Tallinn, Estonia – May 2025
This spring, the TalTech Sustainable Futures: Pitching Day brought together visionary student teams from the university’s project-based learning courses that joined EuroTeQ Collider and teams from the IGNITER program. The event showcased innovative ideas aimed at tackling pressing global challenges through practical, scalable solutions.
A diverse and experienced jury evaluated the projects, bringing perspectives from academia, industry, finance, and student leadership: Caroline Aruoja – representative of TalTech’s Startup Centre: Technology Transfer Office, Head of Centre; Gerli Napritson – student representative, student from TalTech School of Business and Governance ; Brait Pilvik – representative of Prototron, CEO; Astrid Maldre – representative of Swedbank, Area manager; Ulrika Hurt – representative of TalTech’s Sustainable Value Chain Management Unit, lecturer; Jaana Merisaar – representative of TalTech’s Sustainable Value Chain Management Unit, project specialist.
This year’s event featured a rich prize pool and remarkable opportunities for the most promising teams. Three standout projects – A-Bionic, Biluminate, and Foldy – were named Collider winners and will represent TalTech at the EuroTeQaThon 2025, held from 14th to 16th June at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. In addition to competing against teams from eight other EuroTeQ partner universities, each team received €600 in prize money, and their trip to Eindhoven is included as part of the award.
A-Bionic: Empowering Lives – Because Every Hand Matters
Team A-Bionic is addressing the global inaccessibility of modern prosthetic limbs, which often cost upwards of €40,000. Their solution: a cost-effective, modular bionic hand with muscle control via sEMG sensors, independent finger movement, eco-friendly materials, and a 96-hour battery life. The team is already testing their prototype with Estonian Paralympian Robin Liksor and aims to launch their MVP in 2025.
Team members are Sander Klaassen, Oskar Lepmets, Kevin Gubar and Magomed Akhmedov (Product Development and Production Engineering). They participated in the event through the Collider course Entrepreneurship and Business Planning, lecturer Sirje Ustav.
Biluminate: Safer Starts at Home
Biluminate tackles the risks of neonatal jaundice, a condition that affects most newborns and can go undetected after early hospital discharge. Their solution is a mobile app integrated with a clinically validated transcutaneous bilirubinometer, allowing parents to monitor bilirubin levels and feeding patterns at home, with data transmitted in real-time to hospitals. This approach improves care while reducing stress and hospital stays.
Team members are Eliise Tall, Aida Danielyan and Berna Sarraf (Digital Health MSc). They participated in the event through the Collider course Entrepreneurship and Business Planning, lecturer Doris Kaljuste.
Foldy: Smarter Seats, Greener Cities
Foldy reimagines the traditional child bike seat, turning it into a foldable, multifunctional product that serves a purpose even after the child outgrows it. Designed for urban families, it combines compact storage, recycled materials, and adaptable features, offering an innovative take on sustainable mobility. The team plans to launch their MVP in late 2025 across several EU markets.
Team members are Kadri Kontus (Design and Technology Futures) and Iris-Gertrud Jussila (Food Technology and Development). They participated in the event through the Collider course Entrepreneurship and Business Planning, lecturer Olev Tõru.
Additionally, Foldy received the exclusive invitation to participate in the IESE Business School’s Ignite Bootcamp in Barcelona, taking place from July 28–31, where they will benefit from world-class mentorship and entrepreneurial training.
IGNITER Awards Fuel the Next Generation of Startups
Further accolades came through the IGNITER programme, which recognized standout business potential. Awards included legal support from TGS Baltic, access to the Tallinn Business Incubator, entry into the Prototron TOP 40, and €2500 from Swedbank to support further development. In addition, five teams were granted up to €2000 in support from TalTech and offered incubation within the Student Ventures programme.
TREK
A Baltic ride-sharing app for intercity travel, offering identity verification and in-app payments – a safer, smarter alternative to Facebook groups.
Award: Tallinn Business Incubator access
Team: Laur Palijenko, Henrik Jõesalu, Gregor Amelkin
Student Power
A platform that connects students with companies through real-life strategic challenges, helping youth gain experience while solving business problems.
Award: €2500 from Swedbank
Team: Rene Iliste, Nadezda Lunina
SafeSaw
A retrofit safety brake that instantly stops saw blades on skin contact. Designed for schools and workshops, the device works across tool types and will hit the market in August.
Award: Prototron TOP40 finalist
Team: Oliver Viidik, Patrik Kallast, Marten Lee
DAVAI: Don’t Stress, Play & Progress!
A gamified micro-learning platform helping Russian-speaking students master Estonian-language academic vocabulary. Already piloted with over 250 students and teachers.
Team: Albert Boitsov, Ivan Vasilyev, Ivan Turapin, Hugo Mattias Mölder, Cristina Rits
Legal and Incubation Support
Several teams also received legal support from TGS Baltic and incubation funding from TalTech’s Student Ventures programme:
TGS Baltic legal aid: TREK, Student Power, Biluminate
Student Ventures grants (€2000 each): A-Bionic, Foldy, Biluminate, SafeSaw, Davai
A Platform for Sustainable Impact
TalTech’s Sustainable Futures: Pitching Day highlighted the university’s commitment to empowering students to become changemakers. Through EuroTeQ Collider and IGNITER, TalTech continues to bridge academic learning with real-world innovation – fostering a future where students turn bright ideas into bold impact.
