DigiUP Bootcamp – First Edition in Braga

From May 6th to 8th, 2025, Braga, EducPro Portugal hosted the first edition of the DigiUP Bootcamp, organized in partnership with Svietimas Ir Paveldas (Lithuania) and Creative Youth Academy (Hungary). This three-day training brought together 12 youth workers from Portugal and four international guests to explore non-formal, practical approaches to digital entrepreneurship education.

〇 Building Foundations and Entrepreneurial Mindsets

The Bootcamp opened with a strong emphasis on connection and context. Participants reflected on their motivations for engaging with digitalization and explored the current challenges and opportunities in youth work through collaborative discussions. Team-building exercises like the “Balancing Chairs” challenge simulated real-world entrepreneurial scenarios, encouraging adaptability, teamwork, and learning through trial and error.

〇 Tools for Turning Ideas Into Impact

Day two focused on identifying the root challenges faced by young digital entrepreneurs using the Business Problem Tree method. These insights were then shaped into sustainable and innovative concepts using the Business Model Canvas, a strategic tool that helped participants turn abstract problems into actionable solutions.

〇 Innovation in Action

On the final day, the group visited Human Power Hub Braga, a local center for social innovation and entrepreneurship. The inspiring setting served as the venue for final presentations, where teams pitched their newly developed business ideas. These included Art-Is-Hand – an e-commerce platform for artisans to sell unique, handmade pieces and connect with conscious buyers worldwide, Match Hire – an AI-driven job platform that connects job seekers and employers through skills-based matching algorithms and Budget Boost – a  digital payment and financial management solution tailored for freelancers and independent professionals. All these projects reflected the core values of the DigiUP initiative—creativity, sustainability, adaptability, and impact—and demonstrated the power of non-formal education in fostering real-world innovation.

As the first DigiUP Bootcamp wrapped up, it left behind more than knowledge: it built a stronger network of changemakers ready to shape the future of digital youth education across Europe.

Eager to see what’s next? Stay tuned for more stories, tools, and upcoming editions of DigiUP.