Riga Gains International Recognition in the Technology Sector
Published: 22.02.2018
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Riga Gains International Recognition in the Technology Sector
More than 700 one-on-one meetings between the region’s startups and international investors took place at the TechChill conference held in Riga two weeks ago, marking the first step towards serious investment in Latvian startups. The organisers emphasise that these meetings are the strongest evidence of the tremendous interest in ideas created in Latvia and a practical signal that future Latvian success stories are being developed.
The conference brought together just under 2,000 attendees from more than 40 countries. Among them were 110 international investors, business angels and accelerators, hundreds of experienced entrepreneurs and mentors, as well as approximately 450 representatives of startups from the Baltic region. More than 10,000 viewers also watched the conference content via the LMT Straume livestream.
Thanks to TechChill, Riga has also attracted the attention of international media, which travelled to Riga from all over the world. The media have written both about Latvia’s Startup Law and favourable ecosystem, as well as about promising startups from the region. Both the presence of investors and the attention of the international media are precisely the factors that provide the greatest support to Latvian startups. “We can now confidently say that TechChill has delivered the strongest platform and meeting place that the Baltics have experienced so far. We can confidently call ourselves a regional event. Nearly 100 speakers took to three parallel stages, inspiring the next generation of startup founders. However, our greatest achievement is that we have finally been sufficiently loud, broken through the noise and made ourselves noticed on the international stage. We are proud that investors are interested in this country and the ideas that emerge here. Latvia will be talked about for a long time to come, but it is no secret that this is only the first step,” says the conference director, Marija Ručevska.
Among other events—not only in the Baltics but throughout Europe—TechChill as a conference stands out because it is organised by a non-governmental, non-profit organisation of the same name in close cooperation with other representatives of the industry community. “That is precisely why our priority is to consider how to support the industry more effectively, how to inspire the younger generation and how to create Latvian success stories,” Ručevska emphasises. New activities are planned in the near future to promote the development of the startup industry and support Latvian startups, involve students, and build an image of Latvia as a country attractive to startups.
Latvia’s positioning also played an important role within TechChill and attracted the greatest media interest. On the Magnetic Latvia stage, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia and LIAA director Andris Ozols presented current innovation topics and spoke about the Startup Law, the Startup Visa, Latvia’s advantages for business development, and LIAA’s offering to promote companies’ growth and competitiveness. During a discussion on the main stage, Latvian Minister of Economics Arvils Ašeradens expressed his views on building the technology ecosystem in the Baltics, the rapid development of Latvia’s startup environment and its potential in the national economies.
In fierce competition, the winner of the business presentation competition, or pitch competition, was Latvia’s multiple award-winning startup Anatomy Next. The company received a EUR 10,000 cash prize from TechChill to further develop its business. Following a thorough first-round selection, 50 startups were chosen to present their ideas on the LMT Founder Stage on the first day of the conference. The semi-final jury, comprising nearly 20 international investors, selected seven finalists—AdLaunch (Finland), Anatomy Next, Winmill (Latvia), DigiPulse (Latvia), Fractory.co (Estonia), Hooves (Denmark) and Silvere (Finland)—who presented themselves on the main stage in the final.
About TechChill
The non-governmental organisation TechChill is an initiative of representatives of Latvia’s startup community. Its goal is to promote the development of the technology and startup ecosystem, international recognition and the attraction of investment. The organisation’s most important annual event is the international TechChill conference it organises, which took place on 8 and 9 February in Riga, at the VEF Culture Palace. As part of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum programme, 100 international speakers discussed technology trends on two parallel stages over two days, shared stories of entrepreneurial success and inspiration, and brought together 2,000 entrepreneurs, technology experts, investors and international media. More information: techchill.co.
The Magnetic Latvia stage was organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.
Funding for the Magnetic Latvia stage programme was provided by the European Regional Development Fund project “Technology Transfer Programme”.
Media contacts:
Līva Pērkone
TechChill Head of Communications
Phone: +3712737307
E-mail: liva@ethos.lv
Media Kit
ej.uz/techchill
More than 700 one-on-one meetings between the region’s startups and international investors took place at the TechChill conference held in Riga two weeks ago, marking the first step towards serious investment in Latvian startups. The organisers emphasise that these meetings are the strongest evidence of the tremendous interest in ideas created in Latvia and a practical signal that future Latvian success stories are being developed.
The conference brought together just under 2,000 attendees from more than 40 countries. Among them were 110 international investors, business angels and accelerators, hundreds of experienced entrepreneurs and mentors, as well as approximately 450 representatives of startups from the Baltic region. More than 10,000 viewers also watched the conference content via the LMT Straume livestream.
Thanks to TechChill, Riga has also attracted the attention of international media, which travelled to Riga from all over the world. The media have written both about Latvia’s Startup Law and favourable ecosystem, as well as about promising startups from the region. Both the presence of investors and the attention of the international media are precisely the factors that provide the greatest support to Latvian startups. “We can now confidently say that TechChill has delivered the strongest platform and meeting place that the Baltics have experienced so far. We can confidently call ourselves a regional event. Nearly 100 speakers took to three parallel stages, inspiring the next generation of startup founders. However, our greatest achievement is that we have finally been sufficiently loud, broken through the noise and made ourselves noticed on the international stage. We are proud that investors are interested in this country and the ideas that emerge here. Latvia will be talked about for a long time to come, but it is no secret that this is only the first step,” says the conference director, Marija Ručevska.
Among other events—not only in the Baltics but throughout Europe—TechChill as a conference stands out because it is organised by a non-governmental, non-profit organisation of the same name in close cooperation with other representatives of the industry community. “That is precisely why our priority is to consider how to support the industry more effectively, how to inspire the younger generation and how to create Latvian success stories,” Ručevska emphasises. New activities are planned in the near future to promote the development of the startup industry and support Latvian startups, involve students, and build an image of Latvia as a country attractive to startups.
Latvia’s positioning also played an important role within TechChill and attracted the greatest media interest. On the Magnetic Latvia stage, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia and LIAA director Andris Ozols presented current innovation topics and spoke about the Startup Law, the Startup Visa, Latvia’s advantages for business development, and LIAA’s offering to promote companies’ growth and competitiveness. During a discussion on the main stage, Latvian Minister of Economics Arvils Ašeradens expressed his views on building the technology ecosystem in the Baltics, the rapid development of Latvia’s startup environment and its potential in the national economies.
In fierce competition, the winner of the business presentation competition, or pitch competition, was Latvia’s multiple award-winning startup Anatomy Next. The company received a EUR 10,000 cash prize from TechChill to further develop its business. Following a thorough first-round selection, 50 startups were chosen to present their ideas on the LMT Founder Stage on the first day of the conference. The semi-final jury, comprising nearly 20 international investors, selected seven finalists—AdLaunch (Finland), Anatomy Next, Winmill (Latvia), DigiPulse (Latvia), Fractory.co (Estonia), Hooves (Denmark) and Silvere (Finland)—who presented themselves on the main stage in the final.
About TechChill
The non-governmental organisation TechChill is an initiative of representatives of Latvia’s startup community. Its goal is to promote the development of the technology and startup ecosystem, international recognition and the attraction of investment. The organisation’s most important annual event is the international TechChill conference it organises, which took place on 8 and 9 February in Riga, at the VEF Culture Palace. As part of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum programme, 100 international speakers discussed technology trends on two parallel stages over two days, shared stories of entrepreneurial success and inspiration, and brought together 2,000 entrepreneurs, technology experts, investors and international media. More information: techchill.co.
The Magnetic Latvia stage was organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.
Funding for the Magnetic Latvia stage programme was provided by the European Regional Development Fund project “Technology Transfer Programme”.
Media contacts:
Līva Pērkone
TechChill Head of Communications
Phone: +3712737307
E-mail: liva@ethos.lv
Media Kit
ej.uz/techchill
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