group took a guided tour through Tallinn's beautiful old town before concluding the first day with a delightful dinner.
On the second day, they had the opportunity to meet with Starship Technologies, the global leader in autonomous delivery. Their innovative delivery robots are revolutionizing local delivery, with operations in over 60 locations worldwide, delivering groceries, food takeaways, and packages. GBS students asked many questions and gained insights from this inspiring startup. Later, students visited the International House of Estonia, which provides information and counseling about relocating, working, and living in Estonia. They were pleasantly surprised by the E-Estonia Briefing Centre, which is part of the public sector and showcased the mechanisms behind digitizing Estonian society, including major success stories, challenges, policies, infrastructure e-solutions, and services. After the briefing, everyone had free time to explore other options, such as visiting the Estonian Parliament or guided museum tours. Some of them also took the chance to see one of Estonia's oldest pubs.
During the third day of the trip, Anu Ruul (EBS), a startup and innovation expert and innovation consultant, conducted a workshop on validating business models. After the workshop, GBS visited SEB Bank, one of Sweden's leading IT employers. SEB Bank has a rich history of 160 years of prioritizing technology and innovation. They attract problem solvers who want to participate in a sector change. The next stop was Veriff, Estonia's latest unicorn. Veriff is an identity verification service company based in Tallinn. They offer services to online businesses to mitigate fraud attempts and assist regulatory compliance. Veriff uses AI to automatically analyze various technological and behavioral indicators to verify a customer's identity. Later that day, the group attended a networking event with EBS master students and reflected on the exciting days we had experienced.
After completing their international study trip, some participants returned home while others kept exploring and caught the ferry to Helsinki before heading towards Germany. The are already eager and excited for their next visit in 2025 as part of the Goethe MBA!
