58 teams applied for the first cohort of the DeepTech Accelerator — 11 science-based startups were selected.The accelerator is the first state-supported deeptech accelerator in Estonia, designed to help science-driven companies reach international markets.
The selected teams have been founded by students, alumni, or academic staff of the University of Tartu, TalTech, or the Estonian University of Life Sciences, and operate across a wide range of fields – from pharmaceuticals and materials science to artificial intelligence and food innovation. Each participating team will receive up to €170,000 in equity-free business development support over 1.5 years, along with tailored mentoring, training, and access to investor and business networks.
The teams selected for the first cohort are:
- Avirogen (biotechnology/pharmaceuticals), University of Tartu
- Bindomics (biotechnology/pharmaceuticals), University of Tartu
- Behavioral Intelligence (behavioral science/fintech), TalTech
- ÖSEEN (innovative food), Estonian University of Life Sciences
- DCR Technologies (dual-network electronics), TalTech
- 3APS Therapeutics (biotechnology/pharmaceuticals), University of Tartu
- HiveNavigator (beekeeping), University of Tartu
- NatureBond (materials science), University of Tartu
- Perihelion (software platform for edge AI), University of Tartu
- Cogniflow (droplet-based microbial screening), TalTech
- Voltorque (motor engineering), TalTech
Deeptech means we are looking for teams with the ambition to develop new world-class products and services based on scientific research – whether it is a novel medicine or artificial intelligence solutions for satellites. Not all of them will become unicorns, but they can certainly grow into internationally operating companies and highly valued employers,” said Pirko Konsa, Member of the Management Board at Sparkup Tartu Science Park.
According to Agnes Roos, Member of the Management Board at Tehnopol, Estonia’s competitiveness increasingly depends on how successfully research outcomes can be transformed into companies that scale internationally. “The first cohort of deeptech startups shows that Estonia has both the expertise and ambition. The DeepTech Accelerator amplifies its success through Estonian and international expertise, networks, and funding. This support helps accelerate the path of selected solutions to market,” said Roos.
Vice Rector for Development of the University of Tartu, Tõnu Esko, emphasized that these teams are built on years of scientific research conducted in laboratories and research groups. “Deeptech development is not a sprint, but a marathon – it grows over years and decades, not quarters. The accelerator fills a critical gap by helping researchers take the step from scientific discovery to their first customer and investor at a stage when private capital is not yet available. For the university, this is a natural continuation of our daily work in protecting and commercializing research results,” Esko explained.
The DeepTech Accelerator is part of Estonia’s deeptech startup ecosystem initiative, implemented by Sparkup Tartu Science Park, Tehnopol, the University of Tartu, TalTech, and the Estonian University of Life Sciences. The network was created to consolidate and strengthen existing activities, with the state investing more than €12 million in deeptech to support the growth of science-based companies through coordinated efforts and funding. Its goal is to bring together researchers and entrepreneurs, accelerate the commercialization of science-based solutions, foster strong deeptech startups, and create high-tech, sustainable jobs. Public investment is also intended to create conditions to attract greater private capital in later stages of development, thereby strengthening Estonia’s deeptech startup ecosystem as a whole. The initiative is funded by the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.
We wish the teams in the first cohort bold experimentation, rapid growth, and strong results over the next 1.5 years. Applications for the next cohort will open in October.
More information on the accelerator webpage.
Further information:
Pille-Riin Meerits, Head of Incubation Services, Sparkup Tartu Science Park, pille-riin.meerits@teaduspark.ee
