Startup Wise Guys
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersTallinn, Estonia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Startup Wise Guys firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Startup Wise Guys
- Legal name
- Wise Guys Holding OÜ
- Website
- https://startupwiseguys.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Startup Wise Guys industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital and Startup Accelerator Services
- NAICS
- Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)
Keywords
Where Startup Wise Guys is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tallinn
- HQ country
- Estonia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
Startup Wise Guys business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Accelerator Program Management: Manages accelerator programs providing investment and mentorship to early-stage B2B startups. Revenue generated through management of funds and carried interest from portfolio exits.
- Portfolio Returns: Returns generated from successful portfolio companies through exits and follow-on investments. Has achieved 20+ exits including VitalFields (acquired by Climate Corporation), StepShot (acquired by UiPath), and VOCHI (acquired by Pinterest).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Building Programs - Pre-accelerator stage |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Growing Programs - Flagship Accelerator |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Scaling Programs - Scaleups |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Startup Wise Guys product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Startup Wise Guys is a venture capital and accelerator fund that runs structured programs for early-stage B2B startup founders, providing investment tickets up to €100K (with potential follow-on), intensive mentorship, and access to a network of 550+ mentors and investors. Programs are organized across Building (pre-accelerator), Growing (flagship acceleration), and Scaling stages, with vertical-focused tracks in Cybersecurity, Defence and Security, Fintech, SaaS, Proptech, Sustainability, and Web3. Revenue is generated through management of LP-backed investment funds and returns from portfolio company exits.
Product overview
Startup Wise Guys operates as a global B2B accelerator and VC fund offering structured programs across different startup stages. The core offering consists of the Flagship Accelerator (up to €100K convertible investment), The Founders Club (team formation and early validation program with up to €100K committed investment), and the Pre-accelerator Program (foundational training). These are complemented by vertical-focused programs in Cybersecurity, Defence and Security, Fintech, SaaS, Proptech, Sustainability, and Web3, as well as region-specific programs like SaaS Bilbao, Web3 (Portugal), CyberNorth, and the Western Balkans Accelerator. Programs provide initial investment tickets ranging from €50K to €100K with potential follow-on investments, alongside access to a network of 750+ founders and 550+ mentors and investors. The organization has facilitated over 20 exits since its founding in Estonia in 2012.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Flagship Accelerator Flagship 3-month intensive acceleration program offering up to €100K convertible investment (€70K cash + €30K program value) with potential €100K follow-on, access to 750+ founders and 550+ mentors, focused on B2B SaaS startups.
- The Founders Club An 8-week online program designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs form teams, refine ideas, develop MVPs, and secure first funding, with SWG committed to investing up to €100K as the first investor if startup ideas progress.
- Pre-accelerator Program Training ground for early-stage startup founders covering company building, sales, fundraising, product development, and legal basics, helping turn ideas into investable businesses.
- SaaS Bilbao B2B SaaS acceleration program based in Bilbao, Spain, offering up to €100K convertible investment with potential €100K follow-on and access to the BAT B Accelerator Tower.
- Web3 Program A 4-month Web3 acceleration program run in collaboration with 3 Comma Capital in Lisbon, Portugal, covering blockchain technology applications in agribusiness, sports entertainment, digital legacy, cybersecurity, and brand marketing.
- CyberNorth Cybersecurity-focused acceleration program run in collaboration with EIT Digital, supporting early-stage cybersecurity startups with mentorship and investment.
- Vertical-Focused Programs Tailored acceleration programs focused on specific verticals including Cybersecurity, Defence and Security, Fintech, SaaS, Proptech, Sustainability, and Web3, providing specialized support and expertise for each sector.
- Western Balkans Accelerator Regional acceleration program targeting innovative startups in the Western Balkans with regional growth potential, managed by consortium of Startup Wise Guys, Cowork Timișoara, Growceanu, and Iceberg Plus.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20+ successful exits including VitalFields (Climate Corporation), StepShot (UiPath), VOCHI (Pinterest)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Startup Wise Guys
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Startup Wise Guys technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Startup Wise Guys partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.
- Vest VenturesmajorConsortium managed by Startup Wise Guys for western Romania's first VC investment fund with EUR 16.6 million budget co-financed by European funds through West Regional Development Agency.
- Cowork TimișoaraminorPart of consortium managing Vest Ventures acceleration program in western Romania.
- GrowceanuminorPart of consortium managing Vest Ventures acceleration program in western Romania.
- Iceberg PlusminorPart of consortium managing Vest Ventures acceleration program in western Romania.
- ParsonsmajorEngaged by Parsons to develop construction technology solutions in Saudi Arabia.
- Andalusian GovernmentmajorPartnership to create sustainable agro-tech hub in Almería, Spain.
- 3 Comma CapitalcoreCollaboration on inaugural Web3 acceleration program in Portugal. Partners serve as Entrepreneurs in Residence bringing expertise and network of mentors and investors.
- Beaz BizkaiamajorPartnership for SaaS Bilbao acceleration program hosted at the BAT B Accelerator Tower.
- BAT B Accelerator TowerminorHost venue for SaaS Bilbao acceleration program in Spain.
- Poolside LisbonminorHost venue for Web3 acceleration program kickoff in Portugal.
- SwedbankcoreStrategic partnership for Wise Guys Fintech accelerator program. Provides office locations, international mentors, and potential pilot projects for best-fit startups from the accelerator.
- OP Lab (OPBank)coreStrategic partnership providing international mentors and potential pilot projects for fintech startups in the accelerator program.
- Google Developers LaunchpadmajorPartnership providing startups with Google Cloud and Firebase credits, product-related help and mentoring for accelerator participants.
- SorainenmajorLaw firm providing free-of-charge initial support in fintech licensing and regulatory guidance for accelerator startups.
- EIT DigitalcoreLong-term partnership for venture programs supporting early-stage tech founders. Co-published the Baltic Startup Scene Report. EIT Digital provides 5K EUR cash with follow-on investments possible totaling 20K EUR based on progress.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Startup Wise Guys competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Techstars: Global accelerator network running thematic programs worldwide. Direct competitor to Startup Wise Guys in the early-stage B2B accelerator space, with comparable investment tickets and mentor-driven models.
- Y Combinator: World's largest startup accelerator. Competes with Startup Wise Guys for top early-stage founders globally; YC's standard deal is significantly larger and its brand carries more weight with US investors.
- Antler: Global early-stage VC and accelerator with strong presence in Europe, Southeast Asia, and emerging markets. Direct competitor for pre-seed and seed B2B founders across multiple geographies.
- Seedcamp: European early-stage VC firm investing across the continent. Closely comparable model focused on European B2B founders with similar ticket sizes and network-driven support.
- 500 Global (500 Startups): Global accelerator and VC firm running programs in multiple emerging markets. Comparable international footprint and accelerator-plus-fund model to Startup Wise Guys.
- Speedinvest: European early-stage VC with sector-focused funds including fintech, deep tech, and SaaS. Direct peer for B2B early-stage investments across Europe with similar vertical specialization.
- Plug and Play: Global innovation platform and accelerator connecting startups with corporate partners. Comparable accelerator-plus-corporate-partnership model and similar vertical-specific programs.
Others
- EIT Digital: European digital innovation partner and accelerator. Closely related as both a co-program operator (e.g., CyberNorth) and strategic partner of Startup Wise Guys in European tech ecosystems.
Broad incumbents
- Atomico: Pan-European late-stage VC firm. Operates broadly in the same European tech ecosystem with much larger AUM and later-stage focus, occasionally co-investing alongside SWG.
Regional players
- Hetz Ventures: Israeli early-stage B2B SaaS VC. Comparable regional early-stage B2B focus, serving as an alternative for CEE-adjacent founders targeting global markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Startup Wise Guys social profiles
Digital presenceStartup Wise Guys financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Startup Wise Guys leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Startup Wise Guys funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Startup Wise Guys M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments665 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Startup Wise Guys
What does Startup Wise Guys do?
Startup Wise Guys is a venture capital and accelerator fund that runs structured programs for early-stage B2B startup founders, providing investment tickets up to €100K (with potential follow-on), intensive mentorship, and access to a network of 550+ mentors and investors. Programs are organized across Building (pre-accelerator), Growing (flagship acceleration), and Scaling stages, with vertical-focused tracks in Cybersecurity, Defence and Security, Fintech, SaaS, Proptech, Sustainability, and Web3. Revenue is generated through management of LP-backed investment funds and returns from portfolio company exits.
Is Startup Wise Guys a public or private company?
Startup Wise Guys is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Startup Wise Guys founded?
Startup Wise Guys was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Startup Wise Guys based?
Startup Wise Guys is headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia, in the Europe region.
How does Startup Wise Guys make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Accelerator Program Management is the primary driver. The others are portfolio Returns.
Who are Startup Wise Guys's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Techstars, Y Combinator, Antler, Seedcamp, 500 Global (500 Startups), Speedinvest and Plug and Play. EIT Digital is listed as an others. Atomico is listed as a broad incumbent. Hetz Ventures is listed as a regional player.
Does Startup Wise Guys have an API?
No public API is recorded for Startup Wise Guys.
What industry is Startup Wise Guys in?
Startup Wise Guys's product category is Venture Capital and Startup Accelerator Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated), with a secondary code of FSANAAAB, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B). Its NAICS code is 525 and its SIC code is 6282.