Being the most startup-friendly country in the world, Latvia's startup ecosystem has quite a variety of players ranging from state-funded incubators and regional business centers to private accelerators and industry hubs. Browsing the options can feel somewhat overwhelming – as there are so many.
To help local startups find the necessary support and opportunities, we've compiled a comprehensive list of all-things-startup-ecosystem in Riga and regions. Ready to meet your match?
Please note that a few of the organizations' web pages are available only in Latvian.
Startup ecosystem in Riga
LIAA Creative Industries Business Incubator
State-funded business incubator targeted at upcoming entrepreneurs in creative industries. Offers pre-incubation, incubation, mentorship, a vast professional network, and co-working space in the very heart of Riga.
Buildit Accelerator
Accelerator for hardware and IoT startups, helping to turn ideas into tangible, market-worthy products. Offers a 4-month acceleration program for startups with an MVP or working prototype. Best teams have the option to receive pre-seed investments.
Commercialization Reactor
An international platform for science commercialization, focusing on deep tech. Offers help in startup creation, a 6-month acceleration program for deep-tech startups, investment opportunities, and, of course, networking.
Overkill Ventures
An angel fund investing in pre-seed B2B tech startups in CEE and Nordics and helping startups get to product-market fit.
Change Ventures
The first and largest pan-Baltic VC seed fund investing in Baltic startups. If you hear a Latvian startup success story in global news, chances are that Change Ventures's funding has something to do with it.
Startup Wise Guys
Europe's leading B2B startup accelerator for early-stage startups. Initially founded in Estonia, it operates in the CEE region, including Latvia.
Startin.LV
Latvian Startup Association Startin.LV is a non-profit, non-government organization established to unite the voices of Latvian startups. THE organization and place to access knowledge, network, opportunities, and business perks.
TechChill
A non-profit organization helping Latvian and Baltic startups reach global recognition via an annual tech startup conference in Riga. The organization hosts ecosystem-boosting activities throughout the year, including the main TechChill event.
TechHub Riga
A startup-based community known for sharing knowledge and offering a platform for innovative entrepreneurship. Co-working space, startup events, and educational content in the capital city of Latvia.
Green Tech Cluster
A cluster for organizations that partly or fully operate in the industries of green and smart technologies. Offers networking, partnership opportunities, help in business development, and other valuable services.
Venture Faculty
Among other things, Venture Faculty provides investment support, guidance, and consulting for startups – assistance in launching or expanding a startup and in localization and launching strategies.
VEFRESH
Innovation movement in the VEF district in Riga, helping companies test and develop smart city solutions in real urban conditions. It offers urban mobility pre-accelerator, hackathons, and vast knowledge in the smart city sector that they're willing to share with startups.
Latvian IT Cluster
Your business' gateway to more intelligent IT export and a one-stop shop for networking, contacts, matchmaking events, trade missions, market research, access to international projects, and more.
LIKTA
Latvian Information and Communications Technology Association, which unites industry companies and ICT professionals and aims to foster ICT growth in Latvia. They organize training, provide educational content, and are a place to meet fellow ICT people and businesses.
Digital Accelerator of Latvia
Designed to promote digital transformation and innovation in Latvian companies and the public sector. Their services include attracting funding, training, pre-investment testing, networking opportunities, and more.
Future Hub accelerator
A startup accelerator program by Helve aimed to foster cooperation between market-leading companies and startups and ensure sustainable innovation development. Offers mentorship, product testing, market research, partnership building, and more.
LCCI
The Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the most prominent association of entrepreneurs in Latvia, uniting 6000 members. It's the voice and support of Latvian entrepreneurs since 1934
Startup ecosystem in Kurzeme region
LIAA Business Incubators in Kurzeme
Regional business incubators by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia that offer incubation and pre-incubation programs for startups, regional coworking spaces, consulting, training, events, and more:
Kurzeme Business Incubator
A business incubator in Liepāja, promoting business development in the Kurzeme region. Offers accounting and digital marketing services, helps with private and public funding attraction, provides general business support, and offers premises for events in Liepāja.
Kurzeme Entrepreneurship Center
A regional organization aimed to provide informative and advisory activities to support entrepreneurship in the Kurzeme region. Hosts events, supports regional businesses and is the one-stop-shop for finding available opportunities.
Liepāja Tech Cluster
A cluster for tech and digital innovation businesses in Liepāja. Provides information about the latest business and educational opportunities and hosts events, meetups, and networking nights. Regional spot for IT enthusiasts.
Coworking Liepāja
A coworking space in Liepāja offering individual workstations, meeting rooms, and all the other benefits that a coworking space usually brings. What's special about it – 80% of its residents are IT professionals, and the coworking hosts regular industry meetups.
Ventspils High Technology Park
A local foundation that, among other services, provides business support and consulting. Offers assistance in funding attraction, helps with business development, and has a coworking space in Ventspils.
Wind Hackers
An organization of innovation enthusiasts in Liepāja conducting a wide variety of tech hackathons to promote new ideas and solutions.
Startup ecosystem in Latgale region
LIAA Business Incubators in Latgale
Business incubators by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, offering incubation and pre-incubation programs for startups, coworking spaces, consulting, training, events, and more:
Latgale Entrepreneurship Center
A regional organization aimed to provide informative and advisory activities to support entrepreneurship in the Latgale region. LEC advisors are available daily via phone, e-mail, and in-person consultations regarding business. The Center also organizes events and training.
Latgale TechGirls
Organization for woman tech enthusiasts in Latgale region
Startup ecosystem in Vidzeme region
LIAA Business Incubators in Vidzeme
Business incubators by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, offering incubation and pre-incubation programs for startups, coworking spaces, consulting, training, events, and more:
- Sigulda Business Incubator
- Valmiera Business Incubator
- Madona Business Incubator
- Ogre Business Incubator
- Jūrmala Business Incubator
Vidzeme Entrepreneurship Center
A regional organization aimed to provide informative and advisory activities to support entrepreneurship in the Vidzeme region. Hosts various events and training and provides consultation and information on the available business support in the area.
DARE
A maker space and creative community in Valmiera hosting creative workshops and providing various tools and machines for rent to enable your creative business efforts.
Skola6
A coworking space in Cēsis for creative entrepreneurs. Provides educational, business, and networking events in the space.
Startup ecosystem in Zemgale region
Jelgava Business Incubator
Business incubator by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, offering incubation and pre-incubation programs for startups, coworking space, consulting, training, and more.
Zemgale Entrepreneurship Center
A regional organization aimed to provide informative and advisory activities to support entrepreneurship in the Zemgale region. Informs about the available business support in the area and organizes events, meetups, and training.
