INNOVATE™ Estonia

Innovations of the World

INNOVATE™ Estonia

INNOVATE™ Estonia is more than just a book; it’s a testament to the relentless spirit of Estonian innovators who are pushing boundaries and redefining industries. From transformative tech solutions to sustainable business practices, Estonia has become a hub for ideas that are not only impactful locally but also resonate on a global scale. This edition will delve into the stories behind these innovations, offering readers a glimpse into the dynamic ecosystem that has positioned Estonia as a leader in digital transformation and entrepreneurship.

What sets INNOVATE™ Estonia apart is its focus on the people and companies who are making a difference. By featuring in-depth profiles, insightful interviews, and inspiring success stories, this edition aims to capture the essence of what it means to be an innovator in Estonia today. Whether it’s a startup revolutionizing the healthcare industry, a tech company setting new standards in cybersecurity, or a social enterprise driving positive change, INNOVATE™ Estonia will highlight the diversity and depth of innovation happening across the country.

As part of the INNOVATE™ series, this edition will not only celebrate Estonia’s achievements but also connect its innovators with a global audience. By bridging local ingenuity with international exposure, we hope to inspire collaborations, foster partnerships, and ignite new opportunities for growth. INNOVATE™ Estonia is an invitation to explore the future of innovation in one of the world’s most forward-thinking nations.

Featured Thought Leaders

Featured Thought Leaders

Featured Innovators

Featured Innovators

GLOBEDRY

SOLAR-DRIED FOODS FOR A RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

In many rural regions, fresh harvests are lost before they ever reach a market — not because of poor quality, but due to heat, humidity, and lack of proper preservation. GlobeDry, a family-owned Estonian company, is tackling this challenge with solar-powered food dryers that allow communities and food entrepreneurs to...

POWERUP ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

BEYOND THE HYPE: POWERUP ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES MAKES HYDROGEN A COMMERCIAL REALITY

While the concept of a “hydrogen economy” has been a topic of political discourse and future-gazing for years, one Tallinn-based company is demonstrating that for many applications, the future is already here. PowerUP Energy Technologies, founded by scientist and entrepreneur Ivar Kruusenberg, is moving beyond theoretical promise and deploying certified...

ENTERPRISE ESTONIA

INNOVATING FOR A FUTURE-PROOF TOMORROW

Known for its vast forests, thousands of islands, and strong traditions, Estonia has, in just thirty years, built a thriving liberal democracy and become one of the world’s most advanced digital societies. As Estonia continues to innovate, Enterprise Estonia plays a key role in supporting the country’s business environment by...

THE ESTONIAN CANCER SOCIETY (EESTI VÄHILIIT)

A COMMUNITY UNITED AGAINST CANCER

The Estonian Cancer Society (Eesti Vähiliit) is not just an organization – it’s a lifeline. Since its founding in 1992, it has become the largest umbrella group for cancer patients and associations in Estonia, uniting 14 member organizations and nearly 2,000 members across the country. Its purpose is simple yet...

MINDVALLEY

REIMAGINING THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION

Mindvalley is the world’s leading personal growth education platform, serving over 20 million students across the globe. Its mission is ambitious yet profoundly simple: to transform education by teaching the skills that truly matter for human flourishing – from mindset and well-being to leadership and entrepreneurship. Founded in 2003 by...

ICOSAGEN

ESTONIA’S INDEPENDENT BIOTECH PIONEER WITH GLOBAL REACH

On Northern Europe’s digital frontier, Icosagen stands out in the biotechnology landscape. Based in Tartu, Estonia’s second‑largest city, it is not only the country’s largest biotech company but also one of the most agile Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CRDMOs) operating globally. What truly sets Icosagen apart is its...

SILEN

HOW SILENCE BECAME SILEN’S GLOBAL LANGUAGE

Silen’s journey began with a simple conviction: silence is not a luxury, but a necessity for focus, creativity, and well-being. What started as an idea in Estonia has grown into the world’s leading provider of office pods and privacy solutions, trusted by companies in more than 60 countries — including...

THREOD SYSTEMS

EYES IN THE SKY, PRECISION ON THE GROUND: HOW THREOD’S DRONES ARE CHANGING MODERN WARFARE

Estonia’s quiet high-tech success story is redefining how unmanned aircraft support precision strike missions. When Estonia regained independence three decades ago, few imagined the small Baltic nation would become a center of aerospace innovation. Yet in 2012, a group of engineers and defense specialists in a small village near Tallinn...

3PARK

GROWING ADVENTURES IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

What if playgrounds could grow with the forest instead of replacing it? At 3park, the team designs and builds adventure parks that blend safety, creativity, and sustainability. Born in Estonia, 3park believes play should bring people together and strengthen communities. Their parks are more than climbing frames: they are safe...

CREATOMUS

REPROGRAMMING THE FUTURE OF CITIES

Across Europe, cities face growing pressure: build schools and kindergartens faster, adapt public spaces to changing needs, and cut the environmental cost of construction. Estonian company Creatomus believes it has a solution. By combining modular design with digital precision, Creatomus offers municipalities a way to build smarter, more transparent, and...

FinEst Centre

Creating Smarter Cities Through Collaborative Innovation

FinEst Centre for Smart Cities is a research and development centre driven by the passion to enhance the quality of life in urban areas. It brings together cities, researchers and entrepreneurs to co-create scalable, research-based solutions for the most pressing urban challenges. Based in Tallinn, Estonia, the centre serves as...

RAY FOIL

FROM ESTONIA’S INNOVATION ROOTS TO THE FUTURE OF EFOILING

In the quiet tech landscape of Estonia, a bold idea was born—one that would soon reshape the way people move on water. Andres Nöps, an electrical engineer with a background in elite athletics and a passion for clean energy, began designing a new kind of electric hydrofoil. It had to...

LIFT99

AT THE HEART OF ESTONIA’S STARTUP ECOSYSTEM

A startup usually starts with a simple vision. So did LIFT99, meant as a hub where startups take shape and founders can grow, connect and inspire one another. And like a startup itself, LIFT99 has grown to something much more powerful. LIFT99 stands today as one of the most influential...

VIKING VILLAGE

KEEPING ESTONIA’S VIKING SPIRIT ALIVE

Just 15 minutes from Tallinn, in the village of Saula, lies one of Northern Estonia’s most renowned holiday centres: Viking Village. Here, history, legend, and adventure merge into an unforgettable experience. With free admission and open doors year-round, the village welcomes individuals, families, school groups, and corporate teams alike. A...

ESTONIAN WEB3 CHAMBER

FROM CRYPTOCURRENCY PIONEERS TO GLOBAL WEB3 ADVOCATES

The story of the Estonian Web3 Chamber reflects the turbulent yet transformative journey of the digital asset industry in Estonia and beyond. Established more than a decade ago, the organisation has been at the heart of regulatory dialogue, industry representation, and international knowledge-sharing. Its evolution from the Estonian Cryptocurrency Association...

PRNEWS.IO

CONNECTING BRANDS AND MEDIA GLOBALLY: PRNEWS.IO’S MISSION TO UPLIFT THE EDITORIAL ADVERTISING MARKET.

CONNECTING BRANDS AND MEDIA GLOBALLY: PRNEWS.IO’S MISSION TO UPLIFT THE EDITORIAL ADVERTISING MARKET. Founded by Ukrainian entrepreneur Alexander Storozhuk and his business partner Alexander Nigmatulin, PRNEWS.IO emerged to bridge the gap between brands and news media. Initially launched as a newswire distribution service called B2Blogger.com, PRNEWS.IO recognized that brands needed...

TARTU

IT’S TIME TO sTARTUp

Don’t tell anyone, but Tartu is like a Steve Jobs’ garage for business. If you have innovative ideas or want to be part of the next great venture, Tartu is the place to be. It is a city that supports innovations with an effective ecosystem, a savvy talent pool, and...

Volume Design

Illuminated Signs from Experts

Volume Design is a leading Estonian company specializing in illuminated advertising solutions that help brands stand out both day and night. The company manufactures and installs striking signage that transforms visibility into identity and brings brands to life. Each project reflects a commitment to quality, innovation, and customer success. For...

//KOOD

FROM TAXI DRIVER TO PROGRAMMER WITH //KOOD PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING

When //kood’s first coding school, kood/Jõhvi, was founded in Estonia, it was an ambitious experiment to see if a practical, flexible programming school could be built to adapt quickly to the needs of the modern job market. Instead of following a traditional academic calendar or rigid curriculum, the goal was...

PROEKSPERT

BUILDING SMART SOLUTIONS FOR A SMARTER WORLD

“Our engineers today are equipped with can-do attitudes and an ability to create ingenious and secure solutions and integrations.” Estonia’s reputation as a digital powerhouse owes much to its innovative companies, and Proekspert is no exception. Founded in 1993 during a time of economic uncertainty, this software development firm seized...

INNOSTEPS

ESTONIA’S INNOVATION COMPASS

Innosteps is a tool for increasing the innovation capacity of Estonian companies and developing a common culture of innovation. Innovation steps (innosteps) is an Estonian public–private initiative designed to enhance innovation capabilities across businesses and organisations by providing a structured assessment framework, targeted guidance, and access to a network of...

DIOTECH GROUP

MAKING RENEWABLES RELIABLE: DIOTECH’S ENERGY STORAGE MISSION

Diotech OÜ is an Estonian energy-technology company operating as a system integrator in the fields of energy storage, solar power, electrical infrastructure, lighting, and EV charging solutions. According to its website, the company’s mission is to accelerate society’s shift to carbon-neutral electricity production and consumption. Over recent years, Diotech Group...

DIPPERFOX

GRINDING THROUGH THE COMPETITION

Dipperfox, an Estonian-based heavy machinery attachment innovation powerhouse, has transformed the global approach to stump removal with its pioneering range of high-efficiency stump crushers. Designed for speed, durability, and versatility, Dipperfox stump grinders are rapidly becoming the tool of choice for professionals in forestry, landscaping, municipal services, and construction. Launched...

Saunum

Revolution in Sauna Technology

SAUNUM’S UNIQUE BENEFITS SAUNUM’S UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION: HEALTH, INNOVATION, AND MARKET DIFFERENTIATION The Story of Saunum Andrus Vare, Thermal Engineer and The Creator of Saunum: “Inspired by the experience of my grandparents’ 100-year-old smoke sauna, I set out to create an innovative solution that combines the best features of a...

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The Publisher

Jüri Siilivask

Jüri Siilivask

Jüri Siilivask is a passionate founder, angel investor, and startup advisor with a deep commitment to building services and products that genuinely add value to people’s work and lives. With over 15 years of experience in business development, product leadership, team building, and executive coaching, Jüri has become a prominent figure in Estonia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.... click to read more

Daniel Esterhuyse

Daniel is the Head of International Publishing Partnerships at Innovations of the World. Born and raised in South Africa, he currently resides in Johannesburg with his wife of 19 years, their 12-year-old daughter, and three cats—FluffPuff, Roxy, and Gizmo, all girls.  An entrepreneur since his school days, Daniel has co-founded various small and large businesses.... click to read more

Sven Boermeester

Founder and CEO of Global Village Ventures LLC (USA) and Global Village Publishing Inc (Canada), an international publishing house producing, amongst other projects, the successful “Best of “series in over 60 countries around the world. With so much excitement around Innovation and Entrepreneurship, we launched the INNOVATE Series, a project showcasing success stories from innovation... click to read more

The Publisher

Jüri Siilivask

Jüri Siilivask

Jüri Siilivask is a passionate founder, angel investor, and startup advisor with a deep commitment to building services and products that genuinely add value to people’s work and lives. With over 15 years of experience in business development, product leadership, team building, and executive coaching, Jüri has become a prominent figure in Estonia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.... click to read more

Daniel Esterhuyse

Daniel is the Head of International Publishing Partnerships at Innovations of the World. Born and raised in South Africa, he currently resides in Johannesburg with his wife of 19 years, their 12-year-old daughter, and three cats—FluffPuff, Roxy, and Gizmo, all girls.  An entrepreneur since his school days, Daniel has co-founded various small and large businesses.... click to read more

Sven Boermeester

Founder and CEO of Global Village Ventures LLC (USA) and Global Village Publishing Inc (Canada), an international publishing house producing, amongst other projects, the successful “Best of “series in over 60 countries around the world. With so much excitement around Innovation and Entrepreneurship, we launched the INNOVATE Series, a project showcasing success stories from innovation... click to read more

Other Ecosystems