Your one-stop-shop for information about setting up a start-up business in Estonia and Finland
Estonia
Ecosystem
Estonian startup ecosystem maps the major enablers and financiers who can assist you in starting and growing your business in a smart way. The ecosystem includes providers of affordable working-space, business incubators, business plan competitions, training , mentoring, matchmaking events, etc. The list of financiers range from grants for starting-up your business to venture capitalists. Start smart!
Starting
Have an idea, but looking for support services, networking opportunities and similarly minded people?
Growing
Have a growing business, and want to take over the world?
-
Close
StartSmart!
StartSmart! is a connecting title for a wide variety of different activities which are designed and carried out in the benefit of young entrepreneurial minded people in Estonia and Finland.
Services for starting companies
StartSmart! offers series of conferences, practical seminars, workshops and networking events targeted at aspiring entrepreneurs from Estonia and Finland.
-
Close
Ajujaht
Ajujaht is a Estonian startup competition for young entrepreneurs creating innovative businesses.
www.ajujaht.ee E-mail: info@ajujaht.ee
Services for starting companies
Ajujaht offers to young entrepreneurs Estonian biggest startup competition programme.
-
Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund
CloseEstonian Unemployment Insurance Fund
The objective of the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund is the payment of unemployment insurance benefits, benefits upon collective termination of employment contracts and benefits upon the insolvency of employer in accordance with the Unemployment Insurance Act and other legislation.The Fund is a legal person in public law acting in accordance with the statutes of unemployment fund established and amended by a Regulation of the Government of the Republic.
goo.gl/GCv5O E-mail: info@tootukassa.ee
Services for starting companies
Grants : The Fund provides financial backing to unemployed persons who form new enterprises, through a business start-up subsidy (up to 4474 euros).
-
Close
Garage 48
Garage48 was started in Estonia in spring 2010 by 6 active entrepreneurs from Estonian Startup Leaders Club, a networking organization of 35 Estonian startup co-founders. Garage48 event series started in Estonia in April 2010 and has quickly grown outside of Estonia to Northern Europe and Africa.
www.garage48.org E-mail: info@garage48.org
Services for starting companies
Today Garage48 Foundation organizes Garage48 events for starting companies
Services for growing companies
Garage48 HUB, an affordable co-working space in central Tallinn, Estonia.
-
Close
Business Incubator Eagle Nest
Eagle Nests' mission is to enhance the emergence of sustainable and innovative companies in Narva and the North-East region of Estonia. www.eaglenest.ee E-mail: info@eaglenest.ee
Services for starting companies
For starting companies Eagle Nest offers consulting, seminars and training. Services for growing companies
Business services and low-priced working space.
-
Tartu Centre for Creative Industries
CloseTartu Centre for Creative Industries
Tartu Centre for Creative Industries operates as the coordinator of creative industries in Tartu and South Estonia by providing creative industries related information and training, legal and economic consulting for creative entrepreneurs, as well as business incubation (and pre-incubation) services.
www.lmk.ee/eng E-mail: info@lmk.ee
Services for starting companies
Pre-incubation services: Business plan course, individual consulting.
Services for growing companies
Incubation: Infrastructure and business support services.
-
Viljandi Creative Industries Incubator
CloseViljandi Creative Industries Incubator
The Viljandi Creative Incubators Foundation helps creative crafts people, groups and organizations to get their business project off the ground with a two-year residency or virtual program that incubates qualified applicants, providing them workspace with the guidance, knowledge about resources and networking for successful launching. Services for starting companies
Pre-incubation and incubation services: Business plan and individual consulting.
Services for growing companies
Infrastructure and business support services. -
ESA (Business Support and Credit Management Foundation)
CloseESA (Business Support and Credit Management Foundation)
- Kopli Business Incubator - targeting mostly Põhja-Tallinn (Northern Tallinn) district SME-s
- Ülemiste Business Incubator - for technology-based service providers and innovative start-ups
- Tallinn Creative Incubator - for creative industries entrepreneurs
www.esa.ee/eng/avaleht E-mail: info@esa.ee
Services for starting companies
Start-up services: business idea evaluation, business model analysis, business plan formulation, basic entrepreneurship training.
Services for growing companies
Development services: business consulting, strategy creation and implementation, training programs, access to financing resources, grant and loan application support, technology commercialization, networking and links to strategic partners
-
Close
Connect Estonia
Connect Estonia is a private initiative-based support network for growth business founded in 2002, linking entrepreneurs, investors, business professionals, consultants and industry professionals, helping to ambitious companies grow and to realise new business ideas.
Connect Estonia is part of pan-European network and cooperates with other Connect organizations in other countries.
Services for starting companies
Connect Estonia Springboard Programme
Services for growing companies
Connect Estonia Springboard Programme
-
Close
Seed Forum
Seed Forum International Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation working out of London. The mission of Seed Forum is to create a global investor matchmaking market place for seed and venture capital without national or regional borders.
www.seedforum.org E-mail: rando@seedforum.org
Services for starting companies
Seed Forum Pitch Training
The pitch training camp is obligatory for all companies which has been selected and has confirmed to participate in the Seed Forum Process. The pitch training includes a 1,5 days intensive program focusing on investor readiness.
Services for growing companies
Seed Forum
-
Close
MTVP
MTVP is a private equity partnership focusing exclusively on technology, media and telecom ('TMT') related investment opportunities in Russia, Baltic States and other Central and Eastern European countries. The fund aims to benefit from the unexploited hi-tech potential and overall fast economic growth in the region relying on the unique industrial and financial expertise of its founders.
www.martinsontrigon.com/ E-mail: mtvp@mtvp.eu
Services for starting companies
They provide start-up to growth capital to companies targeting local markets as well as those with global ambitions having their roots in the region.
Services for growing companies
-
Close
Astrec Invest
Astrec Invest’s mission is being a value added investor in early stage technology and life sciences businesses with experienced professional management and capability to grow profitably.
Services for starting companies
Services for growing companies
Provides start-up to growth capital to companies targeting local markets as well as those with global ambitions having their roots from Baltic region.
-
Close
GameFounders
GameFounders is the first gaming startup accelerator in Europe.
We accelerate startups that include result- oriented team of executioners from all countries, who build games, gamified apps, platforms, tools or other game related products.Services for starting companies
We offer 3 months of intense development with 60+ gaming gurus, CEOs and developers as mentors, seed capital, game-targeted partnership deals, access to networks of gaming contacts and access to gaming investment funds, VCs and angels.
Services for growing companies
We offer 3 months of intense development with 60+ gaming gurus, CEOs and developers as mentors, seed capital, game-targeted partnership deals, access to networks of gaming contacts and access to gaming investment funds, VCs and angels.
-
Close
Startup Wise Guys
Wise Guys is an accelerator for early stage startups with passion, founders and a vision - Want, Imagine, Succeed, Expand.
There will be blood, there will be tears - tons of mentors pushing out the most of you that you didn't even know was there. The team is most important, as well as each individual giving their max.
Services for starting companies
Startup Wise Guys program:
Shape
Get your businessplan in place. With the help of mentors, trainings workshops, brain picking your initial business plan will be revised by you. Think of the details, keep yourself focused, know your target, plan your product.Build
Development of your product is the main focus during the program. Communicate with your possible customers, show the product, build fast, and get feedback to know if you are on the right track.Sell
Startup Wise Guys program ends with a Demo Day for investors - in Tallinn and in London. Each team presents their business proposition for angel investors and venture capitalists.Services for growing companies
Startup Wise Guys program:
Shape
Get your businessplan in place. With the help of mentors, trainings workshops, brain picking your initial business plan will be revised by you. Think of the details, keep yourself focused, know your target, plan your product.Build
Development of your product is the main focus during the program. Communicate with your possible customers, show the product, build fast, and get feedback to know if you are on the right track.Sell
Startup Wise Guys program ends with a Demo Day for investors - in Tallinn and in London. Each team presents their business proposition for angel investors and venture capitalists. -
Close
Prototron
Prototype fund called “Prototron” was launched by Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol, Swedbank and Tallinn University of Technology.
The aim of the fund is to finance the development of first products – prototypes. Swedbank will financing fund of Prototron is 120 000 euros for the first three years.
Services for starting companies
Financing can be applied by startup companies or private persons and the ideas have to be in electronics, mechatronics, information and communication technology field.
Services for growing companies
Financing can be applied by startup companies or private persons and the ideas have to be in electronics, mechatronics, information and communication technology field.
-
Close
WNB project
WNB Project is an active private equity and venture capital firm
that specializes in investments in early-stage companies with
strong management team and growth potential. Additionally they
provide investment management services for private and
corporate investors.www.wnb.ee E-mail: wnb@wnb.ee
Services for starting companies
- 3-5 year investment period, up to 1m EUR
- provides advice on strategy
- other related services
Services for growing companies
- 3-5 year investment period, up to 1m EUR
- provides advice on strategy
- other related services
-
Close
Startup Leaders Club
Estonian startup leaders club was formed in January 2009.
www.startupleadersclub.com E-mail: info@startupleadersclub.com
Services for starting companies
- Business networking and meeting new experienced people (guest speakers)
Services for growing companies
- Share experiences and best practices on managing early-stage startups
- Promote entrepreneurship in Estonia and grow the community of startup founders
- Speak out on behalf of startups to improve government support programs, business law and other policies affecting entrepreneurs and startups
-
Close
Tartu Biotechnology Park
Tartu Biotechnology Park (TBP) provides physical infrastructure as well as business development and consultancy services to companies and R&D institutions in the fields of biotechnology, medicine and veterinary medicine. It supports companies in finding cooperation partners and is active in the establishment process of new companies. www.biopark.ee/en/ E-mail: biopark@biopark.ee
Services for starting companies
Pre-incubation and incubation services: Business plan and individual consulting Services for growing companies
High quality infrastructure services as well as business development and consultancy services.
-
Close
Tartu Science Park
Tartu Science Park is the oldest Science Park in Baltics founded in 1992. Tartu Science Park has an incubator for technology based startups.
Services for starting companies
Pre-incubation and incubation for technology based startups, events and seminars
Services for growing companies
Suitable infrastructure for startup companies. Prototyping services.
-
Close
Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol
Tehnopol is a science and business environment for knowledge based companies. Today there are 150 companies, Tallinn University of Technology and IT College in Tehnopol.
www.tehnopol.ee/en E-mail: info@tehnopol.ee
Services for starting companies
Tehnopol has the largest business incubator in Estonia for technology based start-ups. Business incubator is the best environment to grow your start-up idea with best business coaches in start-up minded business environment.
Services for growing companies
Tehnopol provides a unique set of value adding business development services, convenient infrastructure and international cooperation opportunities for companies.
-
Close
Enterprise Estonia
Enterprise Estonia (EAS) promotes business and regional development in Estonia. Enterprise Estonia is one of the largest institutions within the national support system for entrepreneurship, providing financial assistance, advisory, cooperation opportunities and training for entrepreneurs, research establishments, public and third sector.
www.eas.ee/eng E-mail: eas@eas.ee
Services for starting companies
Trainings and advisory
- Consultants of Enterprise Estonia, who deal with the topics of starting entrepreneurs.
- Representations of Enterprise Estonia in Tallinn, East and South Estonia, so you could easier contact us.
- Free assistance from county development centres in the matters related to the starting of the company and preparation of the business plan.
- Personal mentor from business mentoring programme.
Grants
- Start-up and development grant for the starting entrepreneur for the investments related to the starting and development of the company.
- Innovation voucher grant for increasing competitiveness of Estonian SMEs through transfer of knowledge and technology, expansion of cooperation with R&D institutions and increase of capability of protection of intellectual property.
Services for growing companies
- Development of the company
The sector of development of the company involves several direct supports like technology investments of industrial entrepreneurs and development of creative industry as well as information programes. - Export
To provide any assistance in promoting export.
- Trade and Investment
Trade and investment activities are for the companies who are able to take its sales activities abroad and/or apply new technological solutions or develop new products meant for the international market.
- Innovation
The activities to be carried out in the sector of innovation fulfil the objective to increase the product development and technological capability of companies, but also the capability of research and development establishments to provide the commercialisable solutions.
-
Close
Technopolis Ülemiste
Technopolis Ülemiste is a new and modern business campus for innovative enterprises. Technopolis Ülemiste offers for the startup companies suitable premises, matchmaking event series Technopolis Business Breakfast and Money Talks events which bring together growth-seeking startups with international financiers, business angels and venture capital investors.
Services for starting companies
Matchmaking event series Technopolis Business Breakfast. Start Smart! event series in corporation with project partners.
Services for growing companies
Money Talks events which bring together growth-seeking startups with international financiers, business angels and venture capital investors. Suitable premises for the startup companies.
-
Close
Kredex
The mission of KredEx is to facilitate the increase of competitive strength of Estonian companies by improving the availability of financing and managing credit risks, and the improvement of the housing conditions of Estonian inhabitants by expanding financing possibilities and offering financing solutions aimed at energy efficiency.
www.kredex.ee/en/ E-mail: kredex@kredex.ee
Services for starting companies
Start-up loan
With the Start-up Loan with KredEx guarantee it is possible to finance the investments and circulating capital of starting small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed entrepreneurs, as well as of those having operated for up to 3 years. To manage larger risks connected with starting of entrepreneurship, the liability of an entrepreneur by personal property is limited with the terms of the Start-up Loan.Services for growing companies
- Technology loan
- Business loan guarantee
- Subordinated loan
- Credit insurance
-
Services for starting companies
Private investments
Services for growing companies
Private investments
-
Close
Estonian Development Fund
Estonian Development Fund is a state-financed venture capital fund investing into Estonian companies with a sustainable unique competitive edge and rapid expansion plans. EDF is also engaged in activities of developing Estonian VC market in general and carries out socio-economic and technological foresight.
Services for starting companies
Seed Booster
SeedBooster is Development Fund's virtual business incubator for unleashing international potential of ambitious business projects and getting them ready for venture capital financing.
Services for growing companies
Development Fund invests together with private co-investor into ambitious companies with a scalable technology/business model and international growth potential. Development Fund usually invests into go-to-market phase.
-
Close
Ambient Sound Investments
ASI is a seed investment company, investing in people and ideas in technology and across the industry spectrum. ASI team is made up of founding engineers at Skype and professionals with tech, operational and finance backgrounds. ASI is funding early stage companies which are typically looking to raise Seed or A-round investments.
www.asi.ee E-mail: info@asi.ee
Services for starting companies
ASI is funding and consulting early stage companies which are typically looking to raise Seed or A-round investments.
Services for growing companies
ASI is funding and consulting early stage companies which are typically looking to raise Seed or A-round investments.
-
Close
Askembla Asset Management
Askembla Asset Management is a private equity firm focusing on investments in growth companies in Central and Eastern Europe.
www.askembla.se/ E-mail: hr@askembla.se
Services for growing companies
Provides equity capital.
-
Close
LS Venture
In April 2008, an innovation capitalist company LSVenture OÜ started its activities in Estonia. The company focus was support of the inventors in the life-science area in the Nordics with the commercialization of their technologies. Since then, the company has developed and refined the proprietary methodologies and developed vital contacts within the inventor- and investor communities as well as within the industry.
www.lsventure.com E-mail: info@lsventure.com
Services for starting companies
Business plan and individual consulting.
Services for growing companies
Business development, funds and consultancy services.
-
Close
EstVCA
The Estonian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association’s goal is to develop the Estonian private equity and and venture capital industry and to promote the culture of ambitious entrepreneurship in Estonia. EstVCA has 18 members and 22 associate members.
www.estvca.ee E-mail: info@estvca.ee
Services for growing companies
Venture capital
EstVCa brings together Estonian VC-s and potential high growth companies.
-
Close
Essentia Capital
Essentia Capital is a Baltic financial advisory company poised to make capital and enterprises meet.
Essentia performs corporate finance and financial advisory tasks for Baltic companies helping them to improve their financial management and raise additional debt and equity capital from Investors.www.essentiacapital.com/ E-mail: contact@essentiacapital.com
Services for growing companies
Corporate finance and financial advisory, mezzanine capital.
-
Close
LHV Capital
LHV Capital is a private equity investment management company focusing on the Baltic States. Investment focus on medium-sized firms with the potential to develop operations in all three countries, either organically or through acquisitions.
Services for growing companies
Private equity investments, consulting.
-
Close
Baltcap Management Ltd
BaltCap is the leading independent private equity and venture capital investor in the Baltic States focusing on mid-market buyout and expansion capital investments.
Services for growing companies
BaltCap provides equity capital for growth-oriented Baltic companies.
-
Close
Caplia Invest
Caplia is private investment company based in Tallinn, Estonia.
Caplia Invests' portfolio is not limited to any specific sector or region. Many of their investments are in high-tech or new innovative thinking.Services for growing companies
Invests equity capital. -
Close
Baltic Mezzanine
Baltic Mezzanine provides mezzanine financing for growth, buyouts and capital restructuring in Poland and in the Baltic countries.
www.balticmezzanine.com/ E-mail: kalmer.kikas@balticmezzanine.com
Services for growing companies
The Baltic Mezzanine Fund targets to make mezzanine investments typically in the following situations:
* Growth capital
* Buyouts and buyins
* Capital restructuring -
Close
Redgate Capital
Redgate Capital is a new asset management and investment banking services group, established with a clear focus on Baltic, Russian and CIS countries.
Redgate, with its experienced team and cooperative partners, offers top class financial advisory services in the Baltic region and highly professional and prudent asset management services to clients investing in Russia, the CIS and Baltic areas.Services for growing companies
- Asset Management
- Alternative Investments
- Financial Advisory
-
Close
Practica Capital
Practica Capital manages seed and venture capital funds established under JEREMIE initiative. The funds invest in early-stage development of high-potential business ideas (seed, startup) and expansion of established businesses in Lithuania.
www.practica.lt/en E-mail: info@practica.lt
Services for growing companies
Investments for early business and expansion range from EUR 3 000 to 3 mln.
-
Close
Hanseatic Capital Estonia
Hanseatic Capital Estonia is a private equity and venture capital investment company, specializing in investments in late stage, middle market, mature, mezzanine, management buy-out, management buy-in, growth capital, and capital restructuring.
Services for growing companies
Invests in growth oriented SMEs between €1-5m.
