Bisly just won the ABB Startup Challenge 2026. Smart building automation, built in Tallinn, validated on an international stage.
Tallinn-based smart building company Bisly has won the ABB Startup Challenge 2026 in the smart buildings category. And the story gets even more inspiring, as it is the first Estonian company to be selected for the challenge — and the first to win it.
The ABB Startup Challenge is a global programme organised by ABB, the Swiss-Swedish industrial technology giant, alongside its innovation hub SynerLeap and Microsoft.
Selected startups work closely with ABB teams to develop an MVP — a minimum viable product proposal — for solutions with real industrial application. The 2026 edition culminated with a final event in Bilbao, where Bisly took the top prize in its category.
What Bisly does
Founded in Tallinn in 2018, Bisly builds cloud-based automation systems for residential and commercial buildings. Its platform integrates AI, digital twin technology, and a hardware-software stack designed to manage lighting, heating, ventilation, and energy systems from a single interface.
The company’s pitch is straightforward: buildings account for roughly 40% of EU energy consumption, most remain inefficient, and installing proper automation has historically been expensive and complex. Bisly’s system is built to change that — cutting energy use by up to 40% whilst reducing manual configuration work, installation time, and the risk of on-site errors.
The company holds over 25% of the Estonian building automation market, a position it has built in under five years. It has since expanded into Germany, the UK, and the Baltic region, working with developers including Bonava, Pro Kapital, Liven, and Crown Estate. Most recently, in August 2025, Bisly raised a €4.3M round to accelerate its push into Central and Western Europe, with a new office opening in Poland.
What the ABB win means
The win is not merely a trophy. It establishes a direct partnership with ABB to develop Bisly’s platform into a commercially deployed product for real projects — moving from proof of concept to live use at scale. The next programme phase focuses on market entry preparation and real-world testing.
CEO Ants Vill, who also serves on the board of Tallinn University of Technology, says: “This is not innovation for innovation’s sake. The thinking was clear: build something that delivers real value, and make sure one plus one equals three.”
Are you interested in trading with Estonia? Enterprise Estonia is providing sourcing services for foreign enterprises. Contact Estonian export advisors or use our free e-consulting service to start trade with Estonia.
