Stories at the Core

“This year, the program is heavily story-focused,” shared Madis Lehtmets, the Program Manager of sTARTUp Day. “You’ll hear from people who are actively building groundbreaking technologies today or those with the scar tissue of crazy startup journeys from the past. We’ve also included a few sessions from completely different industries to inspire and draw parallels—because, at the end of the day, we’re all human.”

The 2025 program highlights deep-tech and defense tech as key areas, alongside discussions on fundraising, exits, and founder health. A shift towards individual stories over large panels is also notable this year. “All panels and fireside chats are longer but fewer in number, allowing us to dive deeper into the experiences and lessons of our speakers,” Madis added.

Among the standout speakers is Andrei Herasimchuk, a product design legend whose career includes roles at Adobe, Figma, Twitter, and Yahoo. “It’s nearly impossible to find a more impressive product design CV,” Madis noted. “I’m thrilled to finally bring him to sTARTUp Day after years of trying.” Another key figure is Estonian entrepreneur Ragnar Sass, a co-founder of Pipedrive and one of the most active supporters of Ukraine. Ragnar will play a pivotal role in the defense tech track, which he leads alongside his efforts with Darkstar boot camps in Ukraine.

Adding to the diverse roster is Kaari Kink, an accomplished venture capitalist at Superangel, who will engage audiences with her no-nonsense take on fundraising, including a fun and revealing lie detector session exploring the truths and myths of the investment world. Andrus Purde, co-founder and CEO of Outfunnel, will join her in this interactive session, bringing his own entrepreneurial insights to the table. Nordika, Estonia’s most fabulous drag queen, will bring a bold and unconventional perspective with a keynote that promises hilarity and inspiration, showing how lessons from the drag world can apply to startup life.


A Seminar Lineup to Remember

Seminars are one of the highlights of sTARTUp Day 2025, currently with over 40 planned sessions. Linda Elisabeth Laur, Head of Seminars, shared her excitement about the diversity of topics this year: productivity, team dynamics, funding, deep tech, growth, marketing, branding, and AI. Among the standout seminars are the Productivity Club's workshops “Clarity & Control: Build Your Personal Time Management System.” Other highlights include “Behind the Scenes: Building Estonia's First Film Monster” by a Tartu Centre for Creative Industries and TRINITI’s seminar on “Legal and Practical Aspects of Building a Defence Sector Startup”.Combat Ready will also deliver a practical session, “Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions”, tackling multitasking pitfalls. With such a broad range of topics, there’s something for everyone looking to deepen their knowledge and grow their skills.



Pitching Stage: Showcasing Bold Ideas

Darja Ogorodnik, the manager of the sTARTUp Day Pitching stage, expressed her excitement for this year’s competition. “Over the years, I’ve watched sTARTUp Day shine a spotlight on an increasing number of startups from what were once niche sectors. I’m excited to spend two days observing ideas from bold startups tackling tough industries with a passion to change the world and make it a better place.”

The Pitching stage will feature eight different batches and a thrilling TOP30 competition, spotlighting startups from sectors like DeepTech, CleanTech, Energy, and GreenTech. Notably, Friday’s sessions will focus exclusively on DeepTech and GreenTech, making it a day dedicated to forward-thinking and impactful ideas.

Beyond the Main Stages: sTARTUp Day Side Events

Adding to the diverse offerings of sTARTUp Day 2025, Executive Day, led by head organizer Hannah Kaarma, will kick off on 29 January with a focus on data-driven innovation and leadership. This event will equip executives with practical tools for managing AI-driven decisions, fostering a data-focused culture, protecting data privacy, and navigating change. For investors, Investor Day, organized by Kairi Loomet, offers a fresh twist with Investor Stories, where angel investors from EstBan and venture capitalists from EstVCA share their successes and failures. The day will culminate in a fun and engaging Jeopardy-style game instead of the traditional panel format, making learning and networking more dynamic.

sTARTUp Day 2025 is bringing over 20 exciting side events, ensuring there’s something for everyone, whether it’s making new connections, expanding your knowledge, or simply having fun. “Whether to find new acquaintances, improve knowledge, or have fun—we have it all,” shared Gertu Tambah, Side Events Lead. Highlights include the Tartu City Tour and Street Art Tour, perfect for exploring the city’s charm and creative spirit. For those looking to grow their network, the speed dating event offers an excellent chance to meet like-minded professionals. If it’s fun you’re after, Gertu recommends sTARTUp Night on the first evening, Karaoke Night during the second, and the lively Blinds, Beats & Business – sTARTUp Day Party! on the last evening. Additionally, some of the side events are organized by partners and friends, offering even more opportunities to dive into the vibrant sTARTUp Day experience. “Keep an eye on their events too—they’re definitely worth attending,” she added.

sTARTUp Night: A Rock-Themed Networking Party

“After a few years of reflection and deeper analysis, we’ve come to an understanding that networking parties should be all about networking. This is exactly what we’re going to do,” said Mart Lättekivi, the organizer of sTARTUp Night. “We’ll transform the parking lot of Delta Center into a Rock Cafe. The rock-themed party will include surprises every full hour, which will make this a night to remember. By including our awesome community, we’ll make a street of startups who will bring everything rock-related to get you hyped. There will be awesome music from the Rolling Stones to Linkin Park and plenty of time and room to make the most of the people there.”

sTARTUp Night, taking place on the evening of 30 January, promises to bring together a room full of rockstars. Guests are encouraged to find their leather boots, heavy band T-shirts, and—most importantly—eyeliner to truly embrace the vibe of the evening.

Don’t Miss Out!

With its powerful blend of storytelling, innovation, and collaboration, sTARTUp Day 2025 promises to inspire and energize the startup community. Whether you’re an early-stage founder, an investor, or a startup enthusiast, this event is a must-attend. Mark your calendars for 29-31 January and get ready to be part of something extraordinary! Check out the complete program here: https://www.startupday.ee/program/schedule