US Innovation Award Goes to Fortumo, Erply Is Runner-Up
Mobile payments company Fortumo received the 2013-2014 Estonian American Innovation Award announced today, with inventory management software program Erply taking second place.
Among those vying for the 2013-2014 Estonian American Innovation Award were a raft of well-known startups, innovative interior design products, Tallinn universities and an operatic work.
Members of the business community gathered at the Baltic Film and Media School in Tallinn today to find out the winner. "Nostra Culpa," an orchestral work based on the Twitter duel between President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and economist Paul Krugman, was also in the running, but this was not its night.
Tech startups have historically been favored, with ZeroTurnaround winning in 2012-2013 and GrabCAD in 2011-2012.
Organized by the US Embassy, the Baltic American Freedom Foundation and the American Chamber of Commerce Estonia, the award "recognizes excellence in innovation by Estonians in partnership with Americans," according to a release from the chamber. It was first given out in 2011-2012.
Fortumo and Erply receive prizes of 10,000 euros and 5,000 euros.
The ceremony featured a keynote speech by Microsoft “Tech Evangelist” James Whittaker, and was attended by Foreign Minister Urmas Paet.
List of applicants:
Academia Gustaviana
Baltic Lite Light
Bole Floor and Form
Click & Grow
Cybernetica
Datel
EdgeWise
Fortumo
Guardtime
Erply
Marinexplore
Nortal
NOW! Innovations
Plumbr
Pipedrive
"Nostra Culpa"
Qminder Limited
SA Innovation Academy
Secured3d by ITBS
Tallinn University
Tallinn University of Technology
Timber Diameter
Toggl