11 Years with e-Residency Estonia: A Journey of Growth and Belonging

This year, the e-Residency Estonia program celebrates its 11th anniversary and coincidentally, so do I in Estonia. Our timelines align in a way that feels deeply personal.

When I first heard about e-Residency back in 2015, I could not have imagined what it would grow into. Not only in terms of scale - investments attracted, businesses established, taxes paid, international connections formed - but in terms of people. Entrepreneurs, professionals, expats, locals: a diverse, global community united by trust in a digital state model.

At that time, I was only beginning my own journey in Estonia. I was studying at the Tallinn School of Economics and learning how the system works - not theoretically, but in practice. Looking back, I understand clearly why I wasn’t ready to engage with the program professionally back then.

I needed time. Time to understand the legal and accounting framework. Time to test the system in real-life scenarios. Time to gain local professional experience and see not just the advantages, but also the limitations.

For five years, I observed, learned, worked, and validated the system from the inside. Only then did I feel ready.

That moment came naturally - as an inner push, a quiet certainty that this was the right place for me. What once felt like potential turned into purpose. Joining and supporting the e-Residency ecosystem became personal, not professional branding, but genuine alignment.

Today I feel more connected to the program than ever. Not because it is successful - but because I understand why it works. E-Residency is not a shortcut. It is a system that rewards responsibility, transparency, and long-term thinking. Those who succeed within it are those who take the time to understand it and themselves.

What you truly believe in shapes your path. Move at your own pace, stay honest with your inner compass, and allow experience to mature into confidence.

The e-Residency Estonia program will continue to be there as a platform, as support, and as an enabler for those building meaningful, sustainable businesses on their own terms.