New scale-up program: Startups unlocking new international markets through their own AI applications

A new scale-up program is launching in April 2025 that will run for three years, for a group of high potential startups aiming to unlock new international markets. This program is designed to help startups in the Central Baltic region scale their businesses through the use of AI applications, enabling them to expand into their first or next EU market. 45 companies will be helped during the course of the project period. This joint initiative by Tehnopol (Estonia), Movexum (Sweden), AI Sweden (Sweden) and Yrityssalo (Finland) offers hands-on support modules to develop AI skills and efficiently grow businesses.

The GSAI program addresses a critical market gap by supporting innovative startups at a crucial stage of their development, helping them maximize their growth potential. This program provides startups with the insight, tools, and expertise to address their international growth challenges by leveraging the potential of AI.

– “In today’s environment and moving forward, it will not be possible for most start-ups to compete and grow internationally without harnessing the potential of AI to improve their product and business model. This Interreg Central Baltic project allows us to bring together world-leading expert knowledge from various areas, such as AI, scaling, team productivity, and more, from Sweden, Finland, and Estonia”, says Jini Nälsén, Project Manager at Movexum.

– “AI Sweden is thrilled to partner on this project and collaborate with our Nordic and Baltic colleagues. We are especially keen to support the participating scaleups in leveraging AI to accelerate their growth and enhance efficiency”, says Ebba Josefson Lindqvist, International Relations Manager at AI Sweden.

– “Estonia has a proven track record in developing technology-based startups. In today’s AI-driven world, participation in this project offers our companies a valuable opportunity to validate how to effectively integrate AI into their business and scale internationally. We’re excited to join forces with experienced project partners and work together to create meaningful impact”, says Anne-Liisa Elbrecht Head of Tehnopol Startup Incubator at Tehnopol.

– “Yrityssalo, a development company located in Southern Finland, is excited about the collaboration opportunities this project brings with new partners. Through this initiative, we aim to support startups from Southern Finland in their growth journey and help them scale their businesses successfully”, says Maija Pirvola, Business Development Manager at Yrityssalo.

The program offer – get ready to visit your new market!

GSAI is a scaleup program designed to expand or improve startups’ value proposition or business models using AI applications. Over a 10-month period, 15 startups will have the opportunity to develop and innovate through workshops in Gävle, Stockholm (Sweden), Salo (Finland), and Tallinn (Estonia), the program includes:

• Basic AI Skills (open online workshop): A basic introduction to AI, where you define your AI challenge.

• Sprint 1 – Scaling Launchpad: “The art and science of scaling”, where startups identify challenges and barriers to their own scalability and identify opportunities to use AI to address these in their first or next international market.
• Sprint 2 – AI Studio: Focus on AI opportunity mapping to match the AI tool to the business problem. The workshop gives a deeper understanding of data availability and risk assessment. This is the start of the AI application plan.
• Sprint 3 – Growth Essentials: Delve into growth hacking techniques to optimize marketing efforts, enhance team productivity to streamline operations, and develop effective sales strategies for market entry. An opportunity to go on a market discovery mission to your target market begins after the sprint.
• Sprint 4 – Growth Convergence: Soon you’ll be ready! Consolidate the results of AI development. Set your scale-up plan, and pitch to investors.

The program will cover the travel expenses for company representatives. The workshops offer practical support modules designed to develop the key skills necessary for scaling a business. This includes adopting a growth mindset, understanding relevant processes, learning strategies for entering international markets, planning for future investment rounds, gathering data, conducting market analysis, and much more.

From Tehnopol, the project is led by Kristiina Libe, kristiina.libe@tehnopol.ee.