Bridging the gap between theory and practice in entrepreneurship
The Improving Entrepreneurial Journey Initiative (IEJI) is a global knowledge-sharing initiative that helps entrepreneurs learn from real-world experience.
Created by Sara Kremsar, it brings together practical entrepreneurial advice from founders, CEOs and industry experts worldwide to support entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.
Each participant answers one simple yet powerful question:
"What advice would you give yourself if you were starting your
entrepreneurial journey all over again, with the knowledge and experience
you have today?"
About the Improving Entrepreneurial Journey Initiative (IEJI)
IEJI is a global knowledge-sharing initiative that turns real entrepreneurial experience into practical advice. At OPTIMOD, we believe
valuable knowledge comes from those who have experienced the challenges of building and growing a business firsthand.
Through its annual editions, IEJI shares real stories and lessons from more than 100 participants each year.
By collaborating with universities, business incubators and accelerators, the initiative turns these experiences into practical resources
for entrepreneurship, education and professional development.
IEJI brings together founders, CEOs, and experts who share what they have learned about building, growing and sustaining businesses.
It fosters a global community built on the belief that entrepreneurship is rarely a solo journey, every experience is unique and success looks different for everyone.
IEJI Purpose
IEJI exists to make entrepreneurship more human, practical and accessible by turning real experiences into shared knowledge.
It helps entrepreneurs feel understood, connected and confident in making informed decisions based on real-world lessons, not just theory.
IEJI Mission
Through IEJI, we aim to bridge the gap between theory and practice in entrepreneurship by developing educational resources and building collaborations that connect founders, educators and organizations.
Together, these efforts help make entrepreneurship more practical, connected and impactful worldwide.
Discover entrepreneurs from around the world, read their advice and learn from their real-world experiences of building and growing businesses.
Each edition brings together practical advice from founders and experts around the world, sharing what it truly takes to build, grow and sustain a business.
Since its creation, the IEJI has grown from a small project into an international
network of entrepreneurs and leaders. The annual brochures have become a trusted resource for
anyone seeking practical, experience-based guidance.
4
Annual Editions
641
Participants
69
Countries
46%
Growth in Participation
12
Themes
217
Topics
How it works
Each year, the Improving Entrepreneurial Journey Initiative (IEJI) gathers practical advice from entrepreneurs
worldwide, making their experiences accessible through the IEJI KNOWLEDGE HUB and ANNUAL BROCHURES.
Our Dual Approach
IEJI offers two ways to explore entrepreneurial knowledge, making it accessible in the format that suits you best.
Each year, the Improving Entrepreneurial Journey Initiative (IEJI) welcomes over 100 participants representing organizations from different industries and countries worldwide.
Explore the participating organizations below, grouped by annual edition.
Every entrepreneurial journey is unique, but no one should have to walk it alone.
The Improving Entrepreneurial Journey Initiative grows through shared experiences, collaboration, and community support.
If you would like to contribute or explore partnership opportunities, you can do so below.
Insights gathered through each IEJI edition are used to develop educational resources in collaboration with universities,
business incubators, accelerators, other educational institutions and individual contributors. These resources support entrepreneurship education and practical learning.
Leadership blueprints
Startup guides
Entrepreneurship frameworks
Whitepapers
Research reports
Online courses
Case studies and success stories
Practical toolkits
Conference presentations and talks
Frequently Asked Questions about IEJI
Find answers to the most common questions about the Improving Entrepreneurial Journey Initiative,
including participation, content usage, partnerships, and more.
The Improving Entrepreneurial Journey Initiative (IEJI) is a global knowledge hub that collects real-world advice, lessons, and stories from founders, CEOs, and industry experts. Its purpose is to make entrepreneurship more practical, relatable, and easier to navigate by sharing what entrepreneurs wish they had known when they started.
IEJI is for anyone involved in entrepreneurship or entrepreneurial education. This includes new founders, experienced entrepreneurs, CEOs, universities, business schools, incubators, accelerators, policymakers, researchers, and ecosystem builders.
Each year, IEJI selects a central theme and follows a two-part structure. The first part is a research-based article written in three practical chapters. The second part collects short contributions from participants who share the advice they would give themselves if they were starting their entrepreneurial journey again. These elements form the annual IEJI brochure.
Each brochure includes a thematic article and a curated selection of contributions from founders, CEOs, and experts. The content reflects real entrepreneurial experience and provides practical lessons that support decision-making, growth, leadership, and resilience.
Yes. You can download all IEJI brochures for free on the IEJI webpage.
You can share your advice by submitting your contribution through the official participation form. You will receive instructions and confirmation once your contribution is accepted for the edition.
Participants are selected based on experience, perspective, and willingness to share practical, honest insights. IEJI aims for diversity in geography, industry, background, and entrepreneurial stage.
IEJI insights are transformed into a variety of educational materials such as toolkits, guides, frameworks, case studies, online courses, conference presentations, and research outputs. These materials are developed in collaboration with universities, incubators, accelerators, and other educational institutions.
IEJI was created by Sara Kremsar, founder of Optimod, as a personal contribution to the entrepreneurial community. Although she leads Optimod full-time, she develops the initiative in her spare time to stay connected with founders and give back through shared experience. IEJI is led by Optimod, which manages the curation, design, editorial work, and transformation of insights into educational resources. Many of these materials are available through Optimod Learning and Development.
Yes. IEJI collaborates with institutions that want to bring real founder experience into entrepreneurship education. Partnership opportunities include curriculum integration, workshops, research projects, and co-created educational materials.
Yes, in many cases. IEJI content is designed for educational use and can be integrated into your programs independently or with support from Optimod. Organizations can choose to use the materials on their own, or request assistance from Optimod to design custom workshops, programs, training sessions, or additional resources tailored to their needs. For usage rights, formats, and collaboration options, organizations can contact Optimod directly.
After gathering insights from hundreds of entrepreneurs over several years, it became clear that many IEJI participants were seeking a more personal and experiential way to connect. In response, IEJI inspired the first Founders' Off-the-Grid Retreat in 2025, an in-person entrepreneurship retreat in Slovenia that brought together contributors who had shared their insights in the annual IEJI brochures. The Founders' Off-The-Grid Retreat is a natural extension of the IEJI community. It unites IEJI participants in an off-the-grid setting where founders learn directly from one another through shared stories, practical discussions, and real entrepreneurial experience.
You can subscribe to the IEJI or Optimod newsletter to receive updates about new editions, events, calls for contributions, and newly released educational resources.
Yes. IEJI is highly valuable for early-stage founders. The content reflects real founder mistakes, lessons, and insights that can help you navigate uncertainty and build confidence in your decisions.
Yes. You may cite IEJI content in your presentations, academic papers, publications, or entrepreneurship research as long as proper attribution is included. Citations should reference the brochure edition, year, IEJI and Optimod as the source, and Sara Kremsar as the author and creator of the initiative.
Generic APA 7 Template:
Kremsar, S. (Year). IEJI Brochure: [Edition Title] (Vol. X). Optimod, Improving Entrepreneurial Journey Initiative (IEJI).
Yes. You may reuse quotes and insights from IEJI brochure participants for educational, academic, or other non-commercial purposes as long as proper attribution is included. When reusing quotes, please reference the participant name (when applicable), the IEJI brochure edition, the year, IEJI and Optimod as the source, and note that the initiative was created by Sara Kremsar.
IEJI is currently available only in English, as it is a global initiative intended for international audiences.
Contributions must be submitted in English. You may send your text in another language, but it will be translated into English for publication. Please note that translations may not fully preserve the original tone, style, or meaning of your text.
Your contribution and contact information are stored securely and used solely for managing your participation in the IEJI edition and for activities related to promoting IEJI, as each participant agrees when submitting their contribution. Personal information is not shared with third parties without your consent and is handled in accordance with data protection standards. Only the final approved text, with minor editorial changes if needed, is published in the brochure.
No. Once your contribution is confirmed, it cannot be withdrawn or revised. After confirmation, the text enters proofreading, editing, design, and layout phases and is prepared for publication.
Yes. The limit is measured in characters, not words. Your contribution must contain a minimum of 1000 characters and a maximum of 2000 characters. Submissions outside this character range cannot be accepted.
Either format is acceptable as long as the content is written by you. AI-generated text is not allowed. AI writing is usually detectable through specific stylistic patterns and punctuation choices, including the use of em dashes.
Yes. All contributions undergo proofreading and minor editing. Adjustments may be made for clarity, readability, consistency, or layout purposes. Edits are minimal and do not change the core message.
Yes. Each participant receives a preview of their contribution during the participation confirmation process. This preview allows you to see your text, but it is not the final version of the IEJI brochure. After confirmation, your contribution goes through proofreading, minor editing, and the design and layout phase before publication.
Each edition is published in the first week of December.
Submissions are accepted until October 31 of each year. Since the publication timeline is fixed, contributions received after this date are included in the following edition.
