The Erasmus+ project SHIFT: From Solo to Startup Success officially launched on 1. December 2025 with its kick-off meeting held in Vilnius, Lithuania. The meeting brought together the three partner organisations participating in the Small-scale partnerships in youth (KA210-YOU) action:
- KLUB PODJETNIŠKEGA GIBANJA EMC (Slovenia) – project coordinator
- ASOCIACIJA AKTYVISTAI (Lithuania) – partner
- EDUMANSHA – Associação para o Aprendizado Contínuo para as Demandas do Século XXI (Portugal) – partner
About the SHIFT Project
The SHIFT project addresses a widespread challenge in Europe: many young freelancers, migrants and underrepresented individuals remain in unstable, low-growth forms of self-employment due to limited access to entrepreneurial knowledge, structured support and business networks. While freelancing offers income, it often does not provide long-term professional or economic development opportunities.
SHIFT aims to strengthen these self-employed young people by helping them transition from freelancing to building sustainable startups and becoming potential job creators. The project provides them with entrepreneurial, business and digital innovation skills that are essential for long-term economic inclusion.
The project places particular emphasis on youth, migrants, NEET individuals and participants from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Project Objectives
As outlined in the official application, the project pursues the following objectives:
- Equip young freelancers, migrants and underrepresented groups with the knowledge and tools needed to transition from self-employment into startup creation.
- Develop a modular learning tool, the Freelancer-to-Startup (F2S) Toolkit, covering business modelling, productisation, lean startup methodology, financial literacy and growth strategies.
- Train youth workers and support professionals to guide and mentor self-employed young people in developing sustainable business ideas.
- Organise local SHIFT Bootcamps in each partner country, offering practical startup-building experience for at least 45 diverse young participants.
- Build an online SHIFT platform hosting open-access learning materials, resources and networking opportunities.
- Support freelancers from diverse backgrounds, including migrants, NEET youth and underrepresented communities, to strengthen their economic independence and entrepreneurial potential.
Activities and Expected Outputs
Throughout the project period, partners will carry out several key activities:
1. Development of the Freelancer-to-Startup Toolkit
A comprehensive learning resource consisting of five core modules that help freelancers understand business modelling, digital innovation, financial planning and long-term growth. It will be available in four languages: English, Slovenian, Lithuanian and Portuguese.
2. Training of Youth Workers
Youth workers and support professionals will take part in a multi-day training in Slovenia to learn how to mentor freelancers effectively using the Toolkit and related methodologies.
3. SHIFT Bootcamps
Each partner country will host a local bootcamp offering hands-on startup development sessions. A minimum of 45 young people across Slovenia, Lithuania and Portugal will participate.
4. Online SHIFT Platform
A digital platform where the Toolkit, learning resources and practical tools will be freely accessible to freelancers, youth workers and organisations working in the field.
5. Dissemination and Multiplier Events
Each partner will organise a national multiplier event and carry out communication activities to ensure long-term use of the project results.
About the Kick-Off Meeting in Vilnius
The meeting in Vilnius served as the first working session of the project. Partners reviewed the overall work plan, discussed the sequence of activities and confirmed responsibilities for the upcoming months.
Topics covered included:
- development steps for the Freelancer-to-Startup Toolkit
- methodological approach to mapping and research
- training structure for youth workers
- organisation of the SHIFT Bootcamps
- design of the online platform
- evaluation procedures and communication channels
The meeting established a clear operational framework that will guide the project through all stages of development and implementation.
The project SHIFT: From Solo to Startup Success is co-financed by the Slovenian National Erasmus+ Agency MOVIT and the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme.
