Estonia is emerging as a serious contender in Europe’s deep tech landscape. The country now counts 165 deep tech startups, including 12 scaleups and mature companies, according to the latest Deep-tech Startup Ecosystem Report. While the sector continues to face familiar challenges around funding, talent, and commercialization, it’s gaining notable momentum – with deep tech firms already making up 10% of Estonia’s entire startup ecosystem.
The “land of unicorns” is now setting its sights even higher: it wants to see 500 deep tech startups established by 2030. In 2023 alone, the sector attracted €206.2 million in investment, accounting for 63% of all startup funding in Estonia – a clear signal that the country’s next innovation wave may be built on science-driven technologies.
To find out which are the currently hottest Estonian deep tech startups, we contacted Mariann Proos, Deep Tech Sector Project Lead at the Startup Estonia initiative. She shared the list of the strongest contenders, explaining their selection:
“We didn’t choose the startups based on one single metric, we rather looked at their overall performance, growth and milestones they’ve reached. That being said, we did give preference to newer companies.”
So, let’s have a look at Estonia’s most promising deep tech startups in alphabetical order.
Top 10 deep tech startups from Estonia
1. ÄIO Tech
Transforming industrial side streams into sustainable fats and oils through precision fermentation.
Founded in 2022 as a spin-off from TalTech, ÄIO Tech develops microbial oils and lipids to replace palm, coconut, and animal fats in food, cosmetics, and oleochemicals. Its proprietary fermentation technology uses robust yeast strains to upcycle wood and food industry residues into functional, climate-positive ingredients – offering sustainable alternatives that require no arable land or deforestation. Having scaled from lab trials to 100,000 L pilot production in just three years, ÄIO is rapidly emerging as one of Europe’s most promising biotech innovators redefining the future of fats and oils.
2. Better Medicine
Harnessing AI to revolutionize cancer diagnostics and radiology workflows.
Founded in 2020, Better Medicine develops advanced AI-powered tools that assist radiologists in detecting and analyzing lesions across multiple organs, transforming cancer diagnostics from a fragmented to a holistic process. Built by a multidisciplinary team of deep learning engineers, radiologists, and medical scientists, Better Medicine focuses on user-centric innovation – creating intuitive, reliable tools that empower doctors to focus on patient care rather than manual image analysis.
3. Blackwall
Protecting web ecosystems from automated threats – built by engineers, for engineers.
Founded in 2019, Blackwall develops advanced cybersecurity infrastructure to safeguard websites and hosting environments from malicious bots, crawlers, scrapers, and hacker attacks. Its intelligent security and traffic management solutions serve both on-premise and cloud ecosystems, ensuring resilience, scalability, and performance at every layer. Supported by leading investors, the company now secures millions of sites and applications worldwide – reinforcing trust in the digital backbone of modern business.
4. DefSecIntel
AI-powered autonomous surveillance systems for defense, security, and critical infrastructure protection.
DefSecIntel develops advanced defense technologies that combine automation, artificial intelligence, and autonomous energy systems to ensure continuous, intelligent situational awareness. The company designs and manufactures fully integrated surveillance platforms and remote monitoring stations for land, coastal, and aerial applications – tailored to diverse terrains, weather conditions, and mission profiles. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Tallinn with operations in Ukraine and Germany, DefSecIntel’s combat-proven systems are deployed across more than 25 countries, supporting defense forces, law enforcement, and environmental monitoring agencies.
5. Frankenburg Technologies
Europe’s next-generation missile house for the drone era – fast, affordable, and AI-driven.
Founded in 2024 in Tallinn and already operating across several European countries, Frankenburg Technologies is a rapidly rising defense tech company. Its next-generation interceptor missiles for short-range air defense and counter-UAS missions protect armed forces and critical infrastructure from modern aerial threats – from wartime drone swarms to peacetime incursions near airports or energy sites. Combining modular design, containerized manufacturing, and rapid localized production, Frankenburg builds missiles ten times more affordable and a hundred times faster to produce than traditional systems.
6. GScan
Infrastructure monitoring through safe, non-destructive cosmic particle scanning.
GScan develops advanced 3D scanning and tomography solutions powered by natural cosmic muons – enabling the detection of objects and chemical changes up to 10 meters deep without any radiation risk. Its proprietary muonFLUX© technology represents a breakthrough in non-destructive testing and structural health monitoring, allowing asset owners to identify issues like corrosion inside bridges, tunnels, and buildings with millimeter precision. GScan empowers industries from infrastructure and energy to transport and real estate to make proactive, data-driven decisions, extending the lifespan of existing assets, cutting reconstruction costs, and reducing carbon emissions.
7. KrattWorks
Resilient, high-performance drones for defense and emergency operations.
Founded in 2018, KrattWorks is one of Estonia’s fastest-growing deep tech companies, developing jamming-resistant ISR drones for frontline operators, first responders, and defense forces. Its high-performance systems feature wide frequency band-hopping radios and GNSS-free flight modes, ensuring reliable operation even in contested environments where communication and navigation are disrupted. Equipped with advanced thermal imaging and autonomous recovery capabilities, KrattWorks drones provide rapid situational awareness when every second counts.
8. Stargate Hydrogen
Efficient, affordable green hydrogen solutions for hard-to-decarbonize industries.
Founded in 2021, Stargate Hydrogen develops advanced electrolysis systems that make green hydrogen cost-effective and scalable for sectors such as steel, fertilizers, and chemicals. By using novel ceramic catalysts and a patented stack design, the company improves efficiency while reducing equipment costs and avoiding critical raw material shortages. Stargate’s technology has earned €50M+ in funding and IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest) status, positioning it among Estonia’s top deep techs by growth and impact.
9. Starship Technologies
Revolutionizing last-mile delivery through sustainable, fully autonomous robots.
Founded in 2014 by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, Starship Technologies is one of Estonia’s flagship deep tech companies and a global leader in autonomous delivery. Its Level 4 robots – operating 99% autonomously – use advanced sensors, cameras, and machine learning to safely navigate complex environments while delivering food, groceries, and supplies. With over 8 million deliveries completed and operations spanning more than 100 service areas worldwide, Starship partners with campuses, retailers, and logistics providers to make hyper-local delivery affordable, efficient, and sustainable.
10. UP Catalyst
Turning CO₂ into sustainable carbon materials for batteries, electronics, and beyond.
UP Catalyst converts carbon dioxide into high-value materials such as nanotubes, graphite, and carbon black using renewable electricity. Its proprietary Molten Salt Carbon Capture and Electrochemical Transformation (MSCC-ET) technology transforms CO₂-rich flue gases into battery-grade carbon, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil-based and mined sources. Backed by over €30 million in funding, including support from the European Investment Bank, the company plans to build a large-scale facility by 2030 capable of producing 60,000 tons of carbon materials annually while utilising 250,000 tons of CO₂ – turning emissions into opportunity.
