Estonian start-up stories by Toivo Tänavsuu
Sportlyzer, a startup that unites virtual sports trainer software and social networking, plans to conduct a study starting in January 2011 involving dozens of amateur endurance athletes. Sportlyzer is developing a Web-based service —a user-friendly training and motivation software program aimed at exercise enthusiasts. The goal of the company is to launch a “virtual trainer” [...]
I’ve had few posts recently on an Estonian startup Inner Circle, planning to launch a new social networking tool. This is it – introducing here PosterBee, the new crap-free (FarmVille- and optionally even ads-free) private socializing tool, developed by Allan Martinson’s company Inner Circle, co-funded by Estonian Development Fund.
Estonian VC Allan Martinson’s newest startup Inner Circle has apparently closed its first seed investment round just few days ago. Estonian business registry shows that new investors behind the project are Regio (the well-known mapping, mobile positioning and GIS software developer), Estonian Development Fund (Arengufond) and its Chairman of the Supervisory Board, entrepreneur Raivo Vare. Investment [...]
Estonian state-funded VC, Estonian Development Fund promises to double its investments portfolio by the end of 2010. Ten new investments into technology companies are currently in pipeline, with total amount of money to be invested reaching over 50 million EEKs (3,2 million EUR). Estonian Development Fund was established few years ago. Benchmarking the Finnish SITRA model [...]
Last year Estonian venture capital firms joined forces by founding the Estonian Ventur Capital Association (EstVCA). Who are the players on the market today? Here’s a short overview which shows that: the Estonian venture capital market is expanding, VC culture is developing there are several new investors who have transferred from the field of real estate [...]
In: Companies
7 Jan 2010I don’t think it is somehow indecorous to wish other people a Happy New Year after 6th of January. So that’s my wish to You, dear readers of TigerPrises. The blog that I started one and a half year ago has now covered way over 100 Estonian start-ups and tech companies. Last month it had readers from [...]
An Estonian start-up company Sportlyzer (sport+analyzer) is developing software that analyses training info for amateur athletes and accordingly plans target driven training sessions. Sportlyzer software should help amateur athletes overcome a common problem – unsteady motivation. “The person himself may not understand what his training pauses are caused by. This way distaste for any kind [...]
Estonian start-up SelfDiagnostics is developing a quick-test that could easily be used at home to identify sexually transmitted diseases. In the future such minilabs could become commodities avalible at a pharmacy for a couple of hundred kroons. Executive director of SelfDiagnostics, Marko Lehes reports that a patent application has been filed and a test model is planned to be [...]
Heikki Haldre, Founder of Massi Miliano, that received in total 4,85 million EEK from the fund for its virtual fitting-room project Fits.me: “Thanks to Estonian Development Fund we have received an advantage considering our further development. Preferably the investor needs to provide more than just money, he needs to support defining strategy and he also needs [...]
Yes, that’s true - 160 projects or start-ups in two years time. Isn’t it great for a small country like Estonia? Lot of people consider Estonian Development Fund as mainly thinktank. But sending your business plan there to apply for venture capital funding is indeed worth a shot. Heidi Kakko, fund’s investment expert says they have [...]