The DIBEST – Digital Innovation for Blue Enterprises & Social Tourism project, supported by the Interreg Atlantic Area programme, is collecting testimonials from micro-enterprises across the Atlantic Region that have benefited from its mentoring programme. The feedback is clear and consistent. DIBEST has helped small businesses strengthen their digital skills and reach wider international markets.
For many participants, the mentoring went far beyond improving their online presence. As Alejandro Soler, CEO of Blocdeesbozos and Spanish mentor, explains, visibility in today’s digital landscape requires a new approach: “This is not about having a nice-looking website or a functional website. You also need to be findable wherever users are looking for you — not only in traditional search engines such as Google, but also in modern search engines that use artificial intelligence, like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity.”
The programme helped entrepreneurs overcome resistance to digital tools and embrace artificial intelligence as a practical business asset. Melaine White, Founder and Owner of the Irish brand Rebelle Surf, learned how to use ChatGPT to create Google Ads campaigns — a turning point for her business: “It gives you more hype for your business. DIBEST training made a big impact because it converted me to using AI, which I was completely resistant to.”
For others, the mentoring introduced a data-driven mindset. Hanna Haidenko, Office Assistant at the National Surf Centre, highlights how the training changed their daily practices: “Now we are always checking the weekly statistics of our social media accounts, and that’s a huge difference.”
By the end of the DIBEST project, partners will deliver a digital skills toolkit designed to be reused by other micro-enterprises seeking to expand their customer base and improve their competitiveness in international markets.
To follow the testimonials and learn more about the impact of the project, visit DIBEST’s LinkedIn and Instagram accounts.
For many participants, the mentoring went far beyond improving their online presence. As Alejandro Soler, CEO of Blocdeesbozos and Spanish mentor, explains, visibility in today’s digital landscape requires a new approach: “This is not about having a nice-looking website or a functional website. You also need to be findable wherever users are looking for you — not only in traditional search engines such as Google, but also in modern search engines that use artificial intelligence, like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity.”
The programme helped entrepreneurs overcome resistance to digital tools and embrace artificial intelligence as a practical business asset. Melaine White, Founder and Owner of the Irish brand Rebelle Surf, learned how to use ChatGPT to create Google Ads campaigns — a turning point for her business: “It gives you more hype for your business. DIBEST training made a big impact because it converted me to using AI, which I was completely resistant to.”
For others, the mentoring introduced a data-driven mindset. Hanna Haidenko, Office Assistant at the National Surf Centre, highlights how the training changed their daily practices: “Now we are always checking the weekly statistics of our social media accounts, and that’s a huge difference.”
By the end of the DIBEST project, partners will deliver a digital skills toolkit designed to be reused by other micro-enterprises seeking to expand their customer base and improve their competitiveness in international markets.
To follow the testimonials and learn more about the impact of the project, visit DIBEST’s LinkedIn and Instagram accounts.
Publish date: 2026-02-02
