Estonian technology companies are creating solutions that make our lives and work environment more convenient, efficient, and sustainable. To help start-ups get off the ground and scale-ups make major development leaps, a large team of top-level experts contributes their experience and knowledge.

If you want to be part of technology success stories and are ready to share your time, experience, and expertise, join the mentor network of Tehnopol and the Startup Incubator.

Submit your application by 18 February 2026 for Tehnopol’s public procurement for mentoring services! Log in to the Public Procurement Register, register for the procurement, and submit your bid.

Both private individuals and companies are welcome to apply. Please note that if your expertise spans more than one field, you must submit a separate expression of interest for each field.

The new year is already underway and new programmes are about to launch, but before we move into 2026 at full speed, it’s a good moment to look back: what did Tehnopol’s 2025 look like in supporting the growth of technology companies, and what impact did it have on companies’ development?

In 2025, Tehnopol provided business services to 103 tech companies. As in every year, the focus was on opening foreign markets, developing new products and services, and raising the capital needed for growth. The past year was best characterised by companies’ desire and need to maintain their position in existing markets, increase profitability, and open new export markets. Several companies launching new export activities found it more purposeful to expand beyond Europe – with a focus on Southeast Asia, Japan, the USA, Canada and South American markets.

The year in numbers: mentors, trainings and new markets

Tehnopol supported companies in focus verticals including health, digital, AI and dual-use technologies. Alongside the companies, 170 specialist mentors contributed a total of approximately 1,000 hours. During the year, nearly 90 different trainings or seminars took place, and the work of Tehnopol’s mentors and experts focused primarily on opening export markets, followed by product development and raising capital.

As a result, in 2025, 25 companies in the portfolio opened at least one new target market – the most popular target markets were the USA, Germany, Brazil and Japan.

Export projects: an easier route to more distant markets

In 2025, Tehnopol launched and led five different export-oriented projects aimed at helping companies enter more distant markets with greater confidence. Target markets included, among others, Brazil, the USA, Canada, Uzbekistan, the United Kingdom, Japan, and several European markets. In total, Tehnopol invested close to half a million euros during the year to unlock companies’ export potential.

Piloting and prototype testing with cities

As an important direction, Tehnopol supported the development and testing of prototypes. In cooperation with the cities of Tallinn and Pärnu, several companies were able to launch pilot projects to test their products in the urban environment. In total, Tehnopol and the cities invested approximately €200,000 in carrying out these tests.

Health tech: innovation in wellbeing services and cooperation across Estonia

In 2025, the health tech focus was on improving the quality of wellbeing services in Estonia. In cooperation with partners from the Ministry of Social Affairs, an innovation programme for wellbeing technologies was launched, enabling companies to test and bring new wellbeing services and products to market in Estonia, working together with local governments and other public sector organisations. Over two years, more than €1 million will be invested in pilot projects.

In addition, Tehnopol led a nationwide cooperation agreement between organisations shaping Estonia’s health technology landscape. In September, a cooperation memorandum was signed under which Estonia’s health and welfare system will be improved through new technologies. The memorandum was signed, among others, by the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency, Metrosert, and others.

Product development and closer cooperation with universities

In 2025, companies applied for a record amount of funding for product development activities from both European Union and Estonian measures. During the year, approximately €10 million was invested in research and development activities, which from Tehnopol’s perspective meant closer cooperation with universities and bridging companies’ development needs with universities’ capabilities.

EDIH AIRE continued

Tehnopol participates in the EDIH AIRE consortium, and in 2025 the European Union and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications extended EDIH AIRE’s mandate to support the digitalisation of industrial and manufacturing companies and the adoption of AI for another four years. This means Tehnopol will continue to focus on digitalisation and AI implementation in industrial and manufacturing companies, advising on raising capital, and supporting the development of companies’ own products.

Capital companies needed for growth

Last year, portfolio companies raised a total of €26.7 million in capital, of which €10 million was public funding for development activities. Overall, the year’s focus was clearly balanced: defending existing markets and increasing profitability went hand in hand with opening new markets, product development, and raising growth capital.

Looking ahead to 2026: more markets, more deep tech and defence industry

In 2026, we are planning major changes primarily in two directions. First, we will expand the selection of target markets and launch several programmes for entering new markets, including pre-consultations, business missions, and support from advisors located on the ground in the target market. Companies will have greater opportunities than before to explore markets in Brazil, the USA and Southeast Asia.

Second, the focus on defence industry and deep tech companies will increase. We will launch a development programme for deep tech companies to accelerate the rapid growth of Estonia’s research-intensive businesses. We also plan international cooperation projects for companies in the defence and dual-use vertical to support piloting of services and products and international sales.

By sector, work will continue with health, AI, digital, and dual-use and deep tech companies. In health tech, the focus is on creating piloting opportunities and launching paid pilot projects; in AI, we will support companies that can use AI to create new business models and scalable proprietary products; in dual-use, support will expand beyond startups to include companies in the growth stage; and in deep tech, we are ready to launch a nationwide cooperation programme to help new deep tech companies reach export markets through grant funding and investments.

If we summarise 2025 in a single sentence, then from the perspective of Tehnopol’s business services it was a year in which the portfolio became substantively stronger: more support for entering export markets, clearer piloting opportunities, closer cooperation with R&D partners, and very concrete results both in raising capital and opening new target markets.

We are inviting experienced Vietnam market experts to join our expert pool and share their in-depth knowledge of the Vietnamese market.

As part of this collaboration, you will support innovative SMEs from Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Sweden as they prepare to expand into Southeast Asia. The work is carried out in close cooperation with four business support organizations:

• Tehnopol (Estonia)
• Business Tampere (Finland)
• Clean Tech Latvia (Latvia)
• Norrköping Science Park (Sweden)

What are we looking for?

We are seeking professionals with proven experience in at least some of the following areas:

• Business development and B2B / B2G matchmaking
• Export and sales strategies in technology-driven industries
• Strong market knowledge of Vietnam, including sector-specific insights

Your role as a Vietnam market expert

As a member of our expert pool, you will help participating companies to:

• Understand local business culture, practices and expectations
• Identify relevant partners, clients and business opportunities
• Take concrete steps towards international growth in Vietnam and Southeast Asia

How to apply

All practical details, eligibility criteria and expected tasks are described in the call document below: 

Call for market experts in Vietnam

To apply use the application form template.

Application deadline: December 17, 2025.

Apply or learn more by reaching out to Anete Sama, Cleantech Latvia, anete@cleantechlatvia.com

If you know a Vietnam-based professional who would be a great fit for this role, feel free to share this call with them.

Leap4Growth project is funded by the Central Baltic Interreg Programme. 

Tehnopol, together with its Leap4Growth project partners, is currently looking for market experts with deep insights into Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. As part of the project, we are opening our first call for local market experts to join as mentors.  

Your role? Support innovative SMEs from Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Latvia as they prepare to expand into Southeast Asia. 

We’re seeking professionals with experience in: 

– Business development and matchmaking 

– Export and sales strategies 

– Market knowledge of Hong Kong and the GBA 

As a mentor, you will help companies understand local business culture, identify opportunities, and take concrete steps toward international growth. All practical details and how to apply can be found in the document below. 

Click here to open the document 

Apply or learn more by reaching out to Yi Tang: yi.tang​@businesstampere.com, +358 45 279 4150 

Project partners: Norrköping Science Park (Sweden), Business Tampere (Finland), Tehnopol (Estonia), Cleantech Latvia (Latvia). 

Leap4Growth project is funded by the Central Baltic Interreg Programme. 

Estonian deep tech companies have a solid scientific and technical foundation, but to grow truly global, they need a strategic approach and the ability to learn from the market.

This is exactly what the Disciplined Entrepreneurship Bootcamp – based on a methodology developed at MIT – teaches. The program will be brought to Estonia in February 2026 by international trainers, including Vassilis Papakonstantinou, Vimala Palaniswamy, Marius Ursache, Erdin Beshimov, Vlad Bodi, and Iman Urooj.

You can’t solve all problems at once

Venture capitalist and technology entrepreneur Vassilis Papakonstantinou, who has led investments in several deep tech startups and is a technology partner at Blue Dome Capital, identifies one clear challenge for deep tech founders: “Many deep tech founders believe they have a “hammer that can hit many nails.” They spread themselves thin across multiple potential applications instead of focusing on the most promising market opportunity.”

According to him, the desire to keep all options open often delays true market validation and the creation of customer relationships – along with the company’s real growth.

Papakonstantinou emphasizes that European, including Estonian, deep tech companies must understand that scientific excellence does not equal market success.

“Most European deep tech startups still think in terms of technology or research development rather than product development. They often chase perfection instead of progress – refining the science rather than engaging users,” he stresses.

The grant mindset must be left behind

Papakonstantinou adds that entrepreneurs must abandon the so-called “grant mindset” – the expectation that innovation is driven by projects and grants rather than by market pressure and customer feedback.

According to him the companies must embrace true experimentation: building, testing, and iterating quickly based on market feedback, not theoretical assumptions.

This shift in mindset is at the heart of the Disciplined Entrepreneurship Bootcamp. Based on MIT’s startup ecosystem, the program is designed to help science-based companies move from the lab to the market – step by step and methodically, without losing focus or momentum.

A leap forward in just five days

Former head and lecturer of MIT Bootcamps Vimala Palaniswamy has trained hundreds of entrepreneurs worldwide and has seen how the Disciplined Entrepreneurship methodology transforms teams’ mindsets.

According to Palaniswamy, one the biggest mistake deep tech companies tend to make when trying to commercialize their innovation, is that in the early stages, they fall in love with the technology rather than the problem they are trying to solve.

“Understand the market. Focus research on speaking to people and finding opportunities for where and how their technology can solve a meaningful challenge that systems, organizations, or individuals are facing. Customers care less about the technology than whether it solves their problem effectively,” Palaniswamy advises.

Entrepreneur and trainer Marius Ursache says the Bootcamp’s strength lies not only in knowledge but also in mindset and team development: “The biggest transformation is not educational, after all, the methodology can be accessed by reading the book. It comes from learning the mindset behind it, how to apply it in real-life situations, and this becomes a foundation for anything you build in the future. The other transformation comes at a human level. Building a startup is often like jumping from an airplane and having to build a parachute on your way down, said Steve Blank. When you have these stakes and when you do it at this level of intensity, the human component (your team) is more important than anything, and this is where the transformation comes – learning how to deal with different personalities, behaviours, how to trust others fully, and how to work most efficiently.”

World-class mentors, global network

The Disciplined Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is rooted in the practices of MIT’s startup ecosystem, which has produced over 15,000 companies generating more than 2 billion dollars in revenue. Participants gain access to a global network of mentors and a framework used by the world’s leading deep tech startups.

The Disciplined Entrepreneurship Bootcamp will take place from 2–6 February 2026 at Tehnopol. The program is open to deep tech and science-based companies registered in Estonia that are aiming for international growth. Applications are open until 3 November 2025.

More information and application: eis.ee/en/events/disciplined-entrepreneurship-bootcamp/

The program is brought to Estonia by Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS), Tehnopol, BDA Consulting, and Performikon, and is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

For the first time, Estonia’s innovation-driven deep-tech companies can learn and apply the commercialization methodology developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – a playbook that has shaped the growth journeys of thousands of successful tech ventures. The Disciplined Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (DE Bootcamp) is a five-day, trainer-led, hands-on program in product and business building, taking place in February 2026.  

“Don’t build the engine before you know where you’re driving” 

One of the bootcamp’s trainers, Marius Ursache, puts deep-tech pitfalls plainly: “The fundamental error is building the engine first and then trying to figure out what to do with it.” Ursache speaks from experience, as an entrepreneur, investor, and a long-time trainer of programs based on the MIT methodology around the world. 

“Estonia has grown a generation of great engineers,” he notes. “But the engineering mindset is insufficient to build great entrepreneurs. Go-to-market should be the primary concern for all founders, before technical innovation or engineering excellence.”  

While Estonian companies understand from day zero, they need global reach due to their tiny home market, understanding isn’t execution – they need frameworks for actually doing it, he adds. The bootcamp helps teams identify real opportunities and craft a strategy to enter international markets. 

Fall in love with the problem, not just the tech 

Trainer Vimala Palaniswamy, who has nearly a decade of experience delivering MIT entrepreneurship programs, sees the same pattern: “In the early stages, founders often fall in love with their technology rather than the problem they solve.” Deep-tech startups should start with: who is this for, and why does it matter? 

“Understand the market. Focus research on speaking to people and finding opportunities for where and how their technology can solve a meaningful challenge that systems, organizations, or individuals are facing. Customers care less about the technology than whether it solves their problem effectively.” Alongside rigorous market validation, teams will also level up collaboration: by Day 5, each team leaves with a shared operating framework and the confidence to execute next steps. 

Move past a “grant mindset” 

Venture capitalist and former head of the MIT Enterprise Forum, Vassilis Papakonstantinou, points out that many European research-driven companies get stuck in grant logic: “They still think in terms of technology or research development rather than product development. They often chase perfection instead of progress – refining the science rather than engaging users. To grow sustainably, they need to unlearn the “grant mindset” and embrace true experimentation: building, testing, and iterating quickly based on market feedback, not theoretical assumptions.” 

What is Disciplined Entrepreneurship? 

Disciplined Entrepreneurship (DE), created by Bill Aulet at MIT, is a structured approach that combines MIT’s problem-solving mindset with real-world company-building. It takes teams step by step from market understanding to a scalable business model. DE is taught at hundreds of universities and used by tech companies worldwide; long-term results show ~70% five-year survival and 60%+ fundraising success among startups that followed the methodology.  

What makes the Disciplined Entrepreneurship Bootcamp different is its focus not just on ideas, but on the skills to execute them. While many startups aim to “try and fail fast,” DE teaches how to build resilient, revenue-driven, scalable companies.  

Who should apply? 

Estonian-registered companies with international growth ambitions that are building innovative products based on deep-tech, engineering or R&D. Preference is given to early commercialization teams with a strong intellectual-property component. The cohort is limited (12 companies), and participating teams are expected to commit founders/key leaders for the full, intensive week.  

Key details 

Dates: 2–6 February 2026 

• Format & language: In-person, English 
• Location: Tehnopol Science and Business Park, Tallinn 
• Fee: €1,500 + VAT 
• Application deadline: 3 November 2025 

The program blends expert training, daily mentoring, and a Demo Day to present market readiness and growth plans. Expect deep work across market selection, value proposition, unit economics, go-to-market, team/OKRs, and an investor-ready (or board-ready) pitch deck. 

Apply and learn more: eis.ee/en/events/disciplined-entrepreneurship-bootcamp/ 

Brought to Estonia by the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS) in cooperation with Tehnopol, BDA Consulting, and Performikon.  

Co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. 

The City of Pärnu has selected companies whose smart ideas will receive support from the Pärnu Innovation Fund this year. The four chosen projects will help make the urban space smarter, more sustainable, and more people-friendly.

Through the innovation competition, the City of Pärnu supports the piloting and implementation of new technological solutions in real urban environments. This time, Pärnu was looking for data-driven, circular economy-supporting projects in the fields of mobility, education, and digital platforms, distributing a total of €59,500. In total, 44 applications were received.

“The Innovation Fund is our opportunity to test solutions that belong to the city of the future – today,” said Pärnu Deputy Mayor Irina Talviste. “The supported projects will help make Pärnu a smarter and more sustainable city for all of us. We are delighted that companies see Pärnu as a partner through whom they can test their ideas in real life. The strong interest in the fund shows that Pärnu is a developing and forward-looking city with space for smart solutions and collaboration.”

The funded projects are: GaiaHub (€19,400), Hades Geodeesia (€16,100), Teede Tehnokeskus (€15,000), and Paul-Tech (€9,000). GaiaHub will bring a cycling-centred mobility platform to Pärnu, which will serve as both a management portal for city officials and a transparent public communication channel for residents. Hades Geodeesia aims to create a drone-based, visually intuitive and versatile digital model of the urban environment that can be used by various city departments for decision-making and citizen engagement. The pilot project by Teede Tehnokeskus will establish a modern, data-driven system for managing and developing the city’s street infrastructure. Paul-Tech will support the city in improving the management and awareness of urban greenery.

“This year, the quality of applications was exceptionally high – the proposed solutions were well thought through and their value to the city was clearly evident. Many ideas focused on practical products that could help reduce administrative costs and increase efficiency. Although these were pilot projects, it was already clear that the return on investment for the city would emerge from the very first trials. Competition was intense, with a record number of applications, and many projects showed synergy and potential for cooperation. The strong interest confirms that we are moving in the right direction,” said Martin Goroško, Business Development Manager at Tehnopol.

The selected projects will be implemented in real-life environments across Pärnu – companies will have access to the city’s infrastructure, contacts, and data, as well as valuable feedback from residents to further refine their solutions.

In previous years, several projects supported by the Innovation Fund have already become part of Pärnu’s urban landscape, such as Solintel’s solar- and wind-powered smart streetlights and Traffest’s AI-based traffic monitoring system, which helps the city plan mobility more effectively.

The innovation competition, organised in cooperation between Tehnopol and the City of Pärnu, is part of a broader initiative that connects municipalities and technology companies to test innovative smart city solutions. Tehnopol runs similar competitions in Tallinn and in the German city of Heidelberg.

Photo credit: Priidu Saart

The City of Tallinn and Tehnopol Science and Business Park’s joint smart city solutions competition, Tallinnovation, has reached a new milestone this year. While in previous years the contest has only offered testing opportunities within Tallinn, this time three Estonian companies will also get to pilot their solutions abroad – in the German city of Heidelberg.

“Tallinnovation has become an important platform for Tallinn, where smart, city-developing solutions are born. This year’s cooperation with Heidelberg takes its impact to a new level – it shows that our entrepreneurs’ ideas are internationally competitive and worthy of export to other cities. International partnerships strengthen Tallinn’s reputation as an innovative and open city, and offer our companies a valuable springboard to new markets,” said Tallinn’s Deputy Mayor Margot Roose.

From the applications submitted to Tallinnovation, Heidelberg’s representatives selected seven Estonian startups to present their solutions to the city. The high level of interest and quality of ideas led to a decision to support three pilot projects with a total of €20,000.

“Adapting the ‘Test in Heidelberg’ programme through cooperation between Heidelberg and Tallinn creates a unique opportunity to connect two vibrant innovation ecosystems. By testing Estonian startups’ solutions in Heidelberg, we can bring fresh ideas to our city, explore their potential in real-life environments, and strengthen the bridge between our business communities. We see tremendous potential in this – not only for the participating entrepreneurs but also for our cities, which can learn from each other and shape the future together,” commented Mareike Rimmler, Project Manager of Heidelberg’s innovation team.

The selected companies and their support amounts:

• Elmo (IamTeledriving) – €10,000 (supported by Sparkasse Heidelberg and Stadtwerke Heidelberg)
• Urban Farm – €5,000 (supported by Sparkasse Heidelberg)
• Plugfree – €5,000 (supported by Stadtwerke Heidelberg)

Elmo develops a remotely operated electric taxi service; Urban Farm has created an automatic, energy-efficient indoor plant-growing cabinet that can be controlled via a mobile application; Plugfree is building a software platform that integrates electric vehicle chargers into a unified network, enabling their central management, real-time monitoring, and data-driven optimisation.

“Tehnopol has long worked to ensure that Tallinnovation and corporate piloting opportunities reach foreign markets. Heidelberg is our first process taken from idea to implementation, and we hope more companies will soon be able to pilot abroad. This is especially valuable when there is immediate support in the host country – and this is exactly what Tehnopol is working towards,” said Anu Puusaag, Head of Tehnopol’s Digital Technologies Division.

Heidelberg, a city of about 160,000 in southwest Germany, is known for its historic old town, castle, and world-class research university. Its strong economic and scientific base makes it one of Germany’s most attractive science and industry hubs.

The goal of this international pilot collaboration is to strengthen innovation cooperation between cities, provide Estonian companies with practical entry points into foreign markets, and bring smart city solutions into people’s everyday lives faster.

While the Tallinnovation competition, jointly organized by the City of Tallinn and Tehnopol, has previously focused solely on the capital and its testing opportunities, this year marks the first time that Estonian companies will get the chance to test their solutions abroad. 

Representatives from the German city of Heidelberg selected seven startups from the Tallinnovation submissions to present their solutions directly to city officials. Originally, the plan was to select up to two Estonian startups for piloting in Germany, supported by an export fund of up to €15,000. However, the experts ultimately chose three companies, and the total support amount increased to €20,000. 

The Estonian startups selected for testing in Heidelberg are: 

• IamTeledriving – €10,000 in support (sponsored by Sparkasse Heidelberg and Stadtwerke Heidelberg) 
• Urban Farm – €5,000 in support (sponsored by Sparkasse Heidelberg) 
• Plugfree – €5,000 in support (sponsored by Stadtwerke Heidelberg) 

IamTeledriving offers a remote-controlled electric taxi service that allows passengers to order a driverless vehicle. By combining remote driving technology with taxi services, the company provides a viable alternative to fully autonomous vehicles expected to become more widespread in the future. 

Urban Farm has developed an automated, energy-efficient indoor plant cultivation cabinet controlled via a smart app. The solution enables year-round growth of sprouts and edible plants, integrating practical food production, educational green technology, and circular economy principles into a unified value chain. 

Plugfree is developing a smart and internationally scalable software platform that connects city EV chargers into a unified network. This allows centralized management, real-time monitoring, and data-driven operation of the charging infrastructure—making it more shareable, transparent, and future-ready. 

Heidelberg, located in southwestern Germany, is home to approximately 160,000 residents, many of whom are students. The city is renowned for its historic Heidelberg Castle, strong academic university, and overall romantic and historical atmosphere. With a solid economic foundation and internationally recognized research activities, Heidelberg is considered one of Germany’s most attractive hubs for science and industry. 

In the opening photo: Estonian companies pitching to Heidelberg representatives.

In early May, Tehnopol, in collaboration with our Finnish partner GreenNet Finland and Japanese partner CIRIOT, organised the first business mission to Japan. Representing Estonia were Tuge Energia, a manufacturer of small wind turbines, and R8 Technologies, a provider of energy efficiency platforms for buildings. The business mission was part of the FinEstJapan project.

Alongside the Estonian companies, two Finnish firms also took part: Nolla-E, which, like R8 Technologies, focuses on finding optimal energy solutions for building energy efficiency, and Helsieni, which offers circular economy solutions and mushroom cultivation systems for the food industry.

CIRIOT, the project’s Japanese partner, also participated in the mission. As a local expert organisation, CIRIOT plays a key role in mentoring participating companies, supporting them in navigating the Japanese business environment, identifying suitable partners and business opportunities, and facilitating connections that can lead to concrete business deals.

Japan is a market full of opportunities. Depending on the ranking, it is considered the world’s fourth or fifth largest economy. While extremely advanced in some sectors—such as the automotive industry—Japan remains a market with room for development in others, which continues to attract strong interest from Estonian companies.

Entering the Japanese market typically requires a longer period for relationship-building, meaning that the resources needed (time, finances, workforce) are significantly greater than for other distant markets. Japanese businesses take a highly meticulous approach to partnerships—thoroughly examining a company’s history, experience, and the actual substance and reliability of its product, service, or technology. Many aspects that might seem self-evident to Europeans are subject to separate scrutiny. Therefore, companies must be prepared for numerous business meetings over several months or even years.

However, once this series of meetings is complete and trust has been established—leading to discussions around signing an NDA, MoU or LoI—it is a clear sign of genuine interest in a business deal. Unlike in Europe, where pilot projects often last a few months to a year, in Japan they typically span three years. Japanese companies are also very selective about their partners initially, but once a choice is made, they tend to be extremely loyal. As such, the time and financial investment required to enter the market is usually offset by a long-term partnership.

The aim of the FinEstJapan project is to support Estonian and Finnish tech companies in entering the Japanese market over a 2.5-year period. To achieve this, project consortium members Tehnopol and GNF have recruited a local team of consultants in Japan, tasked with identifying suitable business leads and preparing companies for meetings. The project also supports participants through business missions to Japan, where the focus is on one-to-one business meetings and building new connections.

During the first mission in May, the companies had numerous private meetings and were also able to visit the SusHi Tech technology fair in their free time. The fair brings together representatives from major Japanese corporations and showcases many key players from the startup ecosystem. Its international setup makes it easy to network and establish new contacts. As part of the project, there are already plans to revisit the SusHi Tech fair in Tokyo next year.

The next business mission to Japan will take place in Osaka from 20–24 October. To participate, companies must have a clear interest in entering the Japanese market and have already conducted some initial background research to assess market suitability. The project offers further market analysis and potential leads through its local consultants. Additionally, all participating companies are required to undergo preliminary mentoring to help refine their value proposition and export strategy for the Japanese market.

To join the FinEstJapan project, please contact: Anu Puusaag, anu.puusaag@tehnopol.ee

This week, business festival sTARTUp Day takes place in Tartu, which is always one of the highlights of the year for startups. Tehnopol Science and Business Park will be at the demo area, we have invested our time and energy into several (side) events and the startups of Tehnpol Startup Incubator will take the stage.

If you have a startup and would like to pitch your idea on the sTARTUp Day stage perhaps next year, apply to the Startup Accelerator. We are currently accepting applications from early-stage tech startups. Not sure if you are ready for an Accelerator? Let us help you decide:

🔍 You have validated your idea. Don’t guess—make sure the problem you’re trying to solve actually exists for real users and someone needs it. Talk to potential customers about your idea and find out whether they’d be willing to pay for it.

💪 You have a dream team. If you don’t have a team yet, start building one! Look for potential team members at events and within your network—collaboration brings the best results. By the way, strong teams are also one important factor that the investors look for.

📑 Your paperwork is in order. Start with a private limited company and make sure everything is properly documented. Make agreements within the team on how the company’s ownership will be divided.

🛠️ You have built your MVP. Develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to test the market demand. It’s better to move fast than to aim for perfection—everything doesn’t have to be flawless, but is must be functional.

🎯 You have set goals and are staying focused. Create an action plan and identify the goals you want to achieve. Working towards a shared objective helps to avoid distractions and keeps you focused on what really matters.

🚀 You should apply to the Accelerator! If you have all these points covered, you are more than ready to join the Accelerator! Read more here.

Where to find us at sTARTUp Day

If you want to discuss your ideas with us before sending your application, feel free to find us in Tartu. Here are some hints as to where we’ll be.

We kick off the week in Tartu on January 29 with Zebra ScaleUp Bootcamp Pitching. This is a closed event, only companies that are participating in Zebra ScaleUp project are expected.

The same day, all health tech enthusiasts are welcome at Gutenberg Club to take part in “Entrepreneurs meet researchers—matchmaking for R&D collaboration in health technologies”. If you are interested, see more information and register here.

On January 30 at 15:50, we will gather at the Pitching Stage where Tehnopol Demo Day takes place and our hard-working startups take the stage to pitch their ideas. Come join us and find out what the startups are up to. On the stage: Eetos (Startup Accelerator), Wayren (NATO DIANA Accelerator), GaltTec (NATO DIANA Accelerator), Kindel.AI (Startup Accelerator), GaasAI (Startup Accelerator), TeleArmy (NATO DIANA Accelerator), TraynMe (Startup Accelerator), VisioTag (Film and Multimedia Accelerator), Bebo (Startup Accelerator).

On January 30, Wayren will talk about their experience with different funds and accelerator programs at Starlight Stage. They have received funding from Prototron, attended the Startup Accelerator and last year, Wayren was one of the startups selected from thousands of applicants to the NATO DIANA Estonian Accelerator. So, find “Accelerate or Stagnate: The Role of Growth Programs in Startup Success” from the program and come listen with us.  

In addition, here are some additional recommendations:

• January 30 11:00 Prorotron x Swedbank: The Insider’s Guide to Secure Your First Funding (Seminar Room 3)
• January 30 14:45 Prototron Open Mic (Pitching Stage)

Last, but not least—come by our booth at the demo area. You can find out more about our accelerator programs, projects, services for scaleups and simply have a chat with us. And since we still have your attention here, we can reveal a little secret about our booth: You can take photos enhanced by AI as a keepsake from sTARTUp Day 2025!

The Tehnopol Startup Incubator organizes several specialized accelerators throughout the year to support early-stage companies and help them build connections and enter the market. One of these is the AI accelerator, which is for startups developing AI-based solutions. One of the participants in this accelerator was the startup Claricy. Let’s get to know them better!

Claricy develops behavioural analysis and educational technology called IRIS-X. This technology enables people to understand and improve their financial behaviour through psychological analysis and personalized behavioural financial advice. Since April, the company’s team has participated in a total of four business accelerators and started applied research in collaboration with psychology experts from Tallinn University – all to ensure that the technology, built on a delicate topic, is based on real needs and scientifically proven methods.

Johanna Stina Haar, CEO and founder of Claricy, is the visionary behind the idea. With a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master’s degree in IT management, she has gained practical experience in both fields, which she has applied to entrepreneurship for nearly three years.

In addition to Johanna Stina, the founders of IRIS-X include her brothers, Mikk Kalma and Kristjan Kalma. Mikk has nearly 20 years of experience in IT management, which has given him a strong foundation in creating IT infrastructures and ensuring security. His critical thinking provides the team with a grounded perspective. Kristjan has worked as a digital product manager for almost nine years, and his skills in time management and leading development teams ensure a clear focus and alignment of technologies with the business vision.

Johanna Stina introduced the startup and their plans for the future.

How did you come up with the idea to create a startup?

“Since all the founders have a technical background, it’s in our nature to use technology to solve problems. We’ve spent evenings brainstorming different business ideas and discussing services that have fallen behind with outdated technology. Due to working in the same field, helping, supporting, mentoring, and exchanging ideas with each other has been part of our daily communication on Discord for many years – starting a joint company was only a matter of time.”

What have been the biggest challenges/failures and the biggest wins so far?

“The biggest challenge has been securing funding for the research. Our first application was met with a negative response, but thanks to strong motivation and determination (or perhaps stubbornness), it eventually resulted in a positive outcome. This turned our greatest challenge into our greatest victory. In addition to securing research funding, another significant victory has been participating in the Tehnopol AI accelerator, as it truly sped us up from 10 km/h to 100 km/h. After participating in the AI accelerator, both the company and its team have undergone remarkable development.”

What sets your startup apart from competitors?

“The founding members of IRIS-X are people who trust each other the most as business partners. We know each other’s strengths and personalities inside and out, which is why our ability to work together has already proven itself (and a good sense of humour helps us overcome all obstacles).

Secondly, the idea behind IRIS-X is built on a solid foundation of research. We have an excellent collaboration with Tallinn University, supported by Ingrid Hindrikson from the university’s side, and psychologists Aleksander Pulver and Kadi Liik, who are actively working on the research. Their contributions to the solution we are creating are of immense value. You can read more about the ongoing research here.”

Why did you choose Tehnopol Startup Incubator?

“Since we use AI solutions in our technology, applying to the Startup Incubator’s AI accelerator was a logical step. We knew the accelerator was specifically focused on the development of AI solutions, and since the field is still so new, we have a lot to learn from it. The AI accelerator also supported us with equity-free funding – every euro is valuable for an early-stage startup.”

Where do you see your startup in 1 year? And where in 5 years?

“In one year, it’s “game on” – by that time, we will have hundreds of initial test users who will help us gather objective feedback for further service development. Additionally, by then, our first research study will be completed, we will have secured funding, will continue to invest in research and development, and we will have expanded the team by at least 10 people.

In five years, we will already be on the international market. By that time, we will have irreversibly changed the world of financial advice, becoming the leading providers of behavioral finance solutions in Europe.”

Who is the next (Estonian) unicorn?

“It’s hard to say who might get ahead of us. We definitely see potential in solutions for the medical field – since the public sector in Estonia is quite receptive to new IT solutions, piloting medical solutions in this region is likely easier. Additionally, the competition between the public and private sectors in this field seems smaller, but the demand for IT solutions remains high.”

Which books/podcasts/publications and influencers in your field do you follow and would recommend to other aspiring entrepreneurs?

“Huberman Lab; Lex Fridman Podcast; the book „The Billion Dollar Secret“ and Diary of CEO.“

If you’d get a chance to meet with Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, what would you ask them?

“First, I would conduct user interviews with all the aforementioned individuals to identify potential collaboration opportunities and understand what financial problems they might be facing. Then, I would also seek funding from them to develop IRIS-X.”

Next, we are inviting startups to apply for the Startup accelerator. It’s often said that if you go alone, you’ll get there faster, but if you go together, you’ll go further. The Tehnopol Startup Incubator accelerator supports your tech startup on its journey to becoming investment-ready. We offer the best and most high-quality program in the region, as well as expert advice for scaling your startup. 10 carefully selected companies will join the 6-month accelerator. Read more here!