Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol

2. Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol Founded by the Republic of Estonia, City of Tallinn and Tallinn University of Technology Largest science park for tech-based companies in Baltics Created to support star-ups and developing companies

3. Missioon and Vision Helping to increase competitiveness of innovative companies by offering them high-quality value-adding services and infrastructure. Tehnopol is internationally attractive business environment, the first choice of high-tech companies among the parks in Nordic region

4. Tehnopol at a glance • 157 companies in science park • 40 000 m² of rental space, (2012 70 000 m²) • Business incubator for 30 start-ups • 12 000 students and 1100 scientists nearby • 5 R&D Centers: ELIKO, VTAK, TFTAK, IMECC, STACC

5. Grown-ups in Tehnopol

6. Start-ups in Tehnopol

7. We can say that … start-up companies are very important to us and to economy overall. So, what are we exactly doing …

8. Our start-up growing experiences • We redefined who is a start-up • We redefined where start-up comes from • We redefined the needs of a start-up We have re-defined the concept of boosting tech-based companies

9. So, what is a biz incubator? Incubator is a complete environment for start-up company, combining business consultation services and convenient infrastructure. “… incubator protects young entrepreneur from its mistakes …”

10. Who is a typical start-up? • Male • Age 20-35 • Educated • Working experience • Wide contact network • Tech conscious • Great ambitions • Not experienced in running own business 

11. Where does a start-up come from? 75 % are spin-offs from large tech companies 10 % come straight from university 10 % „soft land“ to Estonia 5 % origin unknown

12. What does a start-up need? • Financing (VC-s, angels) • Partners, clients • Help in foreign markets • PR&Marketing • Finding personnel • A mentor • Networks • Office/meeting room

13. What we used to offer? business development services, help in drawing a business plan, strategic planning, finding business partners in local and foreign markets, fully equipped office, help in drawing a marketing plan, reception services, trainings, meeting rooms, printing paper, help in finding finances, personal help from business, maintenance, consultants, different networking events, cooperation with universities, R&D facilities, site visits, B2B meetings, management trainings, personnel services, differents contact networks, etc.

14. What are we offering now? • Business mentors • Money (VC, angel, EU…) • „Soft-landing“ services • Business missions • Networks, clubs • Coffee mornings  • Marketing support • Office/meeting room/office equppment

15. What are we expecting? We keep things simple in order to attract tech entrepreneur. We expect…

16. Team that can do it

17. Innovative idea

18. Exporting ambitions

19. Ability to aim high

20. Where has it lead us? • Success rate 80% • Feedback: 8 out of 10 • 3 stars in year • About 30 start-ups • 7 new ideas in month • 60% export markets • Deployment of pre-incubation and incubation processes

21. Two good examples:

22. „We employ wireless smart dust technology to provide a highly portable surveillance solution with minimum configuration requirements“ www.defendec.com

23. What did we do? Helped to kick-off with marketing Helped to find the right money Helped to find contacts abroad We mentored the processes

24. „Yrgel Entertainment is a software development company. We develop iOS/Android/PC/Mac games and apps.“ www.yrgel.com

25. What did we do? Helped to wrack the initial plan  Helped to find best experts Helped to find first customers We mentored the process

26. So, what have we learned? • Despite tech-based start-up scene is complicated, their needs are still simple • Focus on important features, cut everything else • As start-up is changing quickly, you have to change quickly • Keep things simple …

28. martin@tehnopol.ee @martingorosko www.tehnopol.ee @tehnopol facebook.com/tehnopol