It has a population of more than 460,000, and the Facts of Tallinn 2024 lists its metro GDP at €18.7 billion (~$20.8 billion). Tallinn’s global visibility has soared in recent years, outperforming larger capitals across the continent. The StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025 ranks it as the ninth best startup ecosystem in the EU. 

It is the city's strong digital infrastructure and bold public-sector innovation policies that position it as a testing ground and launchpad for globally scalable ventures. A digital-first business environment, Estonia pioneered digital governance long before it became a trend. In 2014, the country introduced e-Residency, allowing global entrepreneurs to register and operate an EU-based company entirely online. This infrastructure is complemented by the Startup Visa and Nomad Visa programs, which provide fast-track entry routes for foreign founders and remote workers, helping make the city a leader in employment, revenue and venture investment. Tallinn alone accounts for nearly 70% of all startups in the country.

Three major innovation districts – Tehnopol, Telliskivi Creative City and Ülemiste City – combine technology, creativity and infrastructure. Tehnopol, Estonia’s largest science park, is home to over 200 companies including Bolt and Starship Technologies. It offers incubator programs, coworking space, research labs and startup advisory services. Telliskivi Creative City, based in a former industrial area, houses over 300 creative businesses and hosts nearly 1,000 events per year. And Ülemiste City is a future-focused urban environment where 18,000 people from more than 73 countries work, study and live. Over 400 companies do business here, earning more than €2.5 billion (~$2.8 billion) per year. Based on the labor tax from business ventures, it follows Tallinn and Tartu in its contribution to the Estonian economy.

A rising force in European innovation

Tallinn’s ecosystem has grown by more than 34% year on year, and StartupBlink 2025 places Estonia 11th in the world in terms of startup ecosystem performance and second globally in the transportation sector. This is due in part to the success of Bolt, one of the country’s flagship unicorns. Other notable ventures headquartered or launched in Tallinn include Veriff (identity verification), Pipedrive (sales automation) and Starship Technologies (autonomous delivery robots).

The city's status as Eastern Europe’s second-strongest startup ecosystem is reinforced by its proximity to policymakers and by the agility of its digital infrastructure. According to StartupBlink, Tallinn has nearly 21 times the startup ecosystem score of Tartu, Estonia’s second-largest city, underlining its national dominance.

Infrastructure and support

Tallinn’s compact geography enables fast access to institutions and stakeholders, while its national systems, such as fully digital tax filing, online company registration and universal digital ID, streamline operations for founders. Infrastructure investments continue to support its growth, including a €25 million (~$28 million) upgrade to Ülemiste City.

Public funding and early-stage acceleration are key parts of the landscape. Organizations such as the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency provide equity-free grants, business development support and export incentive; Prototron helps founders turn ideas into prototypes with equity-free funding; and Startup Wise Guys, one of Europe’s most active early-stage investors, operates from Tallinn and has supported over 440 portfolio companies across the continent. 

More than 30% of Tallinn’s residents speak at least three languages, and English is widely used in business, tech and academia. The city hosts major innovation events, including Latitude59 and Impact Day, attracting thousands of founders, investors and policy influencers each year.

Estonia is also exploring frontier technologies. New state-funded initiatives support defense tech startups through the Estonian Defence Industry Association, while Tallinn is involved in EU-level efforts on AI and cyber resilience.

The national Work in Estonia program has doubled the international talent pool over the last five years, targeting IT and scientific professionals. These efforts contribute to a highly skilled and internationally mobile workforce, one of the country’s strongest assets.

Culture, life and connectivity

Tallinn is one of Northern Europe’s most culturally layered cities. The UNESCO-listed Old Town preserves the architecture of the Hanseatic League era, while contemporary venues such as Fotografiska and the Telliskivi Creative City showcase local design, art and performance. The city has more than 40 museums, almost as many theatres, 20 concert halls and 7 cinemas, and many venues cater to the international population with English-language performances or subtitles; for example in theaters like Theatrum and through initiatives such as the Tallinn Fringe Festival. Artis and Ülemiste Apollo, two of Europe’s most modern cinemas, regularly screen international films in their original language with subtitles. Seasonal events, such as Tallinn Music Week, Jazzkaar and the Black Nights Film Festival, draw artists and audiences from across Europe, reinforcing Tallinn’s status as a northern cultural capital.

The city is also exceptionally walkable, with most venues reachable within a 15-minute walk from the city center. Public transport is free to use for residents, and more than 75% of public services are accessible online. Tallinn is also the most visited cruise destination on the Baltic Sea, with direct ferry links to Helsinki and Stockholm and a growing list of international air connections through Tallinn Airport.

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