Yelena Zhovnikova (Jelena Žovnikova)

Yelena Zhovnikova has extensive work experience as a business and financial advisor, trainer, mentor, and entrepreneurship trainer. Yelena Zhovnikova has advised both starting and mature companies, NGOs, and individual entrepreneurs. Yelena has collaborated with various entrepreneurial incubators, accelerators, and organizations that promote entrepreneurship activities.

Yelena Zhovnikova has also worked as a mentor and trainer at Baltic Innovation Agency, where they focus on topics such as business model development, fundraising, financial planning, and crowdfunding. Yelena is involved in supporting programs for entrepreneurs at Garage48, where they serve as a lead mentor and trainer on financial planning, business modeling, business development, and funding.

At Jako Koolitus OÜ, Yelena is an entrepreneurship trainer and provides training on various entrepreneurship topics, including entrepreneurial risks, company establishment, business model canvas, pricing strategies, financial forecasts, taxes, and team formation.

Yelena Zhovnikova has held the position of Head of Business Development and Campaign Advisor at Fundwise, an Estonian equity-based crowdfunding platform. Yelena is a member of the core management team and provides guidance to platform clients.

Yelena also holds advisory and management roles at Hooandja, an Estonian rewards-based crowdfunding platform. Their responsibilities include advising campaigns, particularly in the entrepreneurial project segment.

In addition, they have served as a mentor and trainer at Tallinna Loomeinkubaator / Tallinn Creative and Loov Eesti / Creative Estonia. Yelena conducts seminars on topics related to financial planning, funding sources, and mentors teams.

Yelena's expertise is also utilized at Prototron, an equity-free fund supporting early-stage startups. Yelena Zhovnikova evaluates grant applications, conducts fundraising seminars, and mentors selected teams.

Furthermore, they have provided mentoring support in projects such as EU-GIVE and a cooperation program between the Estonian and Georgian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, where Yelena mentored teams and conducted seminars for Chamber members.

Overall, Yelena Zhovnikova has a diverse range of experience in advising, training, and mentoring entrepreneurs and startups, with a particular emphasis on business development, financial planning, fundraising, and crowdfunding.

Yelena Zhovnikova (Jelena Žovnikova) began their education in 1987 at Tallinna 40. Keskkool (Tallinna Õismäe Vene Lütseum), where they completed their secondary education in 1998. Yelena Zhovnikova then pursued a BSc in Economics and Business Administration from Rīgas Ekonomikas augstskola - Stockholm School of Economics in Riga between 1998 and 2001. Following this, they obtained an MA in Economics from TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology from 2001 to 2003.

After completing their master's degree, Yelena Zhovnikova continued their academic journey and pursued a PhD in Economics, also from TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology. The timeframe for their PhD studies is not specified in the information provided.

In 2005, Yelena Zhovnikova attended the Stockholm School of Economics for an MBA program, focusing on Finance, Strategy, and General Management. This program lasted for one year, concluding in 2006.

With their diverse educational background in economics and business administration, Yelena Zhovnikova has acquired knowledge and expertise in various fields, preparing their for a promising career.