IAAC Students Complete CiD Accelerator Program in Tallinn

IAAC Digital Matter students advance their entrepreneurial skills through the CiD Accelerator, gaining hands-on experience in circular design, business development, and innovation for the bio-based built environment.

This year, the CiD Innovation Alliance project, an Erasmus+ co-funded and supported by the European Commission, was implemented in IAAC’s Digital Matter research line.

CiD focuses on fostering bio-based innovation for the built environment by encouraging the use of renewable materials sourced from other sectors and helping regions transition toward circular and regenerative systems. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, the initiative aims to rethink how materials, products, and urban spaces can be designed for low-carbon, sustainable futures.

Following the final pitch event earlier this year, two IAAC Digital Matter teams, Rinova (Ameya Thopte, Manideep Mamidala, Rishi Srinivasa, Yetkin Demir) and Second Matter (Deniz Ipek Karatas, Heba El Ayouty, Pelinsu Sahin and Shubham Benare), were selected to continue their entrepreneurial journey in the CiD Accelerator Program.

Developed and coordinated by Tallinn Business Incubators, the accelerator was created to support early-stage ideas that can drive change in architecture, material research, and urban sustainability. For IAAC students, particularly those with a design and fabrication background, the program offered a rare opportunity to gain practical, business-oriented skills that are essential for transforming research concepts into viable ventures.

Over several intensive weeks, students progressed through a structured curriculum covering the fundamentals of startup development. The program covered topics such as idea validation, client research, market analysis, development of a clear value proposition, designing financial plans, branding and intellectual property strategies.

Throughout the accelerator, there were also one-on-one mentoring sessions which allowed students to receive tailored guidance from experts, refine their decisions, and align their ideas with real market expectations. This individualized support proved invaluable for designers who are more accustomed to creative studio environments than entrepreneurial ecosystems.

IAAC’s involvement in the CiD Accelerator reflects its broader mission: empowering students to lead the transformation toward regenerative, bio-based futures and equipping them with the tools needed to turn ideas into impactful, scalable solutions.

Find out more about the project on the website: https://www.cid-innovationalliance.eu/ or follow us on instagram @cid.innovationalliance

Image Credits: Tallinn Business Incubator