In March, Tartu Science Park had the pleasure of hosting the NATO DIANA Cluster 3 on-site in Estonia, bringing together dual-use startups, mentors, and accelerator teams for a hands-on programme designed to push ideas closer to real-world defence applications.
The third onsite of the NATO DIANA Estonian Accelerator has wrapped up in Tartu and at Tapa Army Base, together with the NATO DIANA Danish Accelerator at BioInnovation Institute (BII).
Over the course of the week, participants moved from core topics like fundraising (Jaan Kokk) and go-to-market strategy to one of the most valuable parts of the programme: engaging directly with military stakeholders.
The programme kicked off with a deep dive into venture capital and investor negotiations, followed by practical sessions on entering the defence market – an environment known for its complexity and high entry barriers. Guided by experts Aske Nerup and Robert Spaima, startups explored how to position their solutions and navigate this unique ecosystem.
A strong focus throughout the week was on communication – how to clearly present complex technologies in a way that resonates with both investors and defence stakeholders. Through pitch training (Nicholas Hawtin), stage presence workshops (Lisbeth Holdt Jørgensen), and product demos (Raido Saremat), teams had the opportunity to test, refine, and iterate their messaging in real time.
The storytelling sessions pushed this even further, challenging startups to translate their technology into narratives that truly land with decision-makers in the defence sector.
The highlight of the on-site visit was a tour of the Tapa Army Base, offering a unique opportunity to step directly into a real defence environment. Startups delivered one-minute pitches to military stakeholders, each supported by just a single slide to show clarity, precision, and impact.
Combined with an on-site tour and direct interaction with end users, this experience provided immediate, grounded feedback from those working on the front lines.
Out of 21 companies, 12 are part of the Estonian accelerator: Unplugged, Quantum Quest, MAPS Messaging BV, EYE2DRIVE by EYE-TECH, Hightek SRL, Datambit, Aereus, Datifex, Inc., VIG-SEC DRONE S.L., CulturePulse, and Blue Team Intelligence B.V. The remaining innovators joined through the BioInnovation Institute, including Optisense, Adamant Quanta, Rotonium, AmorphiQ, Evolunar, Cohesys, BIOCELLIS, Beyond Blood Diagnostics, LightOx Ltd, and Lysando.
See everyone in April.
The NATO DIANA Estonian accelerator is implemented by Tehnopol Startup Incubator in collaboration with Sparkup Tartu Science Park. Funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, the Ministry of Defence and the City of Tallinn.
