Between September and November, a group of participants came together to build their own digital businesses. The Digital Business Founders Academy brought together aspiring and early-stage founders ready to move from ideas to clarity, structure, and action.
Designed as a beginner-friendly yet practical program, the Academy combined professional-led workshops, group mentoring, and individual mentorship. Its goal was to provide participants with practical support to start or grow their online businesses with confidence and a clear plan.
For many participants, joining the Academy came at a very personal turning point. Some were standing right before their first official launch, others were still shaping an idea that had been quietly growing for years.
For many participants, the Academy came at a key moment. Some were preparing to launch their first venture, others were refining an existing service, and all were managing the complexity of building something of their own in the digital space.
A recurring experience throughout the Academy was the shift from having many ideas to learning how to prioritise tasks. Participants arrived with a strong vision, but also with questions about visibility, pricing, positioning, or whether they were “doing enough.” Over time, the focus moved from trying to do everything at once to identifying what really mattered at their current stage and building from there.
Across four workshops, participants explored the foundations of online business. Topics ranged from building or optimizing a website aligned with business goals to creating meaningful content and building brand presence, understanding paid advertising, and learning how Femme Palette was built from the ground up.
The academy's goal was to provide real-world applications rather than abstract theories. Therefore, participants worked directly with their own projects and business ideas and were encouraged to ask specific questions and test their own assumptions in real time.
The individual sessions were led by experienced founders and experts who brought a strategic perspective and real hands-on knowledge:
This mix of expertise, strategic thinking, storytelling, and practical experience helped participants see both the bigger picture of their projects and also focus on the next steps.
In addition to workshops, mentoring played an important role in the Academy. Participants took part in two group mentoring sessions and ongoing individual mentoring tailored to their specific goals and challenges.
Mentoring sessions allowed participants to explore doubts in a safe space. It was a time when they could reflect on their own decisions, discuss ideas, and gain an outside perspective on challenges that could feel too difficult when faced alone. Hearing others share similar concerns often helped reframe personal struggles as a natural part of starting a business, not a personal failure.
For Veronika Veselá, psychologist, psychotherapist, and co-founder of the upcoming practice VeseláTerapie, the Academy became a space where ideas turned into a realistic plan:
“The Academy helped me bring structure to my vision, challenge my assumptions, and translate ideas into a concrete and realistic plan. The group mentoring was especially valuable, hearing where others were on their journeys and understanding opportunities and risks from different perspectives.”
Still in the pre-launch phase, Veronika describes the program as one of the most formative periods of her career, helping her feel genuinely prepared for a launch planned in early 2026.
While skills and strategy were important, many participants highlighted another factor as equally transformative: community.
Many participants described how valuable it was to be surrounded by others who understood the emotional side of building something from scratch. The academy created a room not only for progress, but also a safe space for showing hesitation, second thoughts, and learning from each other.
Catherine, a Prague-based web designer supporting coaches and consultants, joined the Academy seeking a clear plan and greater confidence. However, what stayed with her were the moments between the sessions: “What surprised me most were the moments in between: being challenged by my mentor, hearing relatable stories from the facilitators, and gaining collective wisdom from everyone in the group. I came away with the feeling that I’m not alone on this journey.”
This sense of shared experience, struggles, and support became an important source of motivation and reassurance. For founders who often work solo, it’s crucial.
In the end, it’s not just a completed program that remains. It’s also strong foundations, clear strategies, confident decision-making, and, importantly, a network of founders who understand the reality of building a business from scratch.
As one participant put it, "Progress doesn’t require a perfect moment." It requires movement. And that’s exactly what the Academy helped create.
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