Three Estonian startups to test their smart solutions in the German market  

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.