Despite being a young country only 30 years independent, Tallinn, Estonia is home to a young, tech-savvy population that seems to be building their country the right way. A former USSR state, Estonia boasts a highly effective government, a 99.89% literacy rate, generous family leave (140 days maternity leave + 400+ days thereafter to be shared among family members), ubiquitous mobile payment infrastructure, and widespread internet connectivity that seamlessly connects the entire population. We spent 1-month living and working (shout out to Palo Alto Club, a coworking space in Tallinn) in its capital city and cannot stop singing praises of our time there to everyone we know. So why aren’t more people flocking to Estonia to call the country home? Well… they sort of are!
Tallinn, Estonia Talent & Technology Strategy
The answer is in the details. Estonia has one of the most fledgling technology scenes in Europe. By design, you don’t have to be in Estonia to be a part of its technology scene. This young nation was one of the earliest countries to introduce a Digital Nomad visa, inviting talent from around the world into their borders to create a build. They created an e-residency program where anyone could start their company in Estonia without residing within its borders.
Estonia has opened up its business ecosystem to the world without requiring residence in the country. They benefit from becoming a talent magnet and a modest increase in tax revenues these new entrepreneurs and their creations bring in. The groundwork they’ve laid to support innovation and technology is sure to pay dividends for years to come.
Successful companies from Tallinn
Let’s just take a look at the evidence. Ever heard of Skype? Built-in Estonia. How about Bolt, one of Europe’s largest ridesharing and delivery businesses? Founded and operated in Estonia. Wise (formerly TransferWise), the world’s darling FinTech unicorn? Founded by Estonians. There’s something magical about this country’s talent, community, and technology ecosystem that has sparked unprecedented innovation. And in our short 30 days living and working in Tallinn, we got a taste of what the magic was all about.
Nestled just east of the historic Old Town of Tallinn lies Telliskivi, Estonia’s fabled creative city chock full of street art, tech companies, and hipster eateries. This little neighborhood has played a critical role in Estonia’s emergence as a technology powerhouse.
A short walk through the industrial streets of Telliskivi will bring you face to face with a clashing of two equally powerful forces: technology and creativity. On one side, you may find world-class street art depicting famous international pop-culture icons or scenes from Estonia’s tattered past. On the other, you’ll hear an autonomous delivery robot whizzing down the sidewalks with someone’s grocery order, perfectly packaged and temperature controlled. This unique mix of creative-artistry-meets-tech attracts thousands of talented people (both digital nomads and residents) to the neighborhood. The community here is the heartbeat of Telliskivi and, arguably, Estonia’s entire technology scene.
Tallinn’s Co-Working Crown Jewel: Palo Alto Club
Speaking of which, no place in Estonia embodies this sense of community like our favorite co-working space, Palo Alto Club. Unlike much of the world, Tallinners was eager to return to communal offices and workspaces as global lockdowns were lifted. Palo Alto Club has positioned itself as the co-working community of choice.
Started by a group of Estonian angel investors (who formed the group, Superangel), Palo Alto Club originally served as home to various Superangel portfolio companies. Inevitably, the trend grew. As the Estonian startup scene matured, Palo Alto Club became home to more than just portfolio companies. It became a meeting place for new founders, engineers, designers, marketers, artists, and tech enthusiasts alike.
To this day, the hallways and common spaces of Palo Alto Club are characterized by the remarkable works of local artists mixed with fast-paced conversation and the high-speed connectivity every modern startup demands. Though home primarily to local Estonian companies, you’ll find digital nomads from all corners of the world parked in the common areas conducting business virtually with teammates across time zones.
30 Days in the Palo Alto Club Community
Midori and I were fortunate enough to experience working at Palo Alto Club firsthand for the four weeks we were in Tallinn. On day one, we were offered a tour of the space and immediately felt at home. Local Tallinners introduced themselves to us throughout the day, some in passing and others over a cup of tea. Before we left for the evening, we had an entire list of sites to see and places to visit in Estonia, all courtesy of locals eager to tell us about their home. Not only did we feel welcome, we quickly integrated into the startup community in the building. In a word, we found community.
Our daily routine became coming into Palo Alto Club, a short 15-minute walk from our Airbnb at nearby Balti Jaama Turg, after working out and having breakfast at home. It became a staple to look forward to working alongside others who were building the next great Estonian startup or chipping away at their side hustles. Perhaps the most interesting part of working at Palo Alto club was to see people cycling in and out of the space throughout the day, some during working hours and others arriving after 6 pm (presumably, after their day job elsewhere) to get focused work done on their side projects in the evening. The energy was contagious, and it kept us fueled for a whole month in the otherwise cold Estonian winter.
Shoutout to the community manager, Kairi!
If we’re being honest, the sense of community at Palo Alto Club is owed to Kairi, the co-working space’s community manager and resident expert on all things Estonia. Having traveled a good bit herself, Kairi was a consummate host and one of the friendliest people in all of Estonia (not exaggerating!). It wasn’t uncommon to see her waving to every person that entered the co-working space, greeting each person by name. Needless to say, everyone there knows who Kairi is, too.
Kairi takes the lead in organizing community events, curating the space, and making sure everyone feels as welcome as we did. In case we haven’t said enough, we’ll take this post to give Kairi our heartfelt ‘thank you’ for making our time in Estonia and in Palo Alto Club such a treat.
Final thoughts on Estonia, technology in Tallinn, and Co-working at Palo Alto Club
Our time in Estonia was an experience we’ll not soon forget. This country is magical, its people are beyond intelligent, and Tallinn is just plain underrated. There are only a few places we’ve ever been where technology and creativity blend seamlessly into the fabric of the local business. And even on that short list, Tallinn takes the cake. If this is a scene that piques your interest, we cannot recommend Telliskivi, the creative hub of Tallinn, enough. Experience it fully through a coworking space as well-run as Palo Alto Club and you just might find yourself considering Tallinn a long-term home on your own nomadic journey!
Have you ever been to Tallinn or another European city that embodies technology and creativity at its best? Interested in coworking in Tallinn? Drop us a comment below to let us know!
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