Bolt has announced the winners of the first Estonian edition of its Accelerator Programme, following the finals held at the company’s HQ in Tallinn.

The Bolt Accelerator Programme allows drivers and couriers to transform their ideas into businesses. Through training, mentorship, and resources, participants refine their concepts into practical ventures, with the opportunity to secure seed funding to bring them to life.

“The goal of the Bolt Accelerator Programme is to give drivers and couriers operating on our platform the opportunity to bring their ideas to life,” said Ardo Reinsalu, jury member and Bolt’s Director of Vehicles. “We saw many strong business ideas that just needed the final push. The winners stood out with a clear problem definition and a realistic plan to execute their idea. We hope the next Estonian success story is among them.”

Laady — smart charging for electric vehicles

Among the winners was Raivo Raestik, who is developing Laady, a smart charging solution for electric vehicles. The system automatically charges at the cheapest hours, tracks energy usage, and doubles as a portable charger for travel. The innovation reflects Bolt’s own commitment to accelerating the transition to shared, sustainable mobility.

Other winners included Ilona Mihkelsoo, creator of Victoria Schmidt, a lingerie brand focused on underserved body types, and Andres Nõmme and Kristi Kartus, co-founders of PilatesBabe, an Estonian brand that produces durable, high-quality Pilates socks.

Jury member and CEO of the Estonian Business Angels Network (EstBAN), Karin Künnapas, added: “This programme shows that there are great people and exciting ideas across many different fields, if only they're given the opportunity and support system. Initiatives like this strengthen Estonia’s start-up ecosystem and bring new people with diverse backgrounds and experiences into entrepreneurship.”

About the Accelerator Programme

The Accelerator Programme is part of Bolt’s wider commitment to empowering local communities. The Estonian initiative was run in partnership with Civitta, a leading advisory group with extensive experience supporting early-stage entrepreneurs.

Launched in Africa in 2023, the programme has already expanded across Europe and South America. So far, it’s supported more than 500 entrepreneurs and delivered over 20,000 hours of skills training and mentoring.

The initiative has awarded just under €100,000 in funding, helping more than 40 early-stage businesses take off in fields ranging from logistics and charging solutions to tourism apps and fleet management.

With Estonia’s first edition now complete and programmes underway in Paraguay and Azerbaijan, Bolt is poised to make the initiative even more impactful next year.

Bolt Accelerator Programme fuels new business ideas

Recent posts

Bolt and Stellantis to scale autonomous vehicles in Europe