Though Estonia is a small country with a population of only 1.3 million people, the country has made a name for itself in the digital world. There are over 1,400 startups and 10 unicorns in Estonia, representing the highest concentration of unicorns of any country in Europe. Estonia is now an important innovation powerhouse with a busy, supportive, and open startup ecosystem eager to support ambitious individuals and startups.
In this article, we have compiled a comprehensive list of startup incubators and accelerators in Estonia. They have been subdivided into applicability for startups in their 'ideation' and 'launch' stages, so whichever stage you're in, you would be able to find a program that suits you!
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FULL LIST OF STARTUP INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS IN ESTONIA
Ideation Stage Startup Incubators in Estonia
The complete list of ideation phase incubators in Estonia:
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking a cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
The Prototron program was launched to assist founders in transforming their unique ideas into concrete ideas and real businesses. Selected participants are given the opportunity to engage in their intense acceleration program, which will cover a broad range of topics such as prototyping, intellectual property, communication, and sales. Within the program, teams will be mentored by industry professionals as well as investors to train them for pitching and investment readiness. Post-acceleration, there will be a final presentation to the Prototron's Expert Committee which will decide the winners who would receive up to 35 000€ equity-free funding for prototyping, incubation at Startup Incubator, mentoring from TalTECH, and legal aid from law firm Hedman Partners, and useful tools from Meta Advisory, Avokaado, Veebimatus, and more.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking a cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Startup Incubator helps early-stage firms grow and become investment-ready. They provide a 6-month program to help you develop your ideas and business with the assistance of the top business angels, entrepreneurs, and specialists in Estonia and Europe. As part of the program, you will work with top mentors to assist your startup in developing a viable business model, creating a desirable product, arranging contracts and legal relationships, planning marketing campaigns, cultivating the necessary contacts and private investments, and entering foreign markets.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
The EIT Digital Venture Program is an international growth support program for European entrepreneurs. The program will take teams from idea to MVP, market validation, and investments within a year. The program kickstarts with a pre-acceleration boot camp to train entrepreneurial skills, finalize their Minimum Viable Product, establish their deep tech venture, and prepare for seed-stage investments.
Launch Stage Startup Incubators and Accelerators in Estonia
The complete list of launch phase incubators and startup accelerators in Bangladesh:
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: B2B, Multiple Sectors
Startup Wise Guys is a renowned global accelerator fund that is focused on B2B startup founders. Founded in Estonia, they have since curated their expertise, network, skills, and funding to assist early-stage startups in growing. To date, Startup Wise Guys have amassed over 370 portfolio companies that have raised over EUR 359 million, along with 13 successful exits. Whether you're building, growing, or scaling your companies, they have various vertical-focused programs to provide you with tailored and specific support.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Game
GameFounders is a global accelerator program that specializes in gaming studios and startups. They offer a 3-month program to improve startups' business and game quality skills, with activities such as mentoring, weekly pitch practice, playtesting, field trips to game studios, and demo days. Their network of top 150 game industry specialists will act as your mentor and provide coaching on all elements of game coaching, such as user acquisition, technical optimization, business models, monetization, and more.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Next-Generation Internet
TETRA is the business accelerator program of Next Generation Internet (NGI), an initiative by the European Commission that aims to shape the development and evolution of the Internet. As a recipient of funding from NGI through an NGI Open Call, teams can participate in the TETRA program. TETRA's goal is designed to assist NGI projects and initiatives in moving from the R&D stage to the go-to-market stage, through a customized development strategy as well as linkages to a valuable network of mentors, and coaches, as well as other startups with whom they could exchange experiences.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Ajujaht, meaning 'brainstorming', is a startup accelerator aiming to assist in the development of Estonia's next success stories. The accelerator program provides opportunities for startups to prepare their product or service for scalability and funding, through activities such as boot camps, training, experience stories, and personalized mentorship. What's unique about the program is the top nine teams from 20 selected participants of the accelerator may compete on the ERR TV show Ajujaht, with the winner receiving EUR 30,000.
Closing Thoughts on Joining a Startup Accelerator or Incubator in Estonia
Estonia is a country that is big on advancing its digital capabilities and fostering an entrepreneurial-friendly atmosphere, and it has now converted itself into a paradise for startups in the 21st century. Indeed, Estonia's digital infrastructure is so robust that you can do practically everything online, including accessing various government services and starting your companies. According to Atomico's State of European Tech study, Estonia is the most entrepreneurial European country for tech companies. So, if you are an entrepreneur thinking about establishing your startup in Estonia, then we highly suggest checking out some of the startup accelerator and incubator programs available in the country.