4 Lessons You Can Learn From Estonia's Tech Unicorns Companies from this small nation been able to make a global impact because they keep possibilities in mind.

If you're like most Americans, you may not have heard of Estonia or even be able to place it on a map, but you might just be using a product created there without even knowing it. Despite being a small European country of just 1.3 million people, "the government boasts it is home to more tech unicorns, private companies valued at more than $1 billion, per capita than any other small country in the world," according to CNBC.

Naturally, each of these companies began life as a startup. This is no accident. Estonia has more than a thousand startups, and it is well-known that the country has successfully fashioned itself into a digital paradise. Government services can be accessed online from anywhere using a secure digital identity that is issued to all citizens and residents, allowing a variety of activities to be done online, from taxes to voting. Likewise, an Estonian company can now be established and managed entirely online with minimal hassle and costs through the country's e-Residency program.

The Estonian digital transformation project began two decades ago, with internet access being declared a basic human right for all citizens. These digital foundations have made a big difference and reverberated throughout both the public and private sectors. The country has a supportive culture that leads to innovation, collaboration and a willingness to take risks.