How to get equity-free funding?

In 2012, Swedbank, Tallinn Technical University and Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol founded Prototron fund to support business ideas that could conquer the World. We are the first fund (and still the only one with a track record) in Estonia granting equity free funding to startups so they could build their first working prototype to test on customers. We give our alumni the money, PR support, corporate marketing channels and 12 months of incubation in Tehnopol Startup Incubator to prepare the startups for market entry and investment readiness.

We boost business ideas

Since 2012, we have: ●  Gathered 1000+ ideas ●  Had 9 rounds of funding ●  Given out 250 000+ EUR to 22 teams ●  Got 9 new products to market ●  Teams generated revenue of 1 000 000+ EUR 100% success rate - all funded startups are strongly growing. Over 3 000 000+ EUR follow-on funding from angels, VC-s and top accelerators such as Techstars, Seedcamp, Startup Bootcamp, etc.

We’ve already shown great results

We focus on

* In ICT, we fund projects having complex algorithms or well protectable intellectual property. However, any excellent team can apply with any idea.

ICT*

Electronics Mechatronics

Greentech

Every year we have two application deadlines: 15 March and 15 October every year. Apply now: www.prototron.ee Increase your chances of winning: ●  Using our onepager template:

http://www.slideshare.net/siiml/prototroni-taotlusvorm ●  Submit your idea earlier – get free feedback

No company registration needed before applying. Once we decide to fund you, we’ll help with legal part of establishing the company. Non-Estonians are welcome to apply, but we only fund Estonian companies owning the intellectual property rights for the idea.

How to apply

●  Idea’s technological novelty ●  Team’s strong competence ●  Prototype’s market capability ●  International growth ambition ●  Thoughtful business concept

Funding criterion

Additional points given for detailed prototype description, building timeline, budget, sketches/drafts.

100-200 applications gathered via prototron.ee

10-15 experts rating and writing feedback to all

20 top teams get mentoring for investor readiness

9-10 teams pitching to Expert Committee

7+7min

Expert Committee decides funding

2-4 startups

Selection process for every round

Proven expert committee behind successful funding choices

Jaanus Tamm, Defendec

Yrjö Ojasaar, Solon Partners

Andrus Oks, SmartCap

Priit Alamäe, Nortal

Jaak Raie, Tehnopol

Robert Kitt, Swedbank

Madis Raukas, TTÜ

Margus Uudam, EstVCA

Giving out grants at

Media Event

• Contracts with Prototron and Startup Incubator

• Prototron helps with IP, SHA and other legal docs

• Grant payment (full or partial)

6-12 months incubation at

Startup Incubator

• Business model validation for target markets

• 1:1 coaching •  IP, legal and UX

advice • Sales, marketing

and PR advice • Startup Academy • Help for raising

angel/VC capital and referring to accelerators

• Meeting spaces • Events, expert

panels, training, business missions

•  Investor readiness • Media

communications

Progress report to expert

committee

• New competences?

• Product development?

• Client feedback? • Business model? • Lessons learned? • Next steps?

Alumni incubation in

Tehnopol

• Additional incubation in Tehnopol • Product

development • Raising capital

(accelerators and investors)

• Expansion • Alumni club events • Media

communications

We help to grow funded businesses

Win-win with Estonian ecosystem

Some of our success stories

11 640 EUR

World’s smallest portable weather station

2012

11 242 EUR

Sea monitoring buoys (0.5M revenue)

2013 9 900 EUR

Language learning platform

(raised 1M EUR)

2013

3 100 EUR

Cloud based queue management

2012 9 560 EUR

Encrypted 3D Printing

Platform

2012

10 534 EUR

Battery pack and control system for

light electric vehicles

2012

7 000 EUR

The Platform For The Internet Of (Connected Car)

Things

2013