Meet Mari and Kaarel – two tech-curious Sprinters
28.01.2026
Our Selection Sprint brings together people to learn coding from very different directions, and this week, we’re meeting two sprinters whose journeys highlight that variety. Kaarel, a 27-year-old IT specialist from Raplamaa, had spent years working in support and integrations before deciding to return to programming. Mari, a 33-year-old with over a decade of experience in Web3 business development and operations, was drawn to coding by curiosity and a desire to better understand the systems she’s worked with for years.
Mari – From Web3 and business development to learning to code
Mari is 33 and joined the Selection Sprint in kood/Järva. Her background isn’t in coding, but technology has been part of her life for over a decade. She has worked in tech for 12–13 years, mostly in Web3, focusing on operations and business development.
“I’ve always worked closely with developers,” Mari says. “And for a long time I knew this was something I needed to understand myself.”
The idea of learning to code had been there for years, and when a moment appeared, she decided to stop postponing and try.
The first days of the Sprint were intense.
“It was a big shock,” she admits. “Not because tech was unfamiliar but because the pace is fast, and people come in with very different levels.”
One of the biggest surprises wasn’t technical at all.
“Paide covered in snow is incredibly beautiful,” Mari smiles. “But even more surprising are the people. Everyone has such a different background. Every person is a little unexpected.”
When it comes to the common belief that coding requires strong math skills, Mari disagrees.
“Math doesn’t equal coding,” she says. “What matters more is learning how to learn, understanding tasks, breaking them down, and building logical thinking. That logic comes with time.”
Her biggest advice to new sprinters?
“Don’t give up,” Mari says. “Within one day you can feel like you understand everything and then feel completely lost. All emotions are normal. You just have to push through. It will start to make sense.”
And to someone unsure whether coding is for them:
“Get a basic understanding of what work in tech actually looks like or perhaps try some short courses. If you’re already curious, maybe more than 50%, then it’s worth trying the Sprint.”
Kaarel – From IT support roles to getting back into programming
Kaarel is 27 and originally from Saaremaa but now resides in Raplamaa. Before joining the Selection Sprint in kood/Järva, he had already spent years working in IT but mostly in support and integration roles. He also has prior programming education and experience, though he hadn’t worked as a developer for some time.
“I stayed in tech, but not in coding,” Kaarel explains. “And at some point I realised I missed creating things.”
He had thought about returning to programming for years, but distance, routine, and comfort kept delaying the decision. When a new Sprint location opened closer to home, it felt like the right moment.
“I told myself – if I’ve been thinking about this for so long, I should at least try.”
What surprised him most about the Sprint was its intensity.
“I expected it to be intense, but not this intense,” Kaarel says. “Even with some background, it’s demanding.”
In such a fast-paced environment, support matters.
“No one knows everything,” he says. “People help each other constantly, as do I, so that makes a huge difference.”
Kaarel doesn’t believe coding requires advanced math.
“It’s less about complex formulas and more about logic. Understanding the problem you want to solve and thinking through it step by step.”
His advice to new sprinters is practical:
“If possible, prepare a little beforehand. Even a small course helps you get started more confidently.”
And to someone hesitating on whether to learn coding:
“You need to actually try solving something with code,” he says. “Only then will you know if it might interest you.”
Join our next Selection Sprint and start your career in tech!
//kood was founded in Jõhvi, Estonia in 2021, with the aim of making technology education accessible to everyone and address the software developers shortage. From 2025, students can study in Jõhvi, Võru and Paide. Its 12–15 month curriculum is based on 100% practical, self-directed and peer-to-peer learning, covering full-stack software development, teamwork and problem solving. Students can later specialise in fields such as cybersecurity, mobile applications, or AI.
//kood has welcomed more than 1,200 students in Estonia with close to 400 graduates – half of whom are now working in the technology sector. Students represent over 30 different nationalities, 21% are women and the average age is 29. You can find the //kood peer-to-peer learning method and curriculum also in Finland, Ukraine and Kenya.
In 2025, the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications recognised //kood as one of the best entrepreneurship promoters in the country.
The accessibility of IT education is supported by Skaala, Swedbank, Wise, Kaamos, LHV, SEB, Barrus, SA Võrumaa Arenduskeskus, SA Järvamaa, ESTDEV and others.