Digital Society

Apply to the CDL program

For seed-stage startup founders pursuing commercial opportunities with innovations related to digital resilience, data and AI, cybersecurity, national security, and dual-use technologies.

The Digital Society stream at CDL-Estonia brings together experienced founders and world-leading experts across private- and public sectors, with decades of experience in innovation, security, and global expansion to help scale high-impact innovations for digital and physical resilience, data and AI, cyber- and national security. Leveraging the agility of the Estonian and the Nordic ecosystem, and our global mentors – we make sure the most impactful technologies get to their next milestones fast and without costly errors.

CDL startups work with mentors to sharpen objectives, prioritise time and resources, raise capital, and engage with experts working on the frontiers of technology and business.

The startups attend four objective-setting sessions between October and May. As CDL is a non-profit organization, there are no fees for participation, and CDL does not take any equity. Learn more about the CDL program.

Who Should Apply?

The Digital Society stream is particularly suited for ventures working in the fields of digital and physical resilience, data and AI, cybersecurity, national security, and dual-use technologies. This stream is tailored towards seed-stage companies with massive global growth potential, however startups at all levels of maturity will be considered.

Example areas of innovation include, but are not limited to:

  • Identity & Verification
  • Cybersecurity & Encryption
  • Data & Predictive Analytics
  • Energy and Data Sovereignty
  • Dual-Use Technologies
  • Communications, Surveillance, Intelligence
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Biosecurity & Dual-Use Health
  • Cognitive Public Protection
  • e-Governance solutions

Contact

Artur Kamberg, Stream Lead of CDL-Estonia
cdl-estonia@creativedestructionlab.com
Delta Management School, University of Tartu

Our Mentors

CDL-Estonia mentors are founders, operators and investors of global tech startups, and experts in national security, dual-use, cybersecurity, e-governance, policy, and deep tech. Mentors meet every eight weeks over the program’s eight-month duration to help founders set objectives, suggest improvements, evaluate their technologies, and explore formal advising.

Andrew Thompson's headshot with a hot pink filter.
Sten Tamkivi CDL headshot
William (Bill) Schnoor's headshot with a hot pink filter.
Rainer Sternfe's headshot with a hot pink filter.

Apply to the CDL program

For more information or to schedule an introduction meeting with the CDL team, email cdl-estonia@creativedestructionlab.com. 

CDL-Estonia

Tartu

“In contemporary history, more than 90% of resources (time, attention, funds) are spent mitigating a crisis once it’s underway. CDL is focusing on both mitigation and prevention. If prevention is successful, there is less of a need for mitigation.”

John Rendon

Senior Counselor to the Global National Security Environment

“CDL-Estonia facilitates an important effort to rapidly improve security innovation collaboration between the Baltic and Nordic ecosystems, and to accelerate security solutions that can outpace emerging threats.”

Scott Tait

retired US Navy Officer, Director of Strategic Initiatives at National Security Innovation Catalyst UCSD

“The future of freedom will be down to the choices we make to innovate and collaborate. CDL-Estonia brings together creators and environments to deliver the technology we need to keep us a step ahead.”

Tom Tugendhat

MP at UK Parliament, previously Minister for Security

Applications are now open!

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