Partnerships with the best Estonian companies bring new ideas and opportunities for the entire angel investor network and vice versa. Our newest Partner member SEB’s approach towards startup ecosystem attracted our attention. Meelis Nurk, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Investments at SEB Baltic opens up about the cooperation.
What are your hopes and goals towards the partnership of SEB and EstBAN?
SEB’s partnership with EstBAN aligns with its broader ambition to be a catalyst for sustainable growth and innovation in the Baltic region. From one side our goal is to foster a stronger startup ecosystem by connecting capital with entrepreneurial talent and from another side we are looking for interesting new ideas and partnerships for enhancing our own product offering to the market.
“Our goal is to be more than just a financial institution – we want to be a trusted partner in the growth journey of startups and investors alike. Through this partnership, we aim to create a dynamic platform where capital, mentorship, and innovation converge.”
How is SEB currently related to the startup landscape and founders?
SEB plays a strategic and active role in the Baltic startup scene:
- We operate Innovation Centers in Tallinn, Tartu, Riga, and Vilnius, which serve as hubs for collaboration between startups, academia, and corporates
- SEB has been running the Growth Program, a 3-6-month accelerator designed to help SMEs and startups scale sustainably, often involving students, researchers, and SEB mentors.
- SEB is also a partner in Latitude59, Estonia’s flagship tech conference, where it supports founders through mentoring, networking, and capital access
Additionally, SEB Venture Capital is one of the leading Fintech investors in the Nordics and Baltics, operating since 1995. The fund primarily acts as a strategic corporate venture, focusing on Fintech but also open to broader technology investments that can make the financial industry smarter, safer, greener, and more user-friendly.
SEB Venture Capital operates as an evergreen fund, giving it flexibility and the ability to focus on long-term value creation rather than short-term exits. Investment areas include AI, machine learning, automation, and new business models for the financial sector. Investments can be exploratory, financial, or strategic, especially if there is partnership potential with SEB
How or what services can you provide for investors – especially startup investors?
SEB can support startup investors with direct venture capital investments and access to a broad network and expertise and mentorship capabilities both for investors and startups. We have financing solutions available such as syndicated loans and venture debt for scale-ups, co-investment opportunities through SEB’s Venture Capital focused and access to innovation networks either run by us or where we participate.
What are SEB main strengths?
SEB has a long-standing presence in the Nordic and Baltic markets, with industry leading expertise in financial and banking markets since 1856. Our unique position lies in our ability to combine local depth with international reach. We’re deeply rooted in the Baltic region, yet we bring the strength of a Nordic banking group and a global perspective to everything we do.
- See other EstBAN Partner members
- Want to join us? – Click here
