Estonian President Alar Karis and TiE Global Chair Murali Bukkapatnam Align to Launch New Chapter in Tallinn, Estonia
In a significant move to bolster global entrepreneurship and innovation, Murali Bukkapatnam, Chair of the TiE Global Board of Trustees, met with H.E. Alar Karis, President of the Republic of Estonia, to discuss a collaborative effort to establish a TiE Chapter in Estonia’s capital city, Tallinn. The new TiE Estonia Chapter will serve as a strategic bridge for founders, investors, and ecosystem enablers between Europe, Asia, and the United States.
This meeting marks a milestone in coordinated efforts to align Estonia’s rapidly growing startup ecosystem with TiE Global’s extensive entrepreneurial network, which has created over USD 1 trillion in global wealth and continues to nurture thousands of startups across continents. Mr. Murali Bukkapatnam, the second Indian entrepreneur to ascend as Chair of TiE Global, has been instrumental in driving multiple strategic partnerships across countries. This new collaboration with Estonia marks yet another dynamic alliance aimed at accelerating global startup growth.
President Alar Karis welcomed the partnership and emphasized Estonia’s commitment to building inclusive and innovation-driven entrepreneurship pathways. Mr. Murali Bukkapatnam, Chair, TiE Global said, “Estonia’s ascent in the global startup ecosystem rankings is a result of its digital-first approach, policy-led innovation, and a deep-rooted entrepreneurial mindset. Our partnership with the Estonian leadership is a natural step in building a high-impact platform for cross-border collaboration, mentoring, and startup scaling.”
The proposed TiE Estonia Chapter in Tallinn aims to foster an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem across the Baltics by facilitating access to global mentors, investors, and market linkages. It will also promote collaboration between Estonian startups and international innovation hubs, while enabling scalable startup development through TiE’s proven playbooks and global best practices.
TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) held its annual retreat in Estonia, bringing together a vibrant mix of entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers. As part of the event, members had the opportunity to interact with H.E. Mr. Alar Karis, President of Estonia, and gain deeper insights into the country’s innovation ecosystem. Ambassador of India to Estonia and Finland, Mr. Ashish Sinha, engaged TiE members in a fireside chat, highlighting the strengthening India–Estonia relations and exploring emerging business opportunities, especially in the deep tech and digital sectors. This exchange reinforced the shared commitment of both nations to build forward-looking economic and innovation partnerships.
With over 60 chapters across 14 countries, TiE Global (The Indus Entrepreneurs) is the world’s largest network dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurship through mentoring, education, incubation, and funding. The Tallinn chapter is expected to become a g>powerhouse of entrepreneurship in Northern and Eastern Europe, strategically leveraging Estonia’s unique strengths in digital governance, blockchain innovation, and startup-friendly regulations.
