In May, the Latitude59 conference, the most important startup and technology event in the Baltics, took place in Tallinn, Estonia, attracting more than 3,500 participants from 65 countries.
Czech companies participated in the event under the auspices of CzechInvest and as part of the programme to support economic diplomacy. Startups such as Revolgy, Fresh Labs, Get Moments, CloudBooster, My Paperwork and investment funds Tensor Ventures, Seed Starter of Česká spořitelna and Presto Ventures travelled to Tallinn. The conference this year focused on defense innovation, DeepTech, digital sovereignty and artificial intelligence.
Estonia has long been building a reputation as a technology leader, attracting innovative companies from across Europe. Thanks to targeted government support and an emphasis on research, opportunities are also opening up for Czech companies, especially in the fields of AI, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing or new materials. Estonia’s applied research programme invests €15 million annually, with individual projects potentially receiving up to €2 million.
Special emphasis is placed on defence technologies. The government has set up a €100 million DefenceTech fund and is actively developing the start-up community in this area. Regular Defence Tech Meetups connect companies, investors and military representatives, creating an ideal environment for Czech companies with technologies for autonomous systems, military AI or unmanned solutions.
Artificial intelligence also plays a strong role here. Estonia is introducing it into government and business and plans to massively expand it by 2030. Czech AI startups can find space to test the technology in a real environment and have the opportunity to participate in research projects with an international scope.
Despite a drop in investment of around 23% in 2024, Estonia remains a startup hotspot. Total startup turnover reached €3.9 billion, with DeepTech accounting for 63% of all investments. The growth in turnover of young companies and higher tax payments suggest that the sector remains financially healthy.
Thanks to CzechInvest, Czech companies at Latitude59 had access to matchmaking systems, the opportunity to present their projects on the Pitch Stage and participate in workshops and expert discussions. The meeting brought them not only valuable contacts and feedback, but also visibility on the European scene and new opportunities for expansion.
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