Business support

1. National support and “one-stop shop”

The main channels to start with if you need grants, advice or an official referral.

EIS (Ettevõtluse ja Innovatsiooni Sihtasutus) — support measures, advice, loans and guarantees for businesses.
Starditoetus (EIS) — a grant for a start-up business (conditions/application rounds at EIS).
Stardilaen (EIS) — a loan for a start-up or early-stage business.
Laenukäendus (EIS) — a state guarantee when collateral is insufficient.
RTK (Riigi Tugiteenuste Keskus) — administration of state grants/programmes and e-grant environments.
Eesti Töötukassa — services and support for starting a business (including for beginners).
Startup Estonia — development of the national start-up ecosystem, programmes and information.
Startup Visa (Startup Estonia) — information about the start-up entrepreneur visa programme.
e-Residency — digital identity and doing business in Estonia from anywhere in the world.
e-Residency Marketplace — a directory of trusted service providers (company formation, accounting, legal services, etc.).

If you are a micro or small business owner, this is often the quickest and most practical starting point.

Maakondlikud Arenduskeskused (MAK) — free advice, training and information days in all 15 counties.
Tartu Ärinõuandla — business advice and services in Tartu County (MAK network).
Ida-Viru Ettevõtluskeskus (IVEK) — advice, training and mentoring in Ida-Viru County (MAK network).
Pärnumaa Arenduskeskus — advice, mentoring programmes and training in Pärnu County (MAK network).

A good choice if you operate in the local market or need piloting/testing in an urban environment.

Tallinna ettevõtjale (Tallinn) — city services, information, and opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Tallinna Ettevõtlusinkubaator — incubation and practical support for start-ups.
Test in Tallinn — an opportunity to test solutions in an urban environment.
Tallinnovation — city + partners: piloting innovative solutions and collaboration.

If you need mentors, a program, prototype funding or rapid go-to-market support.

Tehnopol Startup Inkubaator — programmes and support for early-stage start-ups.
Narva HUB (Tehnopol Startup Inkubaator) — community and support in Narva/Ida-Viru County.
Tehnopol — a science and business campus, services, and an innovation support network.
Sparkup / Tartu Teaduspark — business and innovation support in Tartu (including programmes and community).
Prototron — prototyping funding (equity-free) + mentoring.
Startup Wise Guys — an accelerator/funding ecosystem focused on B2B.
Buildit Accelerator — focused on hardware/IoT and product development (the Baltics).
Garage48 — hackathons, programmes and rapid validation sprints.
Ajujaht — idea competition and business development programme (early stage).
ESA BIC Estonia — incubation and support in the space/technology field.
AIRE (EDIH) — implementation of AI and robotics in companies, testing, and expertise.
Accelerate Estonia — a national innovation laboratory (helps overcome regulatory barriers).

If you need partnerships, new markets, or international contacts.

Trade with Estonia — export information and contacts (within the EIS ecosystem).
Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) — international partnerships and business networking.
Invest in Estonia — information/partnership concerning investments and entry into the country.
Work in Estonia — information on recruiting international talent and relocating here.

If you operate in the green sector, rural areas/agrifood or cybersecurity.

KIK (Keskkonnainvesteeringute Keskus) — measures for green/energy-efficiency and environmental projects.
PRIA — grants and measures for rural development, agriculture and the food sector.
RIA (Riigi Infosüsteemi Amet) — including cyber innovation grants and information.
Küberinnovatsiooni toetus (RIA) — support for cybersecurity companies in cooperation with a research partner.

Useful if you need advocacy, contacts, training or “peer-to-peer” support.

Eesti Kaubandus-Tööstuskoda — training, events, business information and networking.
EVEA — representation and expert support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
EstBAN — business angel network (funding + mentoring for investment-ready teams).
Estonian Founders Society — community and events for founders.
SEV (Sotsiaalsete Ettevõtete Võrgustik) — support and community for social enterprises.
KELL (Kestliku Ettevõtluse Liit) — development support for sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship.

If your project addresses a societal problem or is impact-oriented.

Heateo Sihtasutus — impact ecosystem, programs and growth of initiatives.
NULA inkubaator — an incubation program for social initiatives.
KÜSK (Kodanikuühiskonna Sihtkapital) — support measures for civil society and initiatives.

If you need scientific cooperation, IP/technology transfer or laboratory-based development.

TÜ Ettevõtlus- ja innovatsioonikeskus (EIK) — support for research-intensive companies and technology transfer.
TalTech Uusettevõtluse keskus — programs, idea development and startup support.
ETAG (Eesti Teadusagentuur) — information on research and development grants and programmes.
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities — applied pilots and R&D cooperation in urban solutions.
Tartu Biotehnoloogia Park (TBP) — development and consulting services in the life science/biotechnology sector.
EIT Community Hub Estonia — European EIT opportunities, network and programmes (in Estonia through TBP).

If you are looking for investments or alternative funding channels.

If you need networking, partners, investors or a community.