Estonia

What investors look for in AI startups in 2026

September 15, 2026

On 7 September, Tehnopol hosted a pre-application event for the AI Accelerator, bringing together early-stage AI startup teams, solution developers and mentors. The event gave participants a practical overview of the accelerator and application process, while PocoBit founder Paul Sokk shared his experience of building the company and taking part in the programme. The main keynote was delivered by Anders Nygren, Founding Partner at Foundry Ventures.

In addition to the talks, selected teams also took part in individual 1:1 mentoring sessions with AI experts, receiving feedback on their solutions, product direction and next steps.

Investors are paying more attention to speed and adaptability

One of Anders Nygren’s key messages was that the AI landscape is moving extremely fast, and startups need to move just as quickly. Speed matters across the whole company, from finding the right people and reaching pilot projects to winning customers and shipping new product developments.

AI is evolving so rapidly that a product roadmap, value proposition or technical approach that makes sense today may need to change within a matter of months. Investors are therefore looking not only at how strong a company’s current product is, but also at how quickly the team can learn, adapt and challenge its own assumptions.

According to Nygren, traditional competitive advantages such as unique technology, intellectual property or access to proprietary data may no longer provide the same level of protection as they once did. This makes the team increasingly important, particularly its ability to learn quickly, stay curious and adapt as the market changes.

It is equally important to understand clearly who actually uses the product and who pays for it. Nygren pointed out that, in some cases, the user may increasingly be an AI agent rather than a person. This changes how companies need to think about product design and go-to-market, including the user interface, pricing, sales model and technical architecture.

Another important factor is how quickly a company can learn from its customers. Early customers provide information and data that can be used to improve the product. A better product helps attract more customers, whose usage and feedback can then guide the next round of development. The point is not simply to build faster, but to build what customers actually need.

Investors also look at the size of the problem being solved. A highly specialised niche solution may work well today, but rapid advances in AI could turn it into a feature within a broader platform tomorrow. Startups therefore need to demonstrate that the problem they are solving is significant enough and that the market opportunity is large enough.

Applications for the AI Accelerator are open

The Tehnopol AI Accelerator helps early-stage AI startups develop the same capabilities Nygren highlighted in his keynote: speed, adaptability, customer understanding and the ability to develop both the product and business model quickly.

During the six-month programme, teams work with experienced mentors and experts to strengthen their product, go-to-market strategy and investor readiness.

Participation is free, and up to three teams can receive a €10,000 development grant. Applications for the new Tehnopol AI Accelerator cohort are open until 25 September.