Estonia returns to Deloitte’s Fast 50 Top Tier as Wallester reaches 6th place
Estonia is back in the top tier of Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 Central Europe 2025, confirming its rising influence on the region’s innovation map. At the awards gala in Prague on November 20, Tallinn-based startup Wallester was revealed as the highest-ranked Estonian company, placing 6th overall among the fastest-growing tech firms in Central Europe.
The Deloitte Fast 50 programme spans nine countries – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania, Croatia, and Ukraine – and recognises technology companies (public or private) with the strongest percentage revenue growth over a four-year period.
“A top-10 return for Estonia”
Wallester’s strong showing signals more than corporate success: it underlines Estonia’s comeback to the Fast 50 top 10, underscoring the country’s growing weight in Central Europe’s tech ecosystem. According to the official Deloitte ranking, the startup achieved a 2,070% revenue growth over the past four years – a performance that made it the top Estonian on the list and one of just three fintechs in the top 10.
In 2019, Estonian company Cleveron also broke into the top 10, signalling the country’s early-scaleup potential. Wallester’s success now marks a return to that elite club, underscoring long-term momentum in the Estonian tech ecosystem.
About the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Central Europe
- The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Central Europe programme has been running for more than 25 years
- The ranking considers proprietary technology companies headquartered in the nine participating countries, based on audited revenue growth over four years
- The top quartile of companies reflects a diverse mix – software, fintech, environmental tech, and more
The 2025 top 10 includes:
- Oddin.gg (Czech Republic) – 4,267% growth
- PowereX (Slovakia) – 2,510%
- Mizzox (Poland) – 2,504%
- FaceUp Technology (Czech Republic) – 2,146%
- Adam (Czech Republic) – 2,118%
- Wallester (Estonia) – 2,070%
- Patron GO (Czech Republic) – 1,978%
- Foodsi (Poland) – 1,976%
- Malcom Finance / 4Trans Factoring (Czech Republic) – 1,940%
- AP-Tech (Poland) – 1,787%
Estonia’s innovation momentum
Estonia has long punched above its weight in European tech, and this recognition reinforces that narrative:
- The country has one of the highest startup densities per capita in Europe
- Its digital-first national infrastructure - including e-Residency, paperless government, and zero corporate tax on reinvested profits - continues to fuel scalable tech businesses
- According to the State of European Tech 2024 report, over the past decade, Estonia’s tech workforce has increased almost tenfold, bolstering its status as a significant innovation hub
These dynamics create fertile ground for scaleups like Wallester to thrive.
Wallester’s growth story
What Wallester does: Wallester is an Estonian-licensed financial institution and an official Visa partner since 2018, specialising in digital financial infrastructure and modern card-issuing solutions for companies across the EEA and the UK. The startup offering has two core pillars: a White-Label embedded finance platform that enables businesses to launch branded payment cards and integrate financial services directly into their products, and Wallester Business, a corporate expense-management solution providing instant virtual and physical Visa cards with real-time tracking, budgeting tools, and seamless accounting integrations.
Key recent achievements:
- In 2025, Wallester was ranked 21st in Estonia’s TopTech list, with a valuation of €95 million
- At the Europe FinTech Awards 2025, Wallester won FinTech of the Year and the Fintech Partner Award
- According to the FT & Statista European growth ranking, Wallester secured 47th overall, 7th in fintech, and was #1 among Estonian companies
“This is a huge achievement and a clear recognition of the work we all do every single day,” said Sergei Astafjev, CEO & Co-Founder of Wallester. “Five years ago, we were five people in one small room. Today, we are among the fastest-growing tech companies in the entire region.”
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