“Bee vs. Elephant”: Estonia’s Agile Strategy Headlines Latitude59

Editor’s Note: ComplexDiscovery was honored to be invited to and attend the opening press conference and media dinner for Latitude59 2025 in Tallinn, Estonia. The event offered a unique and timely window into how Estonia—a country known for its digital innovation—is aligning its national security posture with entrepreneurial agility. With remarks from senior government leaders, defense officials, and startup ecosystem builders, the press conference underscored the critical role that emerging technologies and early-stage companies are playing in shaping Europe’s future. For professionals in cybersecurity, information governance, and eDiscovery, Estonia’s message is clear: resilience and innovation are no longer separate conversations—they are one and the same.

Industry News – Technology Beat

“Bee vs. Elephant”: Estonia’s Agile Strategy Headlines Latitude59

ComplexDiscovery Staff

In a city where cobblestone streets meet cutting-edge code, Estonia opened Latitude59 2025 with a message that landed as sharply as a drone’s precision strike: a small nation doesn’t need size to lead—it needs speed, courage, and strategy.

“We want to be the bee that can paralyze the elephant,” declared Hanno Pevkur, Estonia’s Minister of Defence, as he opened the evening press conference. The metaphor encapsulated the nation’s bold vision of sovereignty through smart tech, laying the groundwork for an event that has become more than a startup summit—it’s now a geopolitical barometer.

Held at Fotografiska Tallinn on Wednesday, May 21, the official press event drew a diverse crowd of international journalists, investors, and policy insiders. It served as both a prelude to the main conference and a forum for state-level declarations on innovation, defense readiness, and Estonia’s role in a shifting global landscape.

Smart Defense, Sovereign Future

Minister Pevkur didn’t shy away from the realities of Estonia’s geographic vulnerability. With Russia next door and global alliances in flux, the small Baltic state is doubling down on preparedness—not with muscle, but with minds.

Estonia plans to invest 5.4% of its GDP into defense next year, a move that will position it at the forefront of NATO’s internal capability-building efforts. “Where others invest two percent, we go beyond five. Why? Because Ukraine has taught us that speed and smart solutions decide outcomes,” Pevkur said.

A centerpiece of that strategy is the formation of a new Future Tech Command, tasked with integrating frontier technologies—AI, drones, cyber defense—into military applications. Estonia is also launching a €100 million risk fund to accelerate defense tech innovation and supporting early procurement pathways for startups, a rarity in most European defense frameworks.

“Innovation doesn’t wait,” Pevkur warned. “Neither can we.”

The Startup State

That call to action resonates in a country often dubbed “the startup state.” Joonas Vänto, Director of Invest Estonia, explained how the country’s tech ecosystem—spanning defense, software, and deep tech—has matured at breakneck speed.

“In just four years, turnover in the Estonian defense sector has quadrupled,” Vänto noted. The government’s current goal is to reach €2 billion in sectoral revenue by 2030, bolstered by active export support and investment promotion.

Programs such as a 15% CapEx reimbursement for large-scale projects have already attracted global players. “From drone factories to ammunition plants, we’re seeing interest from companies across Europe and Asia,” he said.

But Vänto stressed that Estonia’s real strength lies in its mindset. “Because our domestic market is small, every startup is born global,” he said. “We’re not just reacting to trends. We’re building ecosystems that scale beyond borders.”

A Conference with Conscience

For Liisi Org, CEO of Latitude59, the event is more than a platform—it’s a civic act. “Defense isn’t just a topic this year,” she said. “It’s a signal. Europe’s innovation ecosystems are waking up to the fact that values need to be defended—not only with words, but with action.”

Moderating the evening’s discussions was Tom Nugent, managing editor at Sifted.eu, a Financial Times-backed publication known for its deep coverage of European tech and venture ecosystems. With pointed questions and a clear grasp of the geopolitical and innovation landscape, Nugent guided the conversation through complex terrain, ranging from ethics in defense tech to procurement bottlenecks and investor responsibility.

Latitude59 now draws over 3,000 attendees from 70 countries, and 100+ venture funds, including heavyweights like Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia. But despite the growth, Org emphasized that the event remains committed to uncomfortable but necessary conversations.

This year, Latitude59 introduced debates on whether VC funding should support defense tech at all—a question that cuts deep in pacifist-leaning Europe. “We have to ask hard questions. We can’t just build for the sake of building,” she said. “But ignoring these topics doesn’t make them disappear. It just delays our response.”

A Global Audience, A Local Model

The international press corps posed questions that reflected the gravity of the moment. An Indian journalist asked about Estonia’s approach to a potentially isolationist U.S. under a future Trump presidency. Pevkur answered with clarity: “We focus on what we can control. Estonia will always advocate for NATO, but we also prepare to stand strong independently.”

Journalists from Argentina and India also asked about peace negotiations and Estonia’s evolving relationship with defense-sector investors from South Asia. “We are open to cooperation,” Pevkur responded. “But let’s be clear—Russia must first be held accountable.”

This blend of directness and diplomacy reflects a uniquely Estonian tone: pragmatic, principled, and digitally fluent. As Vänto pointed out, Estonia ranks among the top in press freedom, tax transparency, and digital governance.

“When companies look for a place to build, they’re not just looking for funding,” he said. “They’re looking for trust.”

Investors as Allies

As the conversation turned toward capital, both Vänto and Org pointed to the evolving relationship between startups and the military-industrial complex. With a growing cohort of defense tech VCs and dual-use tech accelerators—including NATO DIANA—Estonia is positioning itself as a neutral but innovation-forward hub.

“We’re seeing a shift,” Org said. “Even three years ago, some investors wouldn’t touch defense tech. Now, they’re asking how they can get in responsibly.”

Startups, for their part, are increasingly strategic. “There’s less fluff and more functionality,” Org noted. “They’re building things that matter—whether it’s battlefield logistics or encrypted communications.”

It’s not just about being the bee. It’s about choosing where to sting.

In Tallinn, that sting is aimed squarely at complacency. Estonia’s leaders aren’t waiting for the next crisis to act. Through Latitude59, they’ve created a space where founders, policymakers, and investors can wrestle with uncomfortable truths—and still leave inspired.

As the press conference transitioned into an off-the-record dinner, the tone shifted from policy to partnerships. The message, however, remained unchanged: Estonia is open for business—but on its own terms, with its own code.

News Sources

• ComplexDiscovery Staff. (2025, May 21). Notes from sessions attended during the “Press Conference and Media Dinner” event at Latitude59, Tallinn, Estonia. Unpublished observations.
• Latitude59: May 21-23, 2025 (Latitude59)

Assisted by GAI and LLM Technologies

Additional Reading

• Strategic Innovation and Ukraine’s Tech Frontline at Latitude59 and Dublin Tech Summit
• A Convergence of Purpose: The Ocean Cleanup’s Boyan Slat and Bolt’s Markus Villig Headline Latitude59 Fireside Chat
• Beyond Borders: How Legal Strategy Shapes the Success Trajectory of Tech Startups
• Baltic Startup Scene Gains Boost with Unified Pitch Competition Investment

Source: ComplexDiscovery OÜ