Estonian startups are eager to partner with India,eyeing the vast market as both countries look to boost economic ties. At the Latitude59 conference from May 20-22 in Tallinn,several tech firms from Estonia showed interest in teaming up with Indian companies in areas like artificial intelligence,cybersecurity, and healthcare.
Latitude59, a key startup and tech conference,plans to host a networking event in India next year. CEO Liisi Org stressed need for this move,saying,“If we don’t do it,we are late to the party. India is one of the biggest countries in the world; if we don’t collaborate with India, it is not smart.” The Indian delegation has been attending Latitude59 for five years, a sign of the growing ties between the two nations.
Org wants to start small, focusing on niche sectors to link Estonian startups with Indian investors. She likened this potential event to similar networking gatherings in Singapore and Cape Town. “I would love to do Latitude59 next year in India,” she said, pushing for immediate action.
This year’s Latitude59 drew over 3,000 participants from 70 countries, featuring 140 speakers. More than 800 startup representatives and over 600 investors attended,showing global interest in Estonia’s tech scene. The next Latitude59 event is set for May 19-21,2027, at Kultuurikatel in Tallinn.
During a recent visit by Indian journalists, several Estonian startups shared their plans for entering the Indian market. Ingvar Pärnamäe, CEO of Vegvisir, showcased a next-gen Mixed Reality Situational Awareness System aimed at aiding Indian security forces . Meanwhile, Priit Salumaa, CEO of Better Medicine,expressed excitement about introducing AI tech to help detect malignant kidney tumors.
CybExer,a cybersecurity firm,also wants to deepen its ties with India, having worked on projects there before. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna emphasized India’s importance as a partner,pointing out huge difference in population size between Estonia and India. He noted the growing business relations,especially in defense,IT,and AI sectors. “Estonia is the perfect place for investments,” he said, highlighting the E-residency program that lets Indian companies tap into Estonia’s startup ecosystem.
Indian Ambassador to Estonia Ashish Sinha mentioned that Estonia could be a gateway for Indian businesses to reach northern European markets,especially with the upcoming free trade agreement between India and the European Union . He described the current bilateral relationship as strong and improving, with big opportunities in digital technologies and AI.
Sinha pointed out that both nations could gain from sharing best practices to strengthen their startup ecosystems. Estonia,known as the world’s first fully digital country in 2024,has initiatives like e-ID and X-Road database that could serve as models for India. Both countries are set to learn from each other’s digital innovations,boosting their growth potential .
As Estonia builds its reputation as a tech hub,the interest from Indian startups and the potential for collaboration bode well for both nations in the global market.
