e-Residency

Today marks 10 years of e-Residency. ???? Join us as we celebrate 10 years of e-Residency with a special message from Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of Estonia in 2006-2016 and a visionary in the digital age. In this exclusive video, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves reflects on the groundbreaking journey of e-Residency as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. From its inception as a once "crazy idea" to becoming a global model of digital governance, President Ilves shares his insights into how Estonia’s innovative thinking revolutionised the way countries serve citizens and entrepreneurs worldwide. Discover why Estonia is known as "where digital is native," how e-Residency empowers global entrepreneurs with unmatched digital tools, and why President Ilves believes Estonia’s digital safeguards ensure greater privacy than the paper world ever could. As President Ilves reflects on this collaborative journey of e-Residency, he highlights the role of e-residents as part of Estonia’s global community, inviting more to join and share their ideas. Watch to be inspired by his call to "think creatively" and see why e-Residency remains one of the most positive developments of the past decade. Celebrate this milestone with us and our vibrant community of 119,000+ e-residents. Thank you for choosing #eResidency and e-Estonia – happy 10th anniversary! ??????

?? The e-Residency Marketplace isn’t just services – it’s built by entrepreneurs like you! When Daniel Gunba moved to Estonia, he saw an opportunity: the startup ecosystem was thriving, but founders lacked an easy way to connect, share ideas, and find mentorship. His solution? To build a community of his own – the Estonian Startup Community, now one of the largest startup communities in the Baltics and a member of the e-Residency Marketplace. ? In our first Marketplace Q&A, you can read about Daniel's company's journey, challenges, and insights, answering: ?? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ??????????????, ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??-?????????????????? ??????????????????????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ????????, ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ????????? ?? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ??????? ?? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????????????????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ???????????????????? ????????????????? The e-Residency Marketplace is home to service providers and entrepreneurs who have built their own businesses, faced challenges, and learned valuable lessons along the way. Through this new Marketplace Q&A series, we’re sharing their stories so that other founders can learn, get inspired, and find the right support for their own business journey. Which part of Daniel’s journey resonated with you most? Let us know in the comments – and share your own story too ??

"Baltic" might mean ???????????????? ???????? in Scottish slang, but the conversations at our Baltic Nights Mixer last week with Foras Ventures were anything but. On 19 March, we brought Estonia’s digital-first mindset to Glasgow for a night of shared stories, fresh insights, and new connections between our two startup ecosystems. From Latitude59 shoutouts to lessons on navigating the EU market, here’s what made the night memorable: ?? Estonian Honorary Consul and serial founder Peter Ferry opened with a warm welcome and a powerful reminder: Estonia’s innovation and access to the EU are serious assets for Scottish startups. ?? Our Head of Business Development, ülane Vilumets, shared how e-Residency makes it possible for founders to scale into the EU –?100% online, from anywhere. ?? A thought-provoking panel followed, featuring: – James Varga, fintech founder and e-resident, on the power of global collaboration – Joan Kangro, founder of Kingdom Technologies, who raised ￡3M+ while bridging both ecosystems – And ülane, bringing both founder experience and e-Residency insights to the table ?? Big takeaway? Ecosystem size doesn’t matter when the systems ????????. Estonia’s digital infrastructure, openness to cross-border founders, and startup mindset offer real advantages – especially for entrepreneurs in smaller markets. ?? We’re proud to connect ambitious founders in Scotland with the opportunities Estonia offers. ?? See you at Latitude59 this May?

?? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ??????????????????? Every business owner faces administrative tasks that take up more time than they should. But some digital tools are designed to simplify these processes – and save you from unnecessary frustration. That’s why we’re bringing you expert tips from e-Residency Marketplace members – service providers who help e-residents run their companies more smoothly and efficiently. This time, we’re sharing a smart tip from MyAnnualReport, a digital self-service tool built to help e-residents file their annual report with confidence and ease. ?? Watch the video for ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ??????-????-?????? ???????? – and see how digital reporting can help take the stress out of company admin. Whether you're running a small business or simply looking for ways to save time and stay compliant, the right tools can make a big difference. ?? Explore ANN and other helpful services in the e-Residency Marketplace – where digital entrepreneurs find trusted partners to help grow and manage their businesses!

“Estonia? Not really my market” - If that was your first thought, you’re not alone - but you’re also probably missing the point. On Wednesday, we hosted?Baltic Nights: Estonia Mixer?for e-Residency ?????in Glasgow, and in the room was great people from across Scotland - and even all the way up from London! Here's a sneak peek for now, full recap and photos coming soon. Estonia isn’t just punching above its weight, it’s showing the rest of us how it’s done: ? ?? 10 unicorns, from a population 1/4 of Scotland (1.3 million) ?? Digital-first by default, with infrastructure that supports speed and scale ?? A?global mindset baked in from day one Peter Ferry?opened with why Estonia continues to lead in innovation and why Latitude59 is the place to be this May. ülane Vilumets?broke down how?e-Residency?gives founders a simple route into the?￡14 trillion EU market + so many golden nuggets. ? The panel:?Joan Kangro,?James Varga, and ülane shared real lessons on what Scotland can learn from Estonia’s model and mentality. Key takeaways: ? ?? ?Ecosystem size doesn’t matter when the systems work ???? ?e-Residency is a frictionless way to scale into the EU ?? ?Global-first isn’t a luxury, it’s *the* strategy ?? Latitude59 is the place to be this May to meet global investors, founders and chagemakers Big thanks to?Emma MacAulay and the KONG Glasgow crew?for hosting us once more! It's fast becoming our favourite venue spot in GLA. #Startups #Scaleups #eResidency #Estonia #Scotland #ForasVentures #GlobalMindset

Connecting, collaborating, and growing within the e-Residency ecosystem – that’s what it’s all about! ?? A few days ago, we brought together our amazing Marketplace Members for our annual e-Residency Marketplace Members Meetup in Tallinn. It was an evening of great conversations, fresh ideas, and reconnecting with the community. Together, we explored: ?? How we can support e-residents even better – making business even easier at every stage ?? How e-Residency and service providers can collaborate more effectively ?? Exciting developments on the horizon for e-Residency ?? Where we’re headed in 2025 – both physically (with exciting plans like our upcoming roadshow through Latin America ??) and strategically with our ambitious goals We were also inspired by Federico Pirola and Jose Ernesto Suarezé, two incredible e-resident founders who took the stage to share their journeys of building and growing their businesses with e-Residency. Their stories highlighted the real impact of the Estonian business environment and what’s possible within our global entrepreneurial community. ??? A huge thank you to our Marketplace Members – your insights, collaboration, and dedication help shape the future of e-Residency. This is how we keep moving forward, together, for the community. ?? And of course, a big shoutout to our own team members, Raimo Matvere and Mariliis Kulamaa, for hosting such a dynamic and engaging event! ?? Were you at the event? What was your key takeaway?

?? E-resident founders: This is your moment! ?? The Latitude59 Pitch Competition 2025 is back, searching for bold, game-changing startups ready to make an impact! E-Residency empowers entrepreneurs worldwide – and e-resident founders have proven their strength on the Latitude59 stage. In 2023, e-resident Elena Churilova's startup Cino won €500K, while ?IO Tech, with e-residents on the team, also secured investment. Now, it’s your turn! ??? “Even though we’re industry-agnostic, a key quality that all L59 Pitch Competition winners share is impact. They provide solutions to a multitude of problems, ranging from new materials and green tech to business-disrupting SaaS solutions. They are the brightest stars among the 2,000+ startups that have applied to the Pitch Competition – we’re happy to offer them a springboard.” – Triin Ilves, Head of Startup Relations at Latitude59 ?? Apply by: April 5, 2025 ?? Finals: May 23, 2025, at Latitude59 in Tallinn – where the biggest e-Residency community gathering is also taking place ?? Join the growing list of e-resident founders making waves in Estonia’s startup scene. Check out Latitude59 and the L59 Pitch Competition 2025:

?? We’re looking for a ?????????????? ?????????????????? ???????????????????? to own our blog, fine-tune our SEO, and create engaging copy that speaks to global entrepreneurs. Love crafting content that ranks, resonates, and converts? If you geek out over ????????????????, ????????????????????????, ?????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????????? – this role is for you! ?? What you’ll do: ?? Blog Boss – write & edit SEO-friendly blog posts, manage the content calendar, and keep everything on-brand & engaging. ?? SEO Wizardry – research keywords, optimise content, and track performance with Google Analytics, Search Console, Ahrefs/SEMrush. ?? Content Chameleon – repurpose blog posts into scroll-stopping social media copy, email snippets, and website content. ? Proofing Pro – ensure everything is polished, error-free, and high quality before it goes live. ??????’???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ??????… ? have 2+ years of content marketing, SEO, or copywriting experience. ? know how to balance creativity with data-driven strategy. ? can turn SEO insights into engaging, human-friendly content. ? are a pro at managing blogs, freelancers & content workflows. ? have strong English writing skills, ideally at a native or near-native level. ?? Location: Tallinn, but remote work (+/- 2h from Tallinn time) is negotiable after onboarding. ?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????????????????? ??

?? Expense management tips for digital entrepreneurs from Wallester ?? Every business owner faces financial challenges, but the right tools and strategies can help overcome them. That’s why we’re bringing you expert insights from e-Residency Marketplace members – service providers who help entrepreneurs navigate different challenges, sharing the knowledge they’ve gained along the way. This time, we’re sharing special tips from Wallester, a fintech company specialising in financial management solutions. Here are three budgeting tips they recommend: ?? Set clear financial goals ?? Separate business and personal finances ?? Track your expenses ?? Watch the video to hear Wallester’s insights firsthand and in detail! This is just one of many Marketplace members sharing their expertise – imagine what world of knowledge is hidden in the whole of the Marketplace. Behind every e-Residency service provider, there’s a company with valuable expertise and experiences to learn from. Explore the e-Residency Marketplace on our website to discover tools and services for financial management, business growth, banking, accounting and more from a variety of trusted providers.

After years of building Stormkit in the US, I recently made the decision to relocate my business to Estonia. I wanted to share this journey for other founders who might be facing similar challenges. The tipping point came when, for the second time, a US bank requested a physical US address for my business (which I don't have) and threatened to close my account. This highlighted a fundamental issue: the US system is designed for traditional businesses with physical footprints, not digital-first solo entrepreneurs. Add to this the complexity of the US tax system and the prohibitive costs of lawyers and accountants for a bootstrapped business, and I knew something needed to change. I'd been hearing about Estonia as a digital-first startup hub for years. Their e-Residency program caught my attention as it's specifically designed for entrepreneurs like me who operate globally and digitally. The process was remarkably straightforward: - I applied for e-Residency through their official portal (e-resident.gov.ee) - Once approved, I picked up my digital ID card (which comes with a USB reader for signing digital documents) from Zurich - I chose Xolo as my service provider to handle company formation (one-time fee of ~€290) - My Estonian company was established with almost no paperwork, and I now pay ~€110/month for comprehensive accounting services - Everything integrates seamlessly with my Revolut Business account, creating an automated financial ecosystem The Estonian tax system is refreshingly logical for tech businesses. In essence: - Retain profits in the company or reinvest in business growth? 0% tax - Distribute profits as dividends? Only then do you pay ~24% tax This creates a strong incentive for business reinvestment and growth without the administrative burden I experienced in the US. I now have a stable banking relationship, dramatically simplified compliance, predictable costs, and a tax system that aligns with how modern digital businesses actually operate. #Entrepreneurship #DigitalNomad #Estonia #eResidency #StartupLife #BusinessStrategy