Creative Accelerator
Creative Accelerator is inviting creative entrepreneurs based in Tartu and Southern Estonia to take part in a 6-month development program designed to boost sales and improve financial management skills. The updated program is structured around specific creative fields to ensure a personalized approach and maximum value for participants. The four areas are: art, fashion and design, creative projects, and digital services. However, we also welcome ideas that combine creativity with science, gaming, or the film industry.
Participants will gain practical tools for building a sales strategy and financial plan, learn to make data-driven decisions, and discover new opportunities for developing their products and services. By the end of the program, you’ll have a clear action plan for taking your business to the next level!
Who is it for?
For creative companies based in Tartu and Southern Estonia who want to grow faster, discover new opportunities for success, and get practical support in reaching their goals.
Why participate?
You’ll gain knowledge and skills in planning, analyzing, and managing your company’s finances. You’ll learn how to use data to make business decisions and improve your business model.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the program, you’ll have a financial plan and a working sales strategy for your business. You’ll know how to make data-driven decisions and understand how to reach your goals.
FOCUS FIELDS
The Creative Accelerator includes four areas of expertise, each centered on developing sales opportunities. The program consists of training sessions, independent work, meetings with field leads, and networking events. Each participant selects one focus group but will have the chance to connect with both their own group’s lead and the leads from other areas during trainings and joint events. Each focus area will include 3 to 5 participating companies.
ART
The field leadwe is Raul Oreškin. This track welcomes artists who want to increase the sales of their work and are looking for support to do so. It’s also open to companies whose business ideas focus on helping artists sell their creations. The program will focus on understanding how the art market works, developing sales strategies, and finding practical solutions to help art reach the right audiences.
“I invite everyone who feels they need a bit of a restart or a push to move forward. I don’t have a magic formula, but we can reflect together, share ideas, and discover new ways to take art sales to the next level.”
FASHION AND DESIGN
The field leader is Tiina Andron. This track is open to businesses operating in the design or fashion sectors that want to strengthen their market position through a clear value proposition. The focus areas include brand strategy, product life cycle, pricing, and circular economy opportunities—all aimed at helping participants grow their businesses more intentionally.
“The success of design and fashion brands lies in strong strategy and mindful development. In this program, you’ll gain practical knowledge and a supportive environment to make your brand stronger and more distinctive. If you’re looking for new opportunities to grow and collaborate, we’d love to have you join us!”
CREATIVE PROJECTS
The field leader is Astrid Hallik. This track welcomes businesses working on creative projects, including tourism companies and third-sector community initiatives, who are looking to expand and engage their audiences in new ways. The focus is on strategic event planning, community engagement and retention, and creating impactful projects through cross-sector collaboration.
“A great creative project isn’t just an event—it’s a story that connects people and creates meaning. Together, we’ll find ways to turn ideas into experiences that resonate and endure.”
DIGITAL SERVICES
The field leader is Maret Ahonen. This track is designed for creative entrepreneurs offering digital services and products who want to develop their business and stand out in a competitive market. We welcome service platforms, agencies (such as marketing, design, or media), game development companies, and other digital service providers looking to define their unique value proposition and differentiate themselves.
“The best solutions are born through discussion and collaboration. The LooME Accelerator offers you new contacts and a supportive environment to test and develop your ideas. If your current choices aren’t leading to the results you want, it’s time to set new goals and take bold steps forward.”
PROGRAMME
The program includes five training and networking events, one of which will be held online. In addition, each focus area features two group meetings and four one-on-one sessions to ensure personalized guidance and targeted development for participants.
By the end of the program, participants will have created a financial plan and sales strategy for their business, and gained the skills needed to make data-driven decisions. Graduates will know how to take their business to the next level and achieve their sales goals.
April 1
16:30 – 19:30
Opening event and short lecture
Introduction to the development program, participant networking, and a meeting with the field leaders, during which the schedule for group meetings will also be planned. Additionally, Maret Ahonen will conduct a short training session on the topic “How to Tell Your Business Story in a Way That Inspires and Stands Out.”
April 9
16:00 – 19:00
Training: Financial Planning for Creative Businesses and Profit-and-Loss Analysis
The training will be conducted by Triin Raudoja.
During the training, entrepreneurs will gain practical tools for creating a financial plan and developing a sales strategy based on cost structure, as well as access to online materials. Triin Raudoja is an entrepreneurship trainer and business mentor. In 2023, she launched the Conscious Entrepreneurship Academy in Tartu – a unique entrepreneurship school where theory, practice, and conscious self-management meet. She also leads the Entrepreneurial Accountants Agency, which provides accounting services to hundreds of micro-businesses. Additionally, she is actively involved in supporting entrepreneurs and building entrepreneur communities both in Estonia and internationally.
May 14
10:00 – 11:30
Webinar: Using Artificial Intelligence in Sales
The training will be conducted by Priit Kallas.
Artificial intelligence can be used in sales to create effective sales copy and offers that resonate with the target audience and increase sales opportunities. It can also help in creating personalized emails and responses to customer inquiries, improving communication and trust. When planning campaigns, ChatGPT can be used to generate ad copy, landing pages, and social media posts, boosting visibility and sales results.
Priit Kallas is the founder and strategist of the digital agency Dreamgrow, with the largest AI training experience in Estonia. He has shared his knowledge with over 10,000 professionals, entrepreneurs, and marketers and has been involved in digital marketing for 28 years. Priit focuses on website profitability and works daily with SEO, content marketing, Google Ads, analytics, and artificial intelligence. Over the past 15 years, he has trained thousands of marketers through more than 700 training sessions, workshops, and conference presentations and has published over 1,500 articles, videos, and podcasts, followed by more than 12 million people worldwide.
June 18
16:00 – 19:00
Training: Sales, Clients, Business Model – Lessons for Creative Entrepreneurs
How to find and retain the right clients and create a sustainable business model? Every creative entrepreneur’s journey is unique, but certain lessons are universal. Liis Lainemäe, the founder and leader of The Onion Route, and Andres Kauts, the head of Tartu Elektriteater, will share their lessons on how they have developed their businesses—starting from the first ideas, sales, and building customer relationships to creating a functioning business model and loyal clientele.
August 27
16:00 – 19:00
Training: My Experience in Creative Entrepreneurship: Are We Selling a Service or the Creator?
The training will be conducted by Lauri Sokk.
Lauri Sokk, the CEO and partner of Kolm Õuna Creative Agency, will share his experiences. He was the founder and the first chief organizer of the sTARTUp Day business festival and continues to lead its technical production. Additionally, he is one of the owners of Humal Bistro, manages early-stage investments for the Opus11 VC fund, and is the external marketing director for the real estate developer Livida.
Previously, Lauri worked as the head of Tartu Smart City and was a long-time producer at the award-winning design agency Velvet. His degree in economics, specializing in marketing (cum laude), has provided him with strong strategic thinking and practical experience in branding, business, and creative entrepreneurship.
September 17
Graduation and Demo Day
Participants will present their learning experiences from the LooME Accelerator and showcase their sales strategies and activities carried out during the program.
For more info maret@lmk.ee