The Estonian startup Crespect sees strong potential in the Central and Eastern Europe

Tehnopol is part of the joint Northbound Scaleups (NBSCALE) project, which helps companies expand into new markets. The Estonian startup Crespect is scaling across the Baltics, Poland, Ukraine and, with the support of NBSCALE project, also went to visit the Czech Republic to meet with possible collaboration partners and explore market potential.

Crespect is a next-generation legal practice management software designed to help modern B2B law firms operate their business. With built-in business development tools and collaboration features, it empowers law firms to increase revenue per fee earner by 30%.

One of the co-founders and Chief Customer Service Officer, Karolina Šilingienė, spoke about their trip and shared some future plans.

How did the meetings go? What were your expectations going in, and did everything proceed as planned?

“The meetings went well, and we had insightful discussions with local firms about their operational needs and market trends. Our expectations were to understand how Czech law firms approach business development and legal practice management, their willingness to adopt modern cloud software, and the feedback aligned closely with our assumptions, confirming a strong potential for Crespect in this market.”

Why did you choose the Czech Republic as the target country for this visit?

“Czech Republic’s legal market shows a growing focus on business development, making it a strategic market for our software, which excels in this area. Additionally, its position as a hub for regional firms aligns with our aim to support law firms across CEE with an efficient, modern tool.”

Are there any competitors in the Czech market offering similar products or services? What sets you apart from them?

“Yes, there are competitors in the Czech market, including a local provider offering an on-premises solution with document management features. Crespect stands out with its cloud-based approach, built-in CRM tools, and a focus on collaboration and business development—areas where Czech law firms currently lack adequate support.”

Will you have to adapt your product when entering the Czech market, and if so, how?

“Our flexible APIs allow us to adapt seamlessly to the needs of law firms, regardless of jurisdiction. While the core functionality remains universal, we will localize certain integrations and workflows to ensure a smooth user experience for Czech firms. However, the biggest challenge is educational. While many Estonian and Baltic law firms are already accustomed to using cloud-based software, most Czech law firms are still transitioning from on-premises solutions and may be unfamiliar with the benefits of the cloud. As a result, we will focus on educating the market about the security, scalability, and efficiency of our cloud-based solution, providing reassurance that their data is protected to the highest standards. This additional effort in education and trust-building will be a key part of our market entry strategy.”

What are the company’s near-term plans, both domestically and internationally?

“Crespect aims to expand its presence across key CEE markets, including the Czech Republic, while continuing to enhance its product features based on user feedback. Currently, our focus is on scaling adoption among Baltic and Polish law firms to establish ourselves as a trusted partner in the legal tech space. As we build credibility in these markets, we anticipate that even more conservative markets, like the Czech Republic, will become more open to adopting innovative solutions like ours.”

On the photo (from left): co-founders Katri-Helen Wojtkowiak, Karolina Šilingienė, Lauri Läheb. 

Northbound Scaleups (NBSCALE) is a joint project run by Tehnopol, the Turku Science Park in Finland and Movexum in Sweden to help companies expand into new markets.