By Erkki Kubber
Estonia is often called a startup country — fast-moving, tech-forward, and unafraid to experiment. When Merili, Kätlyn, and I started thinking about our next project, we asked: what if we took that same mindset and applied it to something bigger — building a more sustainable, resilient future?
That’s how Impact Day began. We saw how events like Latitude59 and sTARTUp Day helped shape the startup ecosystem. What if we created a similar space for those working toward meaningful change — from environmental solutions to smarter business and everyday responsibility?
In year one, we aimed for maybe 700 attendees. But we didn’t set limits. We built, shared, and worked like a startup. And when 1,500 people came, we realized we’d tapped into something much larger. Today, Impact Day draws people from across the Baltics, Finland, and over 30 countries.
For us, it’s always been about more than one event. It’s about the bigger picture: what kind of Estonia — what kind of world — are we building? How can we run businesses that are not just profitable but also responsible, efficient, and built to last?
My own sense of this began in childhood. I had a yellow RC rally car I loved — and kept breaking. But instead of replacing it, my grandfather — who used to build race cars with his brother — would repair it. Again and again. That taught me something fundamental: fix what you can, value what you have. That mindset has shaped how I work, live, and lead.
And that’s what Impact Day is for me. A place to rethink how we consume, build, lead, and grow. For founders and CEOs. For individuals and NGOs. For anyone who believes that better decisions today lead to a better future for all of us.
Of course, it wasn’t easy at the start. Many questioned whether we needed another event. But we stayed focused. In year one, we already had 66 partners. Now the question isn’t whether this matters — it’s how we make it even better.
This year, we’re stepping up again. We’ve hosted great speakers before, but now we’re welcoming global voices like Seth Godin — people whose ideas shape the way millions think and act. What happens when someone like that speaks to a room in Estonia? What ripple effect could that create across our region?
That’s the kind of momentum that keeps us going.
We didn’t build Impact Day to be loud. We built it to be meaningful. Because when people come together around shared values — around ideas that improve life now and in the future — real impact happens.
