Astrid Maldre
Head of Small Business Segment at Swedbank
The meaning of life is to take the next step. Every business begins with that one moment of inspiration – when an idea simply won’t let go, and you catch yourself asking: “What if…?” But the hardest part isn’t the idea itself. It’s finding the courage to make the decision, to take that leap, and actually give it a try.
And yet, no founder succeeds alone. We all need support when we’re chasing something bigger than ourselves - a strong ecosystem isn’t built only by dreamers and doers, but also by the people who believe in those dreams and choose to contribute through time, mentorship, connections, encouragement, and real commitment.
That’s exactly what the Giving Back Powerhouse stands for: an organisation, initiative, event, or individual whose passion and contribution has genuinely strengthened our startup ecosystem. And at Swedbank, we’re proud to be there through every step of the journey – supporting entrepreneurs as they grow, scale, and evolve.
This year’s record number of nominations for the Estonian Startup Awards sends a powerful message: the passion and drive in our startup ecosystem hasn’t faded – it’s very much alive. And as the economy stabilises and confidence returns, I truly believe we’ll see a new wave of energy, momentum, and fresh success stories emerging over the next few years.
To support that momentum, we've created and support a range of initiatives and programs to empower you to take your first steps in a path to achieving your greatest ambitions. An entrepreneurial person should never have to walk their path alone, and here are some of the iniatives Swedbank has backed in 2025:
Estonian Startup Awards
Since 2019, Estonian Startup Awards has been a highlight of the local tech and startup scene, bringing together the most active founders and community builders. Each January, we join forces with the organizing team to make sure the awards keep on going and growing.
IGNITER
Good ideas need momentum, not just descriptions on paper. The IGNITER programme helps students and young people to test, develop and prepare their ideas for the next steps, whether that be at Prototron or in another accelerator programme. We provide mentoring and prize money to ensure that good ideas don't get left in a drawer.
Prototron
With over 10 years' experience supporting more than 100 companies and providing €1.49 million in equity-free funding, Prototron offers technology ideas their first real chance. The spring round starts in February!
Startup Day
From contributing to the stage programme and hands-on seminars to supporting the startup pitch competition with an equity-free prize pool, we are thoroughly integrated with Estonia’s most business-minded conference.
Swedbank Coffee Mornings
We provide real discussions, not just another series of lectures. We talk openly and honestly about branding, cyber security, taxes, and artificial intelligence. Entrepreneurs don't need motivational speeches; they need clarity. You can also find lots of useful information for startup entrepreneurs on our blog.
Vivita Vista: "From Prototype to Startup"
Entrepreneurial thinking starts from an early age. In collaboration with the Vivita / Solutions Lab, we help primary school pupils develop their first prototypes into real products and services. Why? Because having the courage to experiment and make mistakes is a valuable life skill.
Where to catch us next? At Estonian Startup Awards on January 22, 2026 - once again, we’ll be presenting the award for The Giving Back Powerhouse of the Estonian startup ecosystem. Follow the gala night via Linkedin of Estonian Startup Awards to find out who will take home the buzzing trophies this time: