study trips - EstBAN

EstBAN is part of the EBAN Congress 2026 – the angel investor meetup in Vilnius

admin — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:56:13 +0000

EstBAN will be participating in EBAN Congress 2026, Europe’s leading angel investing conference. This community-led event, organised by EBAN, LitBAN, and the European Commission, will bring together 500+ top-tier angels, Business Angel Networks and VCs from 45+ countries, offering a unique opportunity to connect with some of the world’s most prominent investors.

Agenda highlights of the event

Sun, May 31 – Side events, Vilnius exploration & VIP Dinner
Mon, June 1 – Main Conference Day 1: keynotes, panels & EBAN Awards Gala Dinner
Tue, June 2 – Main Conference Day 2: panels, matchmaking & side events
Wed, June 3 – Study tour: Lithuanian startup ecosystem

Why attend?

Unmatched networking. Connect with co-investors and startups through side events, evening cocktails, a VIP reception, and the iconic EBAN Congress Gala Dinner.
Invest in Europe’s resilience. Future thinking angels play a key role in investing in Europe’s resilience and this year we focus on defence & space, clean energy, life sciences, and Europe’s strategic sectors.
Discover Lithuania’s startup ecosystem and enjoy Lithuania’s vibrant culture – including the Pink Soup Festival and meet Lithuanian VCs, angels, founders and ecosystem players, join the ecosystem tour!
Special BAN Manager Programme. Deep dive and experience sharing for professionals running angel networks, clubs and syndicates

Vilnius is the place to be for angel investors in 2026. Join us!

Secure your spot: www.ebancongress.com Special discount for EBAN members – ask your discount via info@estban.ee

The post EstBAN is part of the EBAN Congress 2026 – the angel investor meetup in Vilnius first appeared on EstBAN.

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Connect2Scale investor trip to Portugal’s startup ecosystem in Lisbon

admin — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:20:43 +0000

What a vibrant city and community we had the chance to experience last week together with angel investors and project partners from six countries: Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Slovenia, Poland and the United States.

Portugal, populated by around 10 million inhabitants, counts approximately 28,000 people working in startups, has seven Portuguese-DNA unicorns and roughly 40 Portugal-related scaleups. Flagships you may know include FARFETCH, OutSystems, Talkdesk, Feedzai, Remote, Sword Health and Anchorage Digital.

We began with two and a half days of getting our bearings on how to build relationships and invest in Portugal. Startup Portugal opened the trip with a concise overview of the ecosystem. We then visited Impact Hub Lisbon, a community focused on sustainability and the circular economy, and listened to pitches from the LX Circular two-year program that powers circular solutions in Lisbon. From 50 participants we met six greentech teams, and our investors cross-examined the founders with many thoughtful questions.

Startups that pitched to us:

Trash4Goods, a gamified app to reduce waste and boost recycling
Upswag, merch produced from recycled materials
Last Call, citywide rental of power banks
Matterpieces, tiles, countertops and new materials from construction waste
RVRT, recycling and repurposing camping gear
BUTTER, bio-bedding designed to soothe people and the planet

It was refreshing to see a breadth of cleantech and non-IT startups, which is less common in Estonia where the pipeline is strongly IT-centric.

Then we met Portugal Ventures and Banco Português de Fomento (BPF), Portugal’s sovereign development bank serving companies. Their message was clear: they are open to international cooperation, while keeping a strong priority on investing back into Portugal, creating jobs and ensuring funded companies contribute to the country.

We also visited the Unicorn Factory Lisboa, Ground Capital and Core Angels. Ground Capital’s session stood out for its candid discussion on what VCs look for – above all teams, founders and exceptional people. Core Angels introduced the model of angel funds and angel groups within one network, followed by another round of pitches and Q&A. At Schilling VC where Pedro Ramalho Carlos walked us through the modern VC mindset. We enjoyed insightful dialogue and unforgettable views across Lisbon.

The entire group left grateful to our hosts and new acquaintances in Portugal.

To sum up – what we learned?

Portugal’s startup ecosystem is strong and mission-driven. Investors and institutions care deeply about channeling capital back into Portugal, supporting local jobs and backing companies that create tangible value for the country and society.
The sector mix is broader than in Estonia. Alongside IT and deep tech, we saw ad-tech, retail, consumer goods and B2C startups. While Estonia’s ecosystem is anchored in IT, many markets operate with a wider sector approach, reflecting where their capital and expertise originate.

And a final reminder: meaningful investing benefits from perspective. You build better when you have travelled, observed how different economies operate and how people think.

Explore the study trip gallery below.

Connect2Scale Study Trip is supported by the European Union. Project partners: Finnish Business Angels Network (FiBAN), Business Angels of Slovenia, Latvian Business Angels Network (LatBAN), Lithuanian Business Angel Network (LitBAN), Estonian Business Angels Network (EstBAN) and Civitta.

Join EstBAN & Connect2Scale Angel Investor Study trip to Portugal this November!

admin — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:54:34 +0000

Within three busy days in the end of this November, we will discover the public and hidden gems of Lisbon’s startup ecosystem and hereby inviting all EstBAN members, partners and friends to explore this vibrant city together. Lisbon has become one of Europe’s most exciting hubs for innovation, and now’s your chance to experience it.

Highlights of the trip:

Meeting with Startup Portugal to understand the local ecosystem
Visiting Beta-i and other support organizations
Hearing the story of Portuguese unicorn Farfetch
Meeting with local investors

The study trip program starts quite early morning on November 26, so we advise to fly in on November 25 evening. Program will end mid-day on November 28, so you can book afternoon flights back. As spaces are limited, act fast!

Angel investor study trips are an opportunity to learn, share, and grow together with an international angel community.

This delegation trip is part of EU-funded Connect2Scale programme. Project is coordinated by Civitta. Project partners: Finnish Business Angels Network (FiBAN), EBAN – European Business Angel Network, Estonian Business Angels Network (EstBAN), Lithuanian Business Angel Network LitBAN, Latvian Business Angels Network and Business Angels of Slovenia.

Read about previous EstBAN Study trips:

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Connect2Scale study trip to Malta – an Emerging Hub in the European Startup Landscape

admin — Tue, 20 May 2025 13:35:40 +0000

By Paavo Siimann, EstBAN member, investor, lecturer and mentor

A recent EstBAN organized study trip within the Connect2Scale project to Malta provided a solid overview of the local startup ecosystem, which in recent years has gained attention in Europe. The small Mediterranean country’s strategic location, active government support, and accessible funding options create a favourable environment for both entrepreneurs and investors. Below are some examples of different components of Malta’s startup ecosystem.

Malta Enterprise

The national agency Malta Enterprise focuses on forward-looking sectors such as digital innovation, education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and sustainability. One notable initiative is the Start-Up Finance program, which can offer support ranging from €300,000 to €1.5 million per company, depending on the sector and region. While this is a repayable grant, the terms are flexible – repayment can be made gradually from profit with low interest rates.

Malta Venture Capital Fund

The Malta Venture Capital Fund also stands out. Managed by Malta Government Investments, this state-run €10 million venture capital fund provides equity investments of up to €500,000 per startup. However, private co-investment is required. The fund prioritises sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, e-sports, renewable energy, and medical technology.

DiHubMT – European Digital Innovation Hub

Digital innovation is supported by DiHubMT – the Digital Innovation Hub Malta – which is part of the European network of digital innovation hubs. DiHubMT gives companies the opportunity to test advanced technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, and robotics before investing in them. It also supports the development of digital skills by offering training and workshops to both local and international companies.

SuperCharger Ventures for ed-tech

Startups looking to grow internationally can benefit from the SuperCharger Ventures accelerator programme, which is primarily targeted at edtech companies. The programme lasts 12 weeks, is equity-free, and covers accommodation and travel costs. In addition, participants can apply for up to €500,000 in non-repayable funding.

To conclude: why Malta?

For Estonian startups, establishing a subsidiary in Malta may be worth considering due to the country’s favourable conditions for international expansion and access to EU and Mediterranean markets. Local support schemes and regulations can offer a competitive advantage.

As an investor, it was encouraging to see how clearly Malta supports business growth. Although the local market is small, this is balanced by a government strategy aimed at facilitating international scaling. Malta could offer useful opportunities for Estonian investors and startups looking to expand or collaborate at the forefront of European and Mediterranean innovation.

Until then, Malta!

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