NATO DIANA Estonian Accelerator’s first workshops have kicked off

In early January, all nine companies that successfully passed through a highly competitive selection process and gained entry into the NATO DIANA Estonian Accelerator gathered in Estonia. The first workshop of the accelerator introduced participants to leadership principles directly from the battlefield.

Our deep-tech, dual-use startups had the opportunity to learn about team building and leadership from the Combat Ready team, who teaches leadership principles directly from the battlefield. Their theoretical training, combined with practical exercises is based on the leadership framework developed by the Special Forces. The workshop provided good practices to implement in their businesses.

Also, since in the accelerator there are startups from Canada, Texas, Iceland, the Netherlands, etc., Tehnopol Startup Incubator team showcased them some quintessential Estonian traditions. Alongside serious business training, sauna sessions and snow angels were also involved.

These are the very first startups of NATO DIANA Estonian Accelerator: GaltTec, REVOBEAM, Lobster Robotics, GIM Robotics, Anzen Technology Systems, Dronetag, IceWind, Goldilock and AVoptics.

The Tehnopol Startup Incubator in Tallinn is one of five initial locations, where the NATO DIANA innovation accelerators are being opened in its pilot year. Across the Alliance, over 1300 companies applied for participation in the accelerator, which will develop dual use technologies. The final selection included 44 companies, of which 9 will start developing their concepts in Estonia. All companies included in the accelerator will receive a grant of 100 000 euros, and the best among them have the opportunity to receive up to 300 000 euros in addition.