Apply to the AI accelerator and get a 10,000-euro funding to develop your idea

Tehnopol Startup Incubator will start its second round of the AI accelerator in April, and teams working on new artificial intelligence projects are invited to apply! The AI accelerator helps bring to the market new and strong technology companies working with artificial intelligence, whose solutions can take the production, processes or products of small and medium-sized businesses to a new level.

A specialist training series focused on AI together with mentors and experts who are among the best in the business will help participants through the AI accelerator, and will work each week with the teams.

The six-month AI accelerator is open to start-up companies and spin-off teams from established companies, and to teams of researchers and students whose ideas and solutions use artificial intelligence and are aimed at industrial or data-intensive companies. Companies registered or being registered in Estonia are invited to apply.

“We have the same goal for everyone, that we want to bring to the market new products and services based on artificial intelligence can help Estonian companies get much more use from their data and that have clear potential in foreign markets. Teams can get support from the AI and robotics accelerator in developing their products and services, coming to market and validating their ideas with test clients”, said Kadri Tammai, head of Tehnopol Startup Incubator.

The new round of the AI accelerator will receive 10 teams, and each team will get a financial injection of 10,000 euros to develop their idea. The training programme for the accelerator will start in the second half of April, and the deadline for applications is 7 April.

The first round of the AI accelerator was attended by several companies with great potential such as KrattWorks, HUUM, YANU, and Envelope. Founder and CEO of Envelope Khuldoon Bukhari said that the AI accelerator had brought them together with mentors who helped them reach potential clients and polish the presentation of their product. “The workshops on intellectual property, marketing and funding that were held as part of the accelerator were very useful. Our overall experience of the accelerator was great, and I would recommend any early-stage company to apply to it”, he added.

The AI accelerator programme helps:

• AI technology companies to grow strong under the guidance of experienced mentors using a training programme;
• bring together participants in the artificial intelligence ecosystem and experts;
• ideas based on AI reach the pilot phase faster and with less testing;
• make contacts who can help bring in additional capital.

Upcoming training sessions will cover building the business model and a strong team; the build-measure-learn process in AI; protecting intellectual property and making agreements with other parties; strategies for validating customer cases, piloting, and entering the market; and getting ready for investors and finding sources of funding.

Participation in the accelerator is free and no stock options are taken. Having a scalable business idea built on artificial intelligence, an existing prototype or the capacity to create one during the accelerator, and a dedicated team are advantages. All the teams who participate in the accelerator will be able to use the physical working environment of Tehnopol Science and Business Park.

The AI accelerator is part of the AI development programme that is supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.

For more information and to apply see: https://www.startupincubator.ee/en/aiaccelerator/