Tallinn · Pre-Seed–Seed · 9 people tracked
Find your way into Startup Wise Guys
1,276 people in our graph share verified history with the Startup Wise Guys team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Investment thesis
Startup Wise Guys backs early-stage B2B startups, aiming to be the first international check for overlooked founders in emerging markets, particularly across CEE and CIS regions. Through vertical-focused accelerator programs, it provides funding, tailored mentorship, and access to an international community spanning five continents, helping founders reach product-market fit, scale MRR, and gain easier access to future international fundraising. Since 2012, the firm has run 45+ programs and supported over 800 founders from more than 60 countries, with portfolio companies achieving multiple exits and significant follow-on funding.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 9 people
from the firm's website & curated & public directories
Founder mafia
The Startup Wise Guys mafia →9 people who came through Startup Wise Guys went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 18 of 32 portfolio companiesSaaS ×12AI & Machine Learning ×9Enterprise Software ×6Cybersecurity ×4InsurTech ×4Marketing Tech ×4Data & Infrastructure ×3Fintech ×3
HQs:Estonia×3United States×2Canada×1Italy×1Lithuania×1
Portfolio companies · 32 tracked
alumni founders can tell you what the program is really likeBy year:2025 · 12024 · 22023 · 12022 · 22021 · 52020 · 12013 · 22012 · 115 dated
CyLock is an Italian cybersecurity company specializing in vulnerability assessment, with a patented software called EVA that uses in-house AI to detect vulnerabilities in corporate systems while reducing assessment time.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecuritySaaS
Co-investorsLazio InnovaKickstart InnovationLVenture GroupScientifica Venture Capital
LetsData develops Vantage, a platform for detecting coordinated disinformation and information operations by monitoring the infrastructure and machinery behind narratives rather than just keywords or content.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityDefense TechGovTech
Ksenia Iliuk(Co-founder)inAndriy Kusyy(Co-founder)in
Co-investors1991 VenturesSMOK VenturesTilia Impact VenturesWayraTilia Impact Partners
PublishDrive is a global self-publishing platform that helps indie authors and publishers distribute digital, audiobook, and print-on-demand books to major retailers and international markets.
AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyMedia & EntertainmentSaaS
Kinga Jentetics(CEO & Co-Founder)in
Co-investorsCredo VenturesLead Ventures
CallPage is a lead generation platform that captures visitor information through widgets embedded on websites, facilitating phone calls and connections between businesses and prospects.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechSaaSSales Tech
Co-investorsbValue Venture CapitalMarket One Capital
Co-investorsPresto Ventures
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Formaloo offers a customizable ROI calculator form template that lets users enter an initial investment and exit value to compute net profit and ROI percentage in real time, and save the results.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechSaaSToronto, CA
Farokh Shahabi(Founder)inNoosh Baratpour(Founder)in
Co-investorsChange VenturesExpert DOJOHyde Park Venture PartnersMana Ventures
Co-investorsCambridge Angels groupDraper AssociatesMetaplanet
heybooster provides analytics and optimization insights for Google Ads campaigns, including product performance analysis, keyword analysis, and creative performance across multiple ad platforms.
AdTechAI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureE-commerceMarketing TechSaaS
SahinNeslihan
Co-investorsLeap InvestmentLima VenturesStartersHub
Katana provides a cloud inventory platform with built-in inventory, production, and reporting features for end-to-end inventory management aimed at modern manufacturing and product businesses.
Advanced ManufacturingCloud ComputingLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSTallinn, EE
Priit Kaasik(Founder)inKristjan Vilosius(Co-CEO & Founder)inHannes Kert(Chief Customer Officer & Founder)inBen Hussey(Co-CEO)Riikka Söderlund(Chief Operating Officer & CMO)inAndres Aava(VP of Data & AI)in
Co-investors42CAPCogito Capital PartnersNorthzoneAtomico
Ondato is a technology company providing KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML compliance tools for businesses, covering the full compliance lifecycle from client onboarding to ongoing client monitoring.
CybersecurityFintechSaaSVilnius, LT
Liudas(Co-founder)inAndrej(Co-founder)
Co-investorsBalnord Sp. z o.o.FirstpickOTB VenturesSmart Partnership Capital
Rendin provides rental property management and protection services for landlords in Estonia and Poland, offering background-checked tenants, financial guarantees against unpaid rent and property damage, and legal support throughout the rental process.
B2B MarketplacesFintechInsurTechLegalTechPropTechSaaSTallinn, EE
Alain Aun(CEO and co-founder)inMaiko Saluorg(Co-founder and marketing lead)in
Co-investorsZAKA VCIron Wolf CapitalTera VenturesTrueSight Ventures
Rendin operates an online rental platform that connects landlords and tenants, providing digital rental agreements, tenant background checks, and a deposit-replacement protection product that covers landlords for damage and unpaid rent.
InsurTechMarketplacesPropTech
Maiko Saluorg(Founder)in
Co-investorsTera VenturesIron Wolf CapitalTrueSight VenturesZAKA VC
SenseGrass develops geospatial AI tools for agriculture, environment, and urban planning sectors to support sustainability and conservation through data-driven analysis.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningClimate TechIoTSan Mateo, US
Co-investorsEntrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA)TechstarsTribes VenturesCollab CapitalSVG Ventures | THRIVE
SensusQ builds a knowledge engine that provides real-time access to critical information to improve decision-making for defense and intelligence professionals, drawing on decades of military and intelligence experience.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureDefense TechEnterprise SoftwareGovTech
Co-investorsNew North VenturesSpecialist VC
Co-investorsSpecialist VC
Soter offers insurance products for companies operating in digital assets and blockchain, including directors and officers, professional indemnity, technology PI, crime and specie, and crypto-specific coverage such as ETH slashing and smart contract insurance.
Crypto & Web3FintechInsurTech
Henson Orser(Founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsPharsalus CapitalToken Bay CapitalAV8 VenturesBrevan Howard DigitalCoinbase VenturesFranklin Templeton+4 more
Soter builds an AI platform for industrial businesses that analyzes images, videos, and text in real time to identify workplace safety risks and suggest corrective actions.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareInsurTechSaaS
Matthew Hart(Founder)in
Co-investorsAV8 VenturesChamaeleonMatterwave VenturesOTB VenturesVerve Ventures
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Supliful is a fulfillment and private-label platform that lets creators and entrepreneurs build consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands—such as supplements, coffee, and on-demand products—without holding inventory, handling manufacturing, or managing logistics.
B2B MarketplacesDirect to ConsumerE-commerceLogistics & Supply ChainWellness & FitnessDenver, US
Martins Lasmanis(CEO)in
Co-investorsBADideas.fundDiaspora VenturesNeer Venture PartnersZAKA VC
Theodosian provides a data-centric security platform designed to protect files through automated access controls, anomaly detection, and audit logging.
CybersecurityData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Co-investors1818 Venture CapitalD11ZHeartfelt CapitalFuel Ventures
Video editing app; acquired by Pinterest in 2021.
Co-investorsFlyer One VenturesA.partnersANGELSDECK FOTA Ventures
Watalook provides a virtual client card system that stores customer information such as visit history, frequency, turnover, cancellations, favorite products, photos, and birthdays.
Marketing TechSaaSSales Tech
Justas Vitenas(Founder)in
Co-investorsbyFoundersCrosspringLaunchpad CapitalPractica Capital
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
ButterflyCamorkaCubedEstateGuruFractoryLovatNovusOctopusStepShotVitalFields
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesSoter · arabfounders.net · Aug 3, 2026
Katana · kanaandkatana.com · Aug 1, 2026
SensusQ · resiliencemedia.co · May 21, 2026
Callpage · en.ain.ua · Dec 27, 2025
Theodosian · fintech.global · Oct 17, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Startup Wise Guys made?
- Startup Wise Guys has 32 tracked investments, including 1 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Startup Wise Guys invest at?
- Startup Wise Guys invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is Startup Wise Guys's typical check size?
- Startup Wise Guys typically writes checks of $100K – $500K.
- What sectors does Startup Wise Guys focus on?
- Startup Wise Guys focuses on Crypto & Web3, Cybersecurity, Defense Tech, Enterprise Software, Fintech, PropTech, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Startup Wise Guys located?
- Startup Wise Guys is headquartered in Tallinn, EE.
- Does Startup Wise Guys lead rounds?
- Startup Wise Guys typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
- Who does Startup Wise Guys co-invest with?
- Startup Wise Guys most often shares deals with 42CAP, Northzone, OTB Ventures, among 16 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamExploring Startup Dynamics: Insights from Alexandra Balkova, Head of Portfolio at Startup Wise Guys
Nordic Fintech Magazine · Alexandra Balkova
Value Is the New Currency | Alexandra Balkova, Startup Wise Guys | BRP #104
The Business Room · Alexandra Balkova
Global accelerator funds for passionate B2B startup founders | Cristobal Alonso - Startup Wise Guys
Tekpon · Cristobal Alonso
ECSOSTARtupAward | 🎙 Cristobal Alonso, Chief Executive Officer at Startup Wise Guys
Cyberzaintza · Cristobal Alonso
#112 The Memo: Startup Wise Guys, Cristobal Alonso - Fractory
The European VC · Cristobal Alonso
#84 The memo: Startup Wise Guys, Cristobal Alonso
The European VC · Cristobal Alonso
Images
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