Estonia has never been large enough to build in isolation, and that has always been part of its strength. When your home market has 1.3 million people, you build for the world on day one, or you don’t build at all.
Our startups, investors, and ecosystem builders have understood this from the start: international ambition can’t wait for a later stage. That mindset has shaped Estonia’s startup story from the very beginning, and it is also why the idea of the New Nordics feels so relevant now.
At Latitude59, the New Nordics Gateway area was officially opened by Celia Kuningas-Saagpakk, Estonia’s Ambassador for Nordic-Baltic Cooperation, and Priit Kallakas, Head of Business Diplomacy at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Their message was clear: in a fragmented and competitive world, the Nordic-Baltic region has something rare to offer – like-mindedness, practical cooperation and a shared ambition to build globally.
Why the New Nordics matter for Estonia
Estonia is often introduced through its own success stories: e-Estonia, digital government, unicorns and startup density. These stories still matter, but they are no longer enough on their own.
The New Nordics bring together the Nordics and the Baltics. This region of 33 million people is connected not only by geography but also by shared democratic values, digital thinking, and transparency. Few regions in the world can bring together eight neighbouring countries with such a high level of trust, connectivity and shared strategic understanding.
Each country contributes something specific: Estonia’s digital mindset and technical talent, Sweden’s scaling experience, Finland’s engineering depth, Denmark’s design and life science strengths, Norway’s industrial and energy knowledge, and the growing ambition of the Baltic startup ecosystems. Separately, these are interesting stories. Together, they add up to something more credible.
The Skype story captures this well. It’s often been described as both an Estonian and Swedish success story – and that shared ownership is exactly the point. The most interesting companies and ecosystems are rarely built inside neat national borders. They grow through talent, capital, and experience moving between countries.
And for Estonia, this way of working feels natural. In small markets, reputation travels fast, access is more direct and partnerships matter. Founders cannot afford to think only locally and investors need international networks. Ecosystem builders need to create spaces where the right people can meet before there is a ready-made deal, project or partnership on the table.
This is where Latitude59 has an important role to play. Born in Tallinn, Latitude59 has grown into a global community platform that brings founders, investors, policymakers and ecosystem builders into the same room. Latitude59 does not only introduce Estonia to the world but it also helps place Estonia inside a stronger regional story.
The New Nordics Gateway area at Latitude59 made that idea visible. It created a meeting point for startups, investors, government representatives and ecosystem builders from across the region. A place for new conversations, partnerships and, hopefully, the kind of ambitious ideas that can only emerge when people with different strengths start working together.
For Estonia, being part of the New Nordics story means better access to partners, investors, talent and ideas. It means showing that Estonia is not a small market on the edge of Europe, but part of a region with the confidence and capability to build globally relevant companies.
At a time when Europe is looking for new growth engines, stronger innovation ecosystems and deeper cross-border cooperation, the New Nordics have a credible role to play. The region combines high-trust societies, strong digital foundations, pragmatic business culture and founders who are used to building for international markets from day one.
Estonia isn’t just nearby. Estonia is part of it.
