New Nordic Lift Off was raising Central Baltic startups and scaleups investment awareness
The main objective of the project was to stimulate cross-border investments in the region into high-tech startups by increasing the startups’ investment readiness and raising the overall investment knowledge within the sector and build strong a united investment ecosystem between Finland and Estonia. The startups were provided international high-level meetings with investors, VC and corporate partners. To raise the availability of angel investment in the market for startups and scaleups the project focused also on increasing the number and activity of lead investors and business angels.
The project achieved 15 cross-border investments: 14 companies were either Finnish or Estonian and 1 company was from Lithuania.
On a way towards achieved investments, more than 50 start-ups pitching to EstBAN and FiBAN cross-border investors took place. Also 134 start-ups were trained within 4 training batches.
It was observed that more and more cross-border investments happen thanks to the built trust between investors. The get-togethers and mingling between investors are a must-have after the covid-crisis, where no new connections were made. Therefore, the knowledge sharing sessions, trainings and investor meetings were most impactful for the investors and to the investment scene.
As cross-border value added, based on strengthened trust between EstBAN and FiBAN organisations, the collaboration between two business angel networks has improved significantly. As a outcome, EstBAN and FiBAN share deal flow on a daily basis and the cross-border investments. This brings more investment opportunities for start-ups from both countries.
- stimulate cross-border investments
- increase the startups’ investment readiness
- 15 cross-border investments achieved
- collaboration between Finnish and Estonian business angel networks