In the Prototron Spring Batch 2026, two early-stage technology startups received funding, sharing a total of €35,000 to develop their first working prototypes. The winners were announced at the finals held during Latitude59, where seven strong technology ideas competed for the funding.
The funding was awarded to Öseen (€20,000), which upcycles brewing waste into a functional high-protein and high-fibre flour using mycelium, and Proctera (€15,000), which is developing procurement software for manufacturing companies, covering the entire process from engineering to suppliers.
Prototron CEO Maret Kivirand noted that this round highlighted how early-stage technology teams are increasingly focused on solving very specific problems. “Prototron’s role is to help teams take one of the most difficult steps – moving from an idea to a first working prototype. It is at this stage that it becomes clear whether a technological solution can hold up in a real-world environment, whether the problem is sufficiently acute, and whether the team has the potential to move forward to the next stage of development. This round’s finalists stood out with strong preparation, a clear understanding of the problem, and a willingness to test their solutions quickly,” said Kivirand.
In addition to the funded teams, the finalists included:
- Intentum AI – developing the first sales tool designed to disappear.
- Takara Medical – accelerating biomaterial innovation in regenerative medicine.
- Post-Walk Dog Wash Station – developing a post-walk dog wash station to help owners keep their homes cleaner.
- Triangel.AI – a deal-to-delivery intelligence platform connecting sales promises, contracts, and actual delivery.
- Glurry – developing a next-generation diabetes care platform.
According to Caroline Rute, Head of Technology Transfer Office at TalTech, Prototron provides a strong opportunity to move technology ideas from the lab and development phase to first working solutions. “TalTech currently has 14 technologies in its portfolio looking for co-founders, and programmes like Prototron help them reach the next stage faster. It’s great to see more and more teams eager to test and bring new technologies to market. If you’re looking to launch something new, this ecosystem is definitely worth keeping an eye on,” Rute added.
Astrid Maldre, Head of the Small Business and Start-Up Segment at Swedbank, said it is encouraging to see that ambitious, high-growth ideas continue to emerge among Estonian startups. “This year’s Prototron winners, Öseen and Proctera, demonstrate the wide range of problems Estonian entrepreneurs are tackling and the strong innovation capability of local teams. Swedbank is proud to support initiatives that help such ideas reach the prototype stage and grow into future success stories,” Maldre said.
According to Anne-Liisa Elbrecht, Head of Tehnopol Accelerator, Prototron helps teams move from a very early idea stage to their first practical development step. “The value of Prototron lies in giving technology ideas the opportunity to reach the prototype stage – the moment when ideas can truly start to be built, tested, and developed further. For Tehnopol, this is a critical link, as a strong first prototype lays the foundation for future growth,” Elbrecht noted.
Prototron fund was established by Swedbank, TalTech, and Tehnopol to support the development of technology prototypes. Over more than thirteen years, Prototron has supported over one hundred teams, helping them move from initial ideas to market readiness.
