Four determined students of Talsi Secondary School No. 2 — Jānis Kaktiņš, Kristians Kauliņš, Keita Andiņa and Keita Kleinberga - have already taken a bold step while still at school and realized their dream of starting a business, offering a tool that helps reduce stress during studies and at the same time relieves fatigue from prolonged sitting.

On their way to entrepreneurship, they were helped by the knowledge gained in the Turība University Entrepreneurship School project and the business idea hackathon, where they won in the high school group.

The origins of the idea can be found in the observations of teacher, mathematics instructor and class teacher Indra Pauliņa. She noticed that many students tend to make noise with their feet in stressful moments, disturbing both themselves and those around them. Thus, the idea of ​​a functional, simple, but effective solution was born – a tool that helps reduce stress during studies and at the same time relieves fatigue from prolonged sitting. The idea was turned into a real product - a swinging wooden tool that can be placed under a table and moved with your feet.

They got the inspiration to take the first steps in creating a business by participating in the business idea hackathon “ToBe” of Turība University which took place in January of this year.

“Experience shows that such events are not only a catalyst for ideas, but also a sustainable growth platform for young people. It is like a safe springboard for those who, while still in high school, want to realize their potential and turn their ideas into real businesses. Such examples are like a driving force for other young people not to give up and take a look at what is happening behind the doors of the Business Incubator,” emphasizes Inese Leoho - Čudare, the Head of the Business Incubator at the Turība University.

As one of the authors of the idea and co-founder of the newly created company “StabiLeg” Keita Andiņa admits, before the hackathon they did not even consider the possibility of starting a business this year. However, the atmosphere of the event, the inspiring presentations and the enthusiasm of other young people gave a strong motivation to take the first steps towards their dream. “Before the hackathon, we were very excited – we were sure that there would be competition, but we kept reminding each other: we will win! And we did,” with confidence says Keita Kleinberga.

Most of the team members have known each other since first grade, so it was easy to work together. “Kristians joined the team only recently, but he has already proven himself as an enterprising and purposeful leader,” adds Jānis.

The hackathon served not only as a start for the development of the idea, but also strengthened the unity of the team. In turn, by participating in the Turība Entrepreneurship School, the young people gained a lot of valuable insights, hearing the stories of experienced entrepreneurs, as well as receiving practical advice on financial management and the basics of business operations.

The students have already divided their roles in the company: Jānis will be responsible for marketing, Keita Andiņa will manage daily operations as the COO, Keita Kleinberga will act as the CFO, and Kristians will be the CEO.

One of the biggest challenges in their new business was related to the young people’s age - in order to obtain a patent certificate, they had to find an adult who would temporarily become the legal guardian of the product. “However, age is not only an obstacle, it is also a time of opportunity. The students are provided with a lot of support and resources. We try to use everything that is available to us,” emphasizes Kristians. “The most important thing is that we are proud of what we have already achieved before reaching adulthood”.

The team is currently working on launching their first product on the market - it has already been included in the design register. In the near future, the students hope to attract investors and continue product development, as well as create new models.

The students advise aspiring young entrepreneurs: “Believe in yourself and your idea. Don’t be afraid of age or mistakes as these are valuable lessons for the future. You have to have the courage to take a step and try!”

The Turība University Business Incubator provides wide range of opportunities to create and develop entrepreneurship at any stage and in the chosen field, building confidence in the possibilities of realizing an idea. Anyone who takes the first step can count on the incubator’s practical support – starting from business knowledge and mentor consultations, to legal and accounting support. Young entrepreneurs can also use co-creation spaces, where they can not only work, but also meet like-minded people and establish important contacts. This is an environment where mistakes are considered part of growth, ideas - as potential, and the people themselves - as the main resource.

The Head of the Business Incubator emphasizes that each such story proves that with the right environment and support, it is possible to achieve more than it may seem at first, and Turība is the place where these stories begin. The business incubator's activities are also adapted to a younger audience, offering practical resources, mentoring, and a business environment in which to experiment without fear of making mistakes, inviting other young people to participate in events organized by Turība, which can be an important step in the world of business to gain their first professional experience.