What motivates volunteers?
The start-up world thrives on bold ideas, tireless ambition, and strong communities. While founders and teams work hard to build their businesses, there’s an often-overlooked group that plays a crucial role in the ecosystem’s success—volunteers. These are the people who dedicate their time, knowledge, and resources to support the growth of others, without expecting anything in return. But why do they do it? What drives them to contribute to a sector where their efforts are purely optional? Let’s explore the motivations behind giving back to the start-up community and why it’s an investment that benefits everyone involved.
Author: Triin Preem, Head of Startup Segment at Swedbank
In late January, the Estonian startup community once again gathers at the biggest Baltic business festival sTARTUp Day to be inspired, share experiences, discover new ideas, and celebrate innovation together. The festival welcomes both those startuppers for whom it’s a business and those for whom it’s a lifestyle. A third type of festivalgoers hold the startup mentality close to their hearts and donate their time, energy, or money to facilitate the sector’s development. What motivates them?
“You lend a hand, and before you know it, it has swallowed you whole,” I often hear members of the ecosystem commenting when they have no obligation to support start-ups, but they do it regardless. Swedbank has been contributing to the start-up community for more than a decade, supporting and creating initiatives, some of which have taken wind and some need further encouragement.
Community wins
The success of start-ups largely relies on cooperation, shared knowledge, and a supportive community. It’s a living organism that takes various kinds of input, vision, and ideas sparked up from collective thinking. Yes, the ecosystem includes those who work hard every day in the name of a startup’s success. But those who pledge their impartial opinions, connections, funds, and everything else the sector needs to develop, are as valued. Acting out of free will is crucial in this area.
An enriching experience
While volunteering is often motivated by the wish to contribute to the community, it’s not altruism but a beneficial investment for the volunteers themselves, be it an individual or a company. I know from personal experience what a revelation it can be to participate in a hackathon as a mentor or a team member. Every time is a new and eye-opening experience that rewards you with new bright-eyed connections.
Every time I have given a talk or made a presentation on start-up topics, the event or podcast has shown me new points of view. Educating yourself and others brings a wealth of knowledge and emotions. Volunteering at a start-up event, for example the sTARTUp Day festival or a community event, allows you to become even more knowledgeable and make new connections.
Never too many good examples
As a business, Swedbank has contributed to the sector by funding, raising awareness, collaboration and co-creation, networking events, and recognising outstanding participants.
In partnership with Technopol and TalTech, Swedbank founded a prototype fund Prototron. By now, 102 companies have received funding from Prototron for a total of €1.35 million. In 2024, the following 8 companies received initial funding for prototypes: ILUS Bike, Sciflux, Audiocat, TraynMe, Expand, Laflow, MastSmart, and ChargeIQ. Organizing the sTARTUp Day and Startup Awards, we pledge ideas and funding, and we also finance the Empowering Women Entrepreneurship Programme. We are pleased to provide continued support to the programming school kood/Jõhvi.
We also value the opportunity to speak along on sector-related topics, such as diversity and balance, to empower more women to challenge themselves in the start-up sector. In addition, we signed the manifesto of allyship and recognized Triin Agan, one of the minds behind it, with the “Giving Back Powerhouse” reward at the Estonian Startup Awards ceremony in 2024.
These are only a few of the activities we do to support the sector. The start-up community needs new members who care and support, however small their contribution may be. For many volunteers, the biggest reward is knowing that they have been able to help, one of the greatest motivators of them all! “There are never too many good examples!” as the community says.
I’m excited to see what we can help with in 2025!
During the sTARTUp Day come and find the Swedbank area from the demo area and let’s have a chat! Also don’t forget to check out our awesome CEO Olavi Lepp who will kick off the festival from the main stage; visit our seminars: Prototron x Swedbank: The Insider’s Guide to Secure Your First Funding and Making Your Brand a Personality; listen to Raul Vahtra on Starlight Stage taking about How Faud Became the World’s Most Profitable Crime – And AI’s Role in It and Katrin Meos talking about Sustainable Success: How (Self-)Leadership Prevents Burnout. On January 29th visit our side-event in the Delta building to learn about How to turn your hobby into a business.
In late January, the Estonian startup community once again gathers at the biggest Baltic business festival sTARTUp Day to be inspired, share experiences, discover new ideas, and celebrate innovation together. The festival welcomes both those startuppers for whom it’s a business and those for whom it’s a lifestyle. A third type of festivalgoers hold the startup mentality close to their hearts and donate their time, energy, or money to facilitate the sector’s development. What motivates them?
“You lend a hand, and before you know it, it has swallowed you whole,” I often hear members of the ecosystem commenting when they have no obligation to support start-ups, but they do it regardless. Swedbank has been contributing to the start-up community for more than a decade, supporting and creating initiatives, some of which have taken wind and some need further encouragement.
Community wins
The success of start-ups largely relies on cooperation, shared knowledge, and a supportive community. It’s a living organism that takes various kinds of input, vision, and ideas sparked up from collective thinking. Yes, the ecosystem includes those who work hard every day in the name of a startup’s success. But those who pledge their impartial opinions, connections, funds, and everything else the sector needs to develop, are as valued. Acting out of free will is crucial in this area.
An enriching experience
While volunteering is often motivated by the wish to contribute to the community, it’s not altruism but a beneficial investment for the volunteers themselves, be it an individual or a company. I know from personal experience what a revelation it can be to participate in a hackathon as a mentor or a team member. Every time is a new and eye-opening experience that rewards you with new bright-eyed connections.
Every time I have given a talk or made a presentation on start-up topics, the event or podcast has shown me new points of view. Educating yourself and others brings a wealth of knowledge and emotions. Volunteering at a start-up event, for example the sTARTUp Day festival or a community event, allows you to become even more knowledgeable and make new connections.
Never too many good examples
As a business, Swedbank has contributed to the sector by funding, raising awareness, collaboration and co-creation, networking events, and recognising outstanding participants.
In partnership with Technopol and TalTech, Swedbank founded a prototype fund Prototron. By now, 102 companies have received funding from Prototron for a total of €1.35 million. In 2024, the following 8 companies received initial funding for prototypes: ILUS Bike, Sciflux, Audiocat, TraynMe, Expand, Laflow, MastSmart, and ChargeIQ. Organizing the sTARTUp Day and Startup Awards, we pledge ideas and funding, and we also finance the Empowering Women Entrepreneurship Programme. We are pleased to provide continued support to the programming school kood/Jõhvi.
We also value the opportunity to speak along on sector-related topics, such as diversity and balance, to empower more women to challenge themselves in the start-up sector. In addition, we signed the manifesto of allyship and recognized Triin Agan, one of the minds behind it, with the “Giving Back Powerhouse” reward at the Estonian Startup Awards ceremony in 2024.
These are only a few of the activities we do to support the sector. The start-up community needs new members who care and support, however small their contribution may be. For many volunteers, the biggest reward is knowing that they have been able to help, one of the greatest motivators of them all! “There are never too many good examples!” as the community says.
I’m excited to see what we can help with in 2025!
During the sTARTUp Day come and find the Swedbank area from the demo area and let’s have a chat! Also don’t forget to check out our awesome CEO Olavi Lepp who will kick off the festival from the main stage; visit our seminars: Prototron x Swedbank: The Insider’s Guide to Secure Your First Funding and Making Your Brand a Personality; listen to Raul Vahtra on Starlight Stage taking about How Faud Became the World’s Most Profitable Crime – And AI’s Role in It and Katrin Meos talking about Sustainable Success: How (Self-)Leadership Prevents Burnout. On January 29th visit our side-event in the Delta building to learn about How to turn your hobby into a business.
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