When Alexander Bitskov left Estonia at 12, he never imagined that nearly two decades later he would return to turn his hometown into a stage for global innovation. Narva, a city on the country’s eastern border long defined by smokestacks and heavy industry, was the last place most would associate with entrepreneurship. But that was exactly the point.
In 2022, together with a small team of collaborators, Bitskov launched W3N, short for Web3 Narva. What began as an experiment quickly grew into Estonia’s leading emerging tech festival. Each December, hundreds of participants gather in Narva for two days of talks, performances, and networking – exploring topics from artificial intelligence and blockchain to digital art and creative entrepreneurship.
Since its inception, W3N has featured over one hundred international speakers – from startup founders and investors to policy leaders and creative visionaries – building a reputation as the place where global innovation meets local ambition.
More Than a Festival
W3N is not just a conference. It’s a platform designed to ignite the entrepreneurial mindset among young people in a region where many struggle to imagine a future for themselves. Through panels, workshops, and the W3N Youth Stage, students have pitched their ideas, connected with mentors, and discovered what it means to take their first steps into entrepreneurship.
The festival also celebrates creativity. Alongside keynotes and panels, W3N features live performances, immersive art, and even a sauna after party – elements that make innovation feel human, tangible, and alive.
“At the edge of Europe, we wanted to create a place where local youth could meet global leaders,” says Bitskov, CEO of ZenFrog Lab. “W3N became the bridge – a spark for those who didn’t believe opportunities could exist here.”
The impact has been visible. Dozens of young people in Narva have since gone on to co-organize events, volunteer at international conferences, or even launch their own projects. W3N has become more than an annual event – it is a movement for change in a city that needs it most.
The Team Behind the Vision
While Bitskov’s personal return to Estonia adds a powerful dimension to the story, W3N has always been a team effort. Among the original founding members is Jana Budkovskaja, a long-time champion of the creative economy in Ida-Viru County. Together, the team has organized festivals, bootcamps, workshops, and creative days for both youth and adults – initiatives aimed at boosting creativity, empowering communities, and generating tangible opportunities.
“It’s not enough to bring speakers and call it a conference,” notes Budkovskaja. “The real work is giving people in Narva the chance to take part, to see themselves as creators of the future.”
This blend of global vision and local action is what sets W3N apart. It doesn’t just talk about innovation in abstract terms – it creates pathways for people in Ida-Viru to experience it directly.
ZenFrogs: Culture as Infrastructure
Running in parallel to W3N is ZenFrogs, the flagship project of ZenFrog Lab. Conceived as an animated sci-fi comedy franchise, ZenFrogs combines surreal humor with themes of identity, survival, and technology. More than a show, it is a culture brand – blending storytelling with Web3 tools like digital collectibles and interactive portals that allow fans to step directly into the ZenFrogs multiverse.
The project has earned international recognition, positioning ZenFrog Lab as both a creative studio and a cultural innovator. Its ethos mirrors W3N’s: to use creativity and culture as the bridge to technology.
Looking Ahead
Both initiatives are entering their next chapter. The upcoming W3N 2025 festival, set for December 4-5, will once again bring together over 500 innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs from around the world. The program promises keynotes, panels, and workshops alongside performances and cultural experiences that make Narva an unlikely but unforgettable epicenter of innovation.
“Innovation is not just about technology,” Bitskov reflects. “It’s about people, culture, and the courage to build something new where others see nothing. That’s the spirit of ZenFrogs and W3N.”
ZenFrogs, meanwhile, is moving forward with the production of its animated pilot, Lost in the Multiverse. Expanding through merchandise, games, and global partnerships, the project is pioneering a model where audiences are not passive viewers but active participants in the unfolding story.
A Global Vision Rooted Locally
At its heart, the story of W3N and ZenFrog Lab is one of turning the improbable into the possible. From Narva, a city often overlooked in discussions of innovation, they are proving that location is not a limitation.
By merging culture with technology and connecting youth with global leaders, W3N and ZenFrogs are building a legacy that is both local and international. They stand as proof that with creativity, courage, and community, even a place on the edge of Europe can become a gateway to the future.
