Startup story: FilmLink X Tehnopol Startup Incubator

Each year, dozens of high-potential startups develop their product or service in Tehnopol Startup Incubator’s main program and special accelerators. One of these special accelerators is the Film and Multimedia Accelerator, which focuses on developing digital solutions that support the multimedia, virtual and augmented reality, storytelling platforms, and other tools for the film industry and the creative sector. The startup FilmLink is participating in the accelerator.

FilmLink is developing a tool that helps multimedia producers (film, TV, advertising) avoid costly communication chaos by bringing team and cast information together into one real-time updating environment. According to the team, they are essentially building a “smart person in your pocket” for critical moments – so that production days run more smoothly and decisions are made based on the same information.

A film set is a place where every minute counts – which is exactly why fragmented information flow can quickly turn into expensive confusion. When the “right version” of team, cast, documents, and ongoing information lives across different channels and files, there inevitably comes a moment when someone asks: “Wait, which version is this?” or “Did this information reach everyone?”

FilmLink has two founders. Sander Lebreht is a film producer with seven years of experience – someone who has personally experienced this chaos and understands its cost in both time and money. Margarita Orel has a technical background and understands how to build a SaaS startup and lead a development team. The startup story questions were answered by Moonika Vane, FilmLink’s project manager and marketing lead.

How did the idea to build your startup come about?

“The idea was born at a hackathon in September, where we quickly realized how fragmented the day-to-day information flow in film productions really is. We started with the idea of a filming locations platform, but interviews with industry professionals revealed a bigger problem: operational communication and data management are where the real stress and friction occur. That’s when our pivot happened and our true focus emerged.”

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

“Our biggest challenge was admitting that our first idea was not the best first step. A filming locations marketplace had a strong ‘chicken-and-egg’ problem, and letting go of that idea required honesty with ourselves.

Our biggest win? We have won three pitching competitions and found our first partners who are ready to test – and pay for – the solution, both in Estonia and internationally. That’s the moment when you realize it’s no longer just an idea.”

What sets your startup apart from competitors?

“When our founder Sander recently attended the Berlin Film Festival and introduced FilmLink there, we discovered perhaps our strongest selling point. As Italian producer Giulia Salvadori put it:

‘You know there are hundreds of these kinds of products, but after seeing FilmLink, this is the first time I believe this can actually work. Because you are a filmmaker yourself and this was born from the pain you have felt personally.’”

Why Tehnopol Startup Incubator?

“The Startup Incubator is like a growth environment for us – a place where we can test and validate ideas, but also fail safely and learn long-term lessons from it. Even though we’ve only completed half of the program, we have already started to see the results of that growth.”

Where do you see your startup in one year? And in five years?

“In one year, FilmLink will have become a standard production tool in Estonia and will be gaining traction elsewhere in Europe. In five years, FilmLink will have conquered Hollywood.”

Who will be the next Estonian unicorn?

“Well, let’s reveal a bit of our secret. FilmLink won’t stop until Ryan Gosling has registered on the platform. Once we’ve captured that unicorn of the film world, we will probably have become a rare mythical creature ourselves.”

Which books/podcasts/publications and people in your field do you follow and recommend to other early-stage founders?

“Marko Russiver gave us a great starting point for reading inspiration. His recommendations – The Lean Startup (Eric Ries), Zero to One (Peter Thiel), Whiplash: How to Survive Our Faster Future (Joi Ito & Jeff Howe), and Venture Deals (Brad Feld & Jason Mendelson) – have almost become our startup bible.

But besides professional reading, it’s important to develop yourself as well – because change starts from within. That’s why we also find great value in books like Ajuvabadus (Jaan Aru), Atomic Habits (James Clear), and The 5 AM Club (Robin Sharma).

For podcasts, we listen to How I Built This and Lenny’s Podcast – honest stories about failures are often more valuable than success stories. We also actively follow both the Estonian and international startup communities, because in the end you learn the most from other people’s experiences, especially their mistakes.”

Applications for Tehnopol’s Film and Multimedia Accelerator are open until March 8. We don’t just support technology-based ideas – we connect you with experts in the field, providing direct access to key figures in the film industry, the market, and investors. This creates a unique opportunity to develop your product or service in a sector where innovation and creativity meet high technology. Read more and submit your application here!

The activities of Tehnopol Startup Incubator’s Film and Multimedia Accelerator are funded by the European Union.