Erasmus entrepreneurial experience: where psychology meets surfing

17. 08. 2026

Through the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme in Portugal, Mr. Kostja Polc, founder of Surf2Smile, hosted Ms. Vika Novak, an aspiring entrepreneur developing Blue Mind Psychology—an innovative platform that combines psychological counseling with water-based therapeutic methods, including surf therapy. During the exchange, Vika refined her business concept by drawing on Kostja's expertise in social entrepreneurship and nature-based well-being, strengthening her vision of offering evidence-based mental health services through both in-person coastal experiences and online support. Their collaboration highlights how international entrepreneurial exchanges can inspire innovative solutions that promote mental health and well-being.

News type: Erasmus

Vika shared: "From this experience, I learned that being an entrepreneur takes a lot of marketing, networking, and selling, being in the right place at the right time, having good connections, and having your product or service fully prepared in advance so you can focus on the selling and marketing side. It is definitely not an easy step in a career.

Five benefits for my business career

1. I built a strong network of connections in the wellness and hospitality sectors.
2. I learned, in a real environment, exactly what it takes to start a business.
3. I tested my service with real, paying customers and got concrete validation.
4. I learned directly and quickly from my mistakes.
5. I gained a realistic, hands-on view of both the upsides and downsides of entrepreneurship. An insight that's now helping me decide how I want to shape my career. 

Mission — why I went abroad

I went abroad because I couldn't see myself working for somebody else, toward somebody else's goals. I see myself as a creative and forward-thinking person. I wanted to test a project that combines my profession and my passion, and I received positive feedback along the way. That said, I wasn't proactive or prepared enough to fully launch everything within six months. Adapting to a new environment, slightly different cultural values, and a different business approach to communication was part of the process. I learned to rely mostly on myself, and to ask directly for help when I needed it. The solution, I think, is learning to trust that things can work out, and to trust yourself, and I learned that this isn't easy."

Kostja Polc quotes: "If you don't know how to sell your service or product in one minute, you don't know how to sell it."

Vika adds: "Starting your own path takes a lot of courage and trust in yourself. It takes letting go of control over outside factors, and instead learning how to control your own time, activities, and priorities. Above all, it's important to follow your own goals and not get lost chasing easier opportunities or too much advice from others."