Handhold raises €3M to build AI account managers
Estonian-founded startup Handhold has closed a €3M seed round to scale its AI-powered platform that automates the entire inbound customer journey — from first website visit through to renewal.
The round was led by Entourage Capital, with participation from Inovia Capital and e2vc. The broader ecosystem also chiped in: notable angels include Bolt founder Markus Villig, former Twilio CTO Ott Kaukver, Wise CTO Harsh Sinha, and Verif founder Janer Gorohhov.
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Originally published on 13 Apr
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The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) has selected Finnish technology company Insta Advance Oy for membership in Lot 1 of the Cybersecurity Dynamic Marketplace (CSDM) framework.
Following a competitive evaluation process, Insta was selected in three cybersecurity capability categories. As a framework member, Insta will be eligible to compete for individual Task Orders issued by NCIA in these areas.
CSDM Lot 1 is a five-year, multiple-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity framework with a total funding envelope of EUR 500 million. Work will be performed through individual Task Orders issued by NCIA to framework members.
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Originally published on 24 Sep
During the international Industry Space Days 2026 event at the European Space Agency’s ESTEC facility in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, the Latvian Mobile Telephone (LMT) Group and the globally leading space consultancy Novaspace signed a cooperation agreement on the development of a concept for telecommunications innovation platform for Latvia to link the national connectivity sector with the international satellite industry. The initiative follows the successful ESA 5G/6G Non-Terrestrial Network Hub model and will explore Latvia’s potential role within this network.
Signing the agreement marks a pivotal step toward creating a hub for developing an internationally competitive telecommunications sector in Latvia. The hub will strategically bring LMT Group into the space industry and impact the emergence of a wider Latvia’s space innovation ecosystem in next-generation satellite technologies, products, and services tailored to commercial applications, resilient critical infrastructure, security, digitalization and green transition. Essentially, the hub will attract national and international cooperation, funding and talent.
The next generation of mobile communications is closely linked to the rapid growth of the space economy globally. The space infrastructure is already gradually enhancing terrestrial networks, and the 6G era of telecommunications will seamlessly link terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. The rationale for such development is efficient and resilient connectivity, especially essential in scenarios involving severe weather, power outages or physical infrastructure disruptions.
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Originally published on 22 Sep
Riga. The Latvian national airline airBaltic announces that it has received EUR 140 million as the first part of its previously announced EUR 350 million debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing. The funds were made available following interim approval by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the U.S. Court) on September 16, 2026, as part of airBaltic’s financial reorganisation under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Together with cash generated from ongoing operations, the financing will support airBaltic’s day-to-day operations and financial reorganisation, as well as the implementation of the company’s new business plan.
Of the EUR 140 million received, approximately EUR 78.9 million will be used to repay existing obligations to Export Development Canada and Axiom Baltic Services. These obligations are secured by airBaltic aircraft, spare engines and a flight simulator. Following repayment, these assets will become available as collateral under the new DIP financing arrangements.
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Originally published on 21 Sep
NestAI, a European AI lab for defence, is opening an R&D centre in Latvia to build defence AI capability alongside the forces and industry operating on NATO’s Eastern Flank. The centre is the next step in NestAI’s growing Nordic and Baltic presence, following the company’s expansion to Sweden announced in August.
As NestAI builds its presence in Latvia, the company is developing the center into a team of 30 scientists and engineers, and has set an investment target of €10 million for the centre over the next few years. The announcement coincides with NestAI’s participation in the Riga Conference on 11 September 2026, where Peter Sarlin, NestAI Founder and Executive Chairman, will meet with Latvian government and academic representatives and speak on European defence AI.
“NestAI’s decision to establish an R&D centre in Latvia is a strategic investment in a sector with significant growth potential. The planned €10 million investment and 30 new jobs for scientists and engineers will bring together knowledge, technology and international cooperation in Latvia. Attracting projects of this kind demonstrates our ability to compete at European level for high-value-added investment,” says Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis.
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Originally published on 21 Sep
Saab has been entrusted to install and operate remote air traffic control for Stockholm-Västerås Airport for a period of 15 years. This means that air traffic in Västerås will be controlled from Saab’s Remote Tower Center (RTC) in Sundsvall.
This solution is already in operational use at several airports and is part of the ongoing technological development within the aviation industry, both in Sweden and globally. For Saab, the airport in Västerås will be the fifth airport to be operated from the RTC in Sundsvall to utilize this technology, in addition to Sundsvall-Timrå, Sälen, Örnsköldsvik and Linköping. The agreement comes into effect on January 1, 2028, and runs for 15 years. Saab will deliver a fully digitalized infrastructure to Stockholm-Västerås Airport, including the camera tower, a digital workstation for remote air traffic control, and meteorological services.
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Originally published on 21 Sep
50Hertz and NEPTUN SMULDERS Offshore Renewables (NSORe) have successfully concluded negotiations for the construction of an offshore converter station for the LanWin3 offshore grid connection project in the North Sea. With the signing of the contract, the way is now clear for the second major project whose key components are to be manufactured within NSORe’s production set-up, including NEPTUN shipyard in Rostock-Warnemünde and Smulders’ yard in Vlissingen. In June, 50Hertz had already awarded a billion-euro contract for the LanWin6 offshore grid connection system to the consortium NSORe and Siemens Energy. As with LanWin6, Siemens Energy will be responsible for supplying the high-voltage components for the LanWin3 project.
The volume for the contracts attributable to NSORe for the two offshore converter platforms amounts to approximately EUR 2.5 billion, the majority of which will be spent on production and services in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Stefan Kapferer, CEO of 50Hertz: “With our LanWin3 and LanWin6 projects, we are creating the conditions needed to securely integrate large volumes of offshore wind energy from the North Sea into the German power grid. As the client for 2 GW converter platforms, we require strong partners and robust industrial structures, both of which are available in Rostock-Warnemünde. With this second contract, we are further strengthening the entire value chain in the region and helping to advance the energy transition at sea. From a political perspective, the next step must be to further refine the Offshore Wind Energy Act to provide planning certainty and prevent delays in the construction of offshore wind farms.”
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Originally published on 19 Sep
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Magnora Data Center ASA has agreed to acquire a 50% interest in the Risti Kampus data centre project, a joint venture with the Estonian renewable energy group Sunly. It comes with 180 MW of grid capacity available today and a planned expansion to 400 MW.
European renewable-energy group Magnora Data Centre is a spin-off from Magnora ASA, an international conglomerate operating in Norway, Sweden, South Africa, Italy and the United Kingdom. It has listed separately in June 2026.
The company has been on a massive expansion spree, with Estonia now entering its investment orbit. The investor will finance half of a campus built beside the hybrid energy park Sunly is developing at Risti in western Estonia. The park pairs 244 MWp of solar with 144 MW of battery storage and 44 MW of wind, writes Sunly.
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Originally published on 18 Sep
Estonian defence technology company Defsecintel and Estonian-Ukrainian company DoD Solution are combining their systems to develop integrated counter-drone capabilities for defence, border security and critical-infrastructure protection.
The companies announced the cooperation at MSPO 2026 in Poland. In its press release, DoD Solution said the work will combine Defsecintel’s EIRSHIELD counter-UAS platform with DoD Solution’s AURA AI autonomy platform.
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Originally published on 19 Sep
Minister of Economy and Innovation Edvinas Grikšas has signed a large-scale investment project agreement with Lithuanian defence technology company RSI Europe. The company plans to invest up to €50 million in Panevėžys district, where it will expand its capacity to develop and manufacture advanced defence systems.
“The strength of Lithuania’s defence industry lies in local companies that are able to develop advanced technologies and expand their production here in Lithuania. RSI Europe’s project in Panevėžys district is expected to create up to 40 new jobs, around 35% of which will be for highly skilled engineering and technical specialists. These are concrete opportunities for people to take up qualified work beyond the largest cities and contribute to the growth of the country’s defence industry. Projects like this strengthen our economy and security, while also contributing to our goal of attracting at least 30% of new investments to the regions by 2030,” Edvinas Grikšas, Minister of Economy and Innovation.
RSI Europe is a Lithuanian defence technology company founded in 2022 that develops and manufactures products for national defence applications, which are currently supplied to Ukraine and NATO allies.
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Originally published on 17 Sep
In July of this year, electricity generated by an offshore wind farm was supplied to the Polish grid for the first time in history, through the Baltic Power project. This marks the beginning of an ambitious offshore development programme in Poland. In the near future, the Baltic Sea has the potential to become one of the most important regions for the development of new, stable and low-carbon energy sources for the economy. According to Poland’s energy policy objectives, the country plans to achieve 5.9 GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030, with this potential increasing to as much as 18 GW by 2040. With planned investments reaching PLN 500 billion by 2040, the sector is expected to become one of the key drivers of the energy transition and a cornerstone of Poland’s energy security.
The “Ready for Offshore” programme responds to the needs of the emerging offshore ecosystem and supply chain, including offshore wind investors, Polish companies seeking participation in contracts, and research and development institutions. The programme was designed following consultations with representatives from various industries. These consultations confirmed that Polish companies are ready to enter the offshore market but require support in developing competencies and gaining access to financing.
The initiative is built on two pillars:
Tailored Financial Instruments – ARP S.A. provides companies interested in joining offshore supply chains with a package of flexible financial products, including: investment loans, including loans backed by the InvestEU guarantee, development loans supporting projects financed through EU grants, leasing solutions. These instruments can be combined flexibly to finance investments required for the execution of offshore contracts. In addition, companies carrying out such projects within special economic zones managed by ARP may benefit from corporate income tax exemptions of up to 70% of the investment value for up to 15 years.
Competencies and Certifications – Based on recommendations developed together with PARP, Polish companies can access subsidised training programmes listed in the Development Services Database (BUR). These programmes cover eight key competencies required for participation in offshore projects, including: supply chain entry strategies, tendering and bidding processes, contracting, health and safety, quality management, delivery execution, innovation, and workforce development.
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Originally published on 15 Sep