Posts Tagged ‘Estonia’
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
Read MoreAI Leap Invites International Education Leaders to Tallinn for Study Visit
Estonia’s AI Leap Foundation is inviting international education professionals and partners to Tallinn on May 28–29, 2026, for a two-day study visit introducing Estonia’s national AI education program. The AI Leap International Study Visit is designed for education leaders, ministry representatives, and partners interested in how AI is being integrated into general education at a national level.
Over the two days, participants will take part in school visits, hands-on sessions, and policy discussions, gaining direct insight into how AI tools are used in classrooms and how Estonia’s AI Leap program is implemented in practice. The event is designed as a small-group experience focused on meaningful exchange and collaboration among international peers, rather than a traditional conference.
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Originally published on 13 Apr
Read MoreEstonia to Procure Additional HIMARS Launchers and Ammunition
The Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) and US defence company Lockheed Martin have signed a contract for the procurement of three additional HIMARS multiple rocket systems. The agreement also includes an investment of approximately USD 11 million into Estonia’s defence industry.
“Additional HIMARS systems will ensure the deep-strike capability required by the Estonian Defence Forces and NATO, significantly strengthening both our national defence capability and deterrence. Expanding cooperation with Lockheed Martin will also directly support the development of Estonia’s defence industry,” said Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur.
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Originally published on 11 Apr
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From retrofit support to port electrification: Estonia brings a full-chain maritime transition approach to Seatrade Cruise Global 2026
As cruise and other maritime operators face growing pressure to cut emissions, modernize vessels, and upgrade port infrastructure, Estonia is bringing a practical maritime transition approach to Seatrade Cruise Global 2026. The Northern European country presents a connected ecosystem spanning €25 million state-backed retrofit support, port electrification, digital systems, and companies across the whole maritime value chain.
Across shipping, the green transition is increasingly being shaped by implementation. Decarbonization is no longer only about newbuilds, but also about how existing vessels can be modernized in a practical way – improving efficiency, upgrading passenger areas, and preparing ships for new fuels within real refit windows and operational limits.
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Originally published on 10 Apr
Read MoreÄIO and tilk! debut the first commercial skincare product powered by breakthrough bio‑fermented RedOil
Estonian biotechnology company ÄIO and natural cosmetics brand tilk! announce the launch of their first commercial product together: Skin Booster Bio‑Fermented Serum with ÄIO RedOil.
The product is a significant step for ÄIO, marking its evolution from research and ingredient development to market-ready, consumer-facing applications. Developed by tilk!, the serum combines ÄIO’s RedOil with marine and plant-based actives to deliver a high-performance skincare solution grounded in both science and nature. The partnership marks a breakthrough for Estonia’s rising biotech and cosmetics sectors, demonstrating how local innovation can shape the future of clean, high‑performance beauty.
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Originally published on 7 Apr
Read MoreEstonian Parliamentary delegation visits Baltic Workboats
On February 13, Baltic Workboats welcomed representatives of the Estonian Parliament’s Defence Industry Support Group to out shipyard in Nasva, Saaremaa. The visit formed part of a broader programme focused on strengthening cooperation between the public sector and domestic defence industry.
The delegation included members of the Defence, Finance and Foreign Affairs Committees: Raimond Kaljulaid, Kalev Stoicescu, Leo Kunnas, Henn Põlluaas and Riina Sikkut. They were received by Baltic Workboats’ CEO Margus Vanaselja, Board Member Ahto Pärl, Sales Representative Jüri Taal and EUROGUARD Project Manager Jüri Saska.
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Originally published on 6 Apr
Read MoreEstonia launches €10M push to cut business paperwork
State services are already fully digitalised for citizens in Estonia, but there’s more to improve in the business sector. Enterprise Estonia is rolling out three new grant schemes totalling €10M to help companies automate data exchange — both between businesses and between the private and public sectors.
The initiative sits within Estonia’s broader real-time economy (RTE) agenda, which aims to eliminate manual data handling by ensuring information flows automatically, in standardised formats, to the right parties at the right time. This will enable automated annual reports, real-time payroll submissions, and live inventory management — rather than PDFs and email attachments.
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Originally published on 30 Mar
Read MoreEU Cyber Resilience Act: market access at stake – an Estonian IT specialist shows manufacturers the way forward
From December 2027, the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) will be fully applicable, forcing manufacturers of connected products to guarantee cybersecurity throughout the entire lifecycle or lose access to the EU market. For German SMEs, this means urgent upgrades to existing products without halting production. Estonian software engineering company Proekspert specialises in exactly this task—bringing legacy products up to CRA standards without redesigning hardware.
“For many manufacturers, the Cyber Resilience Act is not a future problem. It is already embedded in products currently on the market. Industrial drives and configuration tools are a good example: almost every product with digital elements is now a potential point of attack. Security can no longer be treated as an add-on,” says Marco Spielmann, CEO of Proekspert.
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Originally published on 31 Mar
Read MoreSuccessful first demo flight: Airbus’ uncrewed Bird of Prey interceptor autonomously engages kamikaze drone with Frankenburg missile
The Airbus ‘Bird of Prey’ interceptor drone successfully completed its first demonstration flight at a military training area in northern Germany. In a realistic mission scenario, it autonomously searched, detected and classified a medium-sized one-way attack (kamikaze) drone. After successful identification, the Bird of Prey interceptor engaged the target with a Mark I air-to-air missile developed by defence tech start-up partner Frankenburg Technologies.
“Against the current geopolitical and military backdrop, defending against kamikaze drones is a tactical priority that urgently needs to be tackled,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO Airbus Defence and Space. “With our Bird of Prey and Frankenburg’s affordable Mark I missiles, we are providing armed forces with an effective, cost-efficient interceptor, filling a crucial capability gap in today’s asymmetric conflict theatres. The integration of Bird of Prey into Airbus’ air defence battle management suite IBMS acts as a force multiplier.”
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Originally published on 30 Mar
Read MoreBaltic microenterprises to get €15 million financing boost under EIF-backed initiative by alternative lender Capitalia
The smallest companies in the Baltics will be eligible for up to €15 million in loans as a result of an initiative that alternative financing provider Capitalia is undertaking with support from the European Investment Fund (EIF). Capitalia will use an EIF guarantee to offer crowdfunded loans to microenterprises in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania over three years.
Microenterprises, which have fewer than ten employees and annual turnover or total assets below €2 million, often struggle to secure funding from traditional lenders because of limited collateral or credit history.
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Originally published on 30 Mar
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