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€10,000 prize: Cleantech Catalyst is looking for cleantech talents
2024-02-19

€10,000 prize: Cleantech Catalyst is looking for cleantech talents

Sunrise Tech Park is happy to announce the new start of the incubator program - Cleantech Catalyst. This incubator is dedicated to early-stage startups [...]

Sunrise Tech Park is happy to announce the new start of the incubator program - Cleantech Catalyst. This incubator is dedicated to early-stage startups working in climate technology and seeking to address the challenges of climate change. Located on the academic campus in Sunrise, one of the greenest parts of the capital, Cleantech Catalyst offers a unique opportunity for innovators to turn their ideas into real solutions that benefit the planet.

An innovative approach to the challenges of climate change

The planet is already undergoing dramatic climate change, which calls for immediate action. Cleantech Catalyst's mission is to promote and support innovation in cleantech, energy, resources, mobility, and the circular economy to reduce carbon emissions and build a sustainable future.

Intensive and advanced program

The Cleantech Catalyst program, which starts in mid-March, will last six months and will include intensive training, seminars, and workshops, accessing to a network of international experts and special events. Selected startups/teams will develop their business in Sunrise Tech Park using the infrastructure resources provided. Together with the professional team of Sunrise Tech Park, experts from the Baltic region, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and Singapore will provide consultations.

During the program, practical training for startups will be conducted by: Klaudija Budreikaitė (Open Circle Capital), Roman Lobas (Deel), Monika Paulė (Caszyme), Jacekas Antulis (Metida), Simona Sandaraitė (Nord Security), Arvydas Bložė (Practica Capital), Dmitrij Sosunov (FIRSTPICK ), Audrius Rubinas (Profitable solutions), Sander van der Molen (CIVITTA).

Incubator training will begin on March 18, and startup demo presentations in June. After this intensive phase, the participants could continue the startup development processes in Sunrise Tech Park.

Competition and prize

After a three-month incubation program, the participants will present their startup solutions to investors. The creators of the best idea will have the chance to win a prize of 10,000 euros to encourage their further growth.

Invitation to apply

All early-stage startups operating in the cleantech sector and committed to tackling the challenges of climate change are welcome to fill out the registration form by March 4. The selection process will include an initial selection and an interview, after which selected teams will  join the Sunrise Tech Park community live or online.

About Sunrise Tech Park

Sunrise Tech Park is the epicenter of technology and innovation, which has been uniting the most talented developers and entrepreneurs for more than 20 years and has incubated 124 startups. Located in the academic campus in Saulėtekis, Vilnius, the Park provides excellent conditions for startups commercializing research results. Sunrise Tech Park coordinates the Lithuanian Clean Technologies cluster and is an active member of the international cleantech community.

To learn more about the Cleantech Catalyst incubator and apply to the program, please visit this website: www.cleantechcatalyst.eu, and fill out the registration form here: https://forms.gle/JNYAKuxfnkp12NTV7.

 

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Launch of Cleantech Catalyst incubator - in search for cleantech startups
2024-01-31

Launch of Cleantech Catalyst incubator - in search for cleantech startups

Sunrise Tech Park launches Cleantech Catalyst, an incubator for climate technology startups. Located on the capital's academic campus in Saulėtekis - one [...]

Sunrise Tech Park launches Cleantech Catalyst, an incubator for climate technology startups. Located on the capital's academic campus in Saulėtekis - one of the greenest places in the city - the incubator offers a unique opportunity for innovators who want to tackle the challenges of climate change. It is open to all early-stage startups working in the cleantech sector in energy, resources, mobility, and circular economy areas.

 

An innovative ecosystem friendly to the Earth

The planet's climate situation is changing dramatically, ushering in what could be called the "global boiling" era. Large-scale actions are needed to reduce harmful impacts and achieve a sustainable, low-carbon future. In this context, cleantech innovation and sustainability initiatives are crucial. Sunrise Tech Park understands the situation's urgency and aims to contribute to positive change. 

The incubator's mission is to promote and support innovative ideas in the cleantech field, thus contributing to the joint effort to tackle the challenges of climate change, ensuring a sustainable future for future generations. "Cleantech Catalyst is designed to nurture and accelerate startups and entrepreneurial teams developing climate-friendly solutions. The incubator offers a dynamic ecosystem, expert advice, and essential resources to help turn green ideas into planetary solutions.

 

An intensive and extensive incubator program

The first Cleantech Catalyst program will start in mid-March. The six-month program will consist of three months of intensive training - workshops and seminars once a week - followed by three months of further development at Sunrise Tech Park with access to the necessary resources and ongoing support from mentors. The incubator will provide access 

to a network of international experts and invite you to special events to help you turn your ideas into reality and contribute to a more intensive search for funding sources.

The workshops are designed to give startups a deep dive into the most critical aspects of innovation and market uptake, ensuring that they are well-equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities of the industry. Seminars and workshops will cover topics such as market trends and research, product development and market entry phases, strategies and innovative approaches, focus on legal and intellectual property, raising capital, team building, and dynamics. To maximize the involvement of startups in the ecosystem, the incubator will be enriched by informal gatherings such as community breakfasts, networking parties, and individual mentoring sessions. After three months of incubation, startups/teams will have the opportunity to present their solutions to investors and other experts, and the creators of the best solutions will have the chance to win cash prizes.

 

Innovative change makers wanted

The mission of Sunrise Tech Park is to find and empower startups and talents in the cleantech sector. The selection process will look for candidates who meet the definition of cleantech, incubator's criteria and who are united in their ambition to create a cleaner, greener planet. A team of professionals will look after the selected early-stage startups.

Applicants have to fill out the Cleantech Catalyst program form by 4th of March. The selection process will consist of two phases: an initial screening and a motivational interview, followed by the selection of startups/teams, at least three of which will have the opportunity to join the Sunrise Tech Park community physically.

 

Professional hosts

124 startups have already been incubated and emerged under the roof of Sunrise Tech Park. The organizers coordinate the Cleantech Cluster of Lithuania and are representatives of Cleantech for Baltics in Lithuania. The CERN Technology Business Incubator has been operating here for four years, and Tech Park has recently become an accredited CERN Venture Connect program partner. "Cleantech Catalyst is not just an incubator program - it is part of an important market with a strong community creating a  cleaner tomorrow, dedicated to creating breakthroughs for the future.

For more information about Cleantech Catalyst: www.cleantechcatalyst.eu  

Registration form: https://forms.gle/JNYAKuxfnkp12NTV7

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Seeds of Bravery — project launch
2024-01-25

Seeds of Bravery — project launch

Strategic Boost from the European Innovation Council for the Ukrainian Deep Tech Ecosystem

 

Strategic Boost from the European Innovation Council for the Ukrainian Deep Tech Ecosystem

 

Warsaw, 24th January 2024 – The grand kick-off meeting of the “Seeds of Bravery” (UASEEDs) project marked the official launch of open calls for proposals for all five support programs, designed to empower tech startups and SMEs with innovative solutions, services, and products, today.

 

On December 20, 2023, a pan-European consortium, composed of renowned tech, funding and business companies, launched a €20 million "Seeds of Bravery" project. The initiative is funded by the European Union, under the European Innovation Council (EIC) and aims at supporting the Ukrainian Tech Ecosystem. 

 

With a focus on deep tech innovation, the group has earmarked €12 million for 200 Ukrainian startups. In addition to non-refundable grants, "Seeds of Bravery" aims to attract additional investment, promote Ukrainian projects, train entrepreneurs, enter international markets, and integrate the Ukrainian innovation ecosystem into the European network.

 

The kick-off event brought together UASEEDs consortium members, key stakeholders, innovators, and policymakers from Ukraine and the EU to announce the open calls for proposals for all five programs, providing insights into the application process, eligibility criteria, and the support offered. Among the distinguished guests were the Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy and a representative of the National Center for Research and Development of the Republic of Poland (Aleksandra Ihnatovicz).

 

Each program targets projects that are key economic drivers for Ukraine's rebuilding efforts and enhance the presence of Ukrainian startups in a broader European innovation ecosystem. The project is also expected to pave the way for Ukrainian tech startups to participate in future EIC calls.

 

Unveiling types of support:

 

  1. Business and Innovation Services: Offering grants up to 10,000, focusing on enhancing business models, plans, and growth strategies. Apart from financial support, beneficiaries can also join investors and accelerator communities both in Ukraine and in the EU, access matchmaking activities, and have the opportunity to receive free tickets to attend international tech conferences.

 

  1. Innovative Entrepreneurship: With grants up to 25,000, this program supports business continuity and the establishment of women-led companies. Beneficiaries will also gain access to a wide array of activities, including matchmaking with EU and global tech communities, investor and accelerator networks, a 2-week online Market Fast Track program, and specialized coaching for female entrepreneurs. 

 

  1. Deep Tech Incubators: Providing 25,000 for early-stage startups, dedicated to activities like user or demand testing, prototype validation, and other pivotal pre-MVP innovation tasks. Beyond financial support, the program also offers non-financial benefits, that include matchmaking with an expansive EU and global tech community, participation in a Market Fast Track program, entry into a specialized Deep Tech Incubator and access to investors. 

 

  1. Rebuild Ukraine: Aiming to rapidly reconstruct postwar Ukraine with grants up to 25,000 for innovative products/services. The program targets tech SMEs and scale-ups with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 7 or higher. It extends its support through matchmaking, Market Fast Track program, Digital and Deep Tech Booster (3-month acceleration & mentorship program), Funding Lab (proposal writing bootcamps and pitch trainings to increase access to funding), Finance Booster (a 4-week investment readiness program), Deep Tech Accelerator and access to a robust network of investors and accelerators. 

 

  1. Deep Tech Scale-up and Acceleration: Offering up to 50,000 to scale prototypes successfully piloted and expand market reach for companies with TRL of 7 or higher. Non-financial services include the possibility to receive tech tickets to co-working spaces and relevant conferences and events worldwide, access to investors and accelerators, Market and Legal Lab (legal services for startups entering EU or global markets), Deep Tech Accelerator, Finance Booster, Funding Lab, matchmaking with global tech communities, and a range of specialized labs and programmes (such as Digital and Deep Tech Booster and specialized coaching for female entrepreneurs).

 

All programs are designed to propel the selected projects to new heights, ensuring they receive the guidance, resources, and networking opportunities needed for success. Non-financial support will be tailored for each beneficiary (the scope of provided services will be determined individually for each tech startup and SME). 

 

In general, grant recipients will be able to receive a maximum of 60,000 across all “Seeds of Bravery” types of support. Even if the application does not secure funding, there is still a chance for tech SMEs to receive recognition and access to valuable resources. By submitting a high-quality application, a project could be awarded a 'Seal of Excellence,' which carries several benefits.

For further details and application procedures, please follow the link: https://seedsofbravery.eu/

“The development of innovations is one of Ukraine's priorities and the path to a trillion-dollar economy. The European Innovation Council's Seeds of Bravery project will open up new opportunities for development and integration into the global technology community. Already today, hundreds of Ukrainian scientists, startups, and entrepreneurs will be able to apply for 5 programs of the initiative, receive financial support and gain the best European experience. We believe in the ability of our innovators to implement revolutionary ideas. And the Ukrainian Startup Fund, together with other members of the consortium under the coordination of FundingBox, will help them realize their potential.” Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development – Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

 

As we launch all five pivotal programs, our consortium plants the seeds for a future where Ukrainian resilience leads the way in rebuilding their economy. With the UASEEDs project we are not just offering financial support; we provide a platform for innovation, collaboration and growth. These comprehensive support programs are designed to unlock the full potential of Ukrainian entrepreneurs, helping them navigate challenges and seize opportunities in the European innovation ecosystemAnna Dymowska, CEO, FundingBox Accelerator, Warsaw, Poland.

 

About “Seeds of Bravery”:


The “Seeds of Bravery” project's main goal is to create a pan-European network that bilaterally supports both the integration of Ukrainian technology innovators into European ecosystems and their activities in Ukraine. 

 

The UASEEDs consortium consists of 17 partners and 2 associate partners: Aalto University, Accelerace, CorkBIC, Da Vinci Labs, Cyber/nnov8, Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, EIT Health, FundingBox Accelerator, Impact Hub Stockholm, Institute of Physics of National Academy of Science (EEN Network), Luxinnovation, Plug and Play, Sunrise Tech Park, Techosystem, Ukrainian Startup Fund, Vacuum Deep Tech Acceleration, YEP.

 

The “Seeds of Bravery” project complements the ongoing initiatives of the European Research Area for Ukraine (ERA4Ukraine), Horizon4Ukraine and ERC for Ukraine, as well as a special €25 million scholarship scheme under Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) for refugee researchers from Ukraine. 

 

Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union, under the European Innovation Council (EIC). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them. UASEEDs project has received funding from the Horizon Europe Framework Programme under grant agreement No 101104445.






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PVcase wins the most important title of the year at Vilnius TechFusion Startup Awards
2024-01-12

PVcase wins the most important title of the year at Vilnius TechFusion Startup Awards

Vilnius TechFusion Startup Awards took place in the capital city on Thursday evening, recognising the most successful startups in 2023, as well as emerging and climate-friendly technology companies. The event focused not only on companies, but also on projects or leaders with a significant contribution to the startup ecosystem. The event organisers say that the annual awards allow the public to get to know the achievements of Vilnius-based companies and leaders in technology. The traditional ceremony featured 7 categories and the winners were selected by a special jury and the public.
 

The awards are an opportunity to honour the startup community

“The awards event is one of the ways to introduce the technology businesses operating in the country to the public, and to recognise their efforts and initiative. We are glad that Vilnius continues to be an attractive city for business, where Lithuanian and international startups want to establish themselves, and that their activities and ideas stimulate the growth of both the community and the capital city. By raising foreign investment, startups born in the city develop new technologies and become leaders in their field, who are visible worldwide. The data shows that the startup ecosystem of Vilnius is one of the fastest growing in Europe. We are proud of it and we hope that the awards will encourage its development even more,” says Lina Šetikienė, member of the jury and Head of Vilnius Tourism and Business Development Agency Go Vilnius.

Inga Langaitė, CEO of the association Unicorns Lithuania and member of the jury, points out that this is the 5th time that the Startup Awards have been held in Lithuania. With the number of talent working in startups growing more than 3 times (to 18 000) and the amount of taxes paid increasing more than 5 times (EUR 92.6 million in Q3 2023) in the last 5 years, we have even more potential for the future.

“The importance of technology in our daily lives and the capital in the hands of investors is only increasing. In addition, the opportunities needed to build a business today have never been more accessible. The world is on the brink of change, and we need to hurry to accumulate as much of the most essential available asset, i.e. intelligence. The startup industry in Lithuania is growing and strengthening, and we need to make sure that we live up to the potential we expect with both talent and an increase in the competitiveness of Lithuania in the region,” Ms Langaitė points out.

Meanwhile, Laima Balčiūnė, Director of Sunrise Tech Park and member of the jury, notes that startups contribute not only to the economic development, but also to the promotion of green technologies.

“These awards are an important emerging tradition to appreciate each other, support Lithuanian startups and find inspiring contacts. At the same time, it is a place to promote good change. To achieve zero emissions by 2050, the “Tech for Good” nomination is more than just praise. The cleantech sector, which includes energy, transport, resources, circular economy and more, focuses on the potential for a clean and sustainable future for Lithuania and the cleantech ecosystem, which is becoming increasingly significant with the climate change challenges growing every day,” notes Laima Balčiūnė, Director of Sunrise Tech Park.

 

“Startup of the Year” revealed

This year, startups competed in 7 different categories. The main title of the “Startup of the Year” was awarded to PVcase, a global leader in solar design software from Lithuania, which aims to combine all steps of the design and operations process of solar power plants in one platform. This startup was also awarded the “Tech for Good” prize. In 2023, PVcase not only raised an investment of USD 100 million, but also acquired a successful US company Anderson Optimization.

 

Five more category winners selected

The “Newcomer of the Year” nomination, recognising international players in the startup ecosystem growing their businesses in Vilnius, saw the triumph of Plug and Play, the US startup accelerator. This company has committed to invest EUR 6 million in at least 45 startups in Lithuania over three years. According to CB Insights, in Q4 2023, they were the most active investors in startups worldwide, with 39 deals completed.

This year, the “Rising Star” award went to Ovoko, a fast-growing platform for selling used car parts, operating in Lithuania under the name RRR.lt. The e-commerce platform is already used by more than 3 000 car part dealers from Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Poland, France and Italy, with more than 14 million parts on offer.

 

Triumph of the Tesonet accelerator and its leaders

Tomas Okmanas and Eimantas Sabaliauskas, unicorn breeders who have been creating Silicon Valley in Lithuania, were selected as the most deserving “Ecosystem Heroes” by the startups and the jury. Both of them are the leaders of Nord Security, a global leader in cybersecurity and one of Lithuania’s unicorns, the co-founders of Tesonet, a startup accelerator working with over 30 products, the authors of the Cyber City project, a technology space that was opened in 2023, and active members of the startup association Unicorns Lithuania.

Namely the opening of the Cyber City technology space in the former Sparta factory site in Vilnius was recognised as the “Highlight of the Year”. The business accelerator Tesonet moved companies such as Nord Security, Surfshark, Oxylabs, CyberCare, Hostinger and others into three 35 000 sqm office buildings. The area with co-working spaces, offices, shops, cafés, bars and sports clubs can accommodate 3 000 people.

The “Public’s Favourite” nomination was won by startup RatePunk, developing a tool that analyses the best prices on different accommodation booking platforms and suggests the best option for the traveller, saving them time and money. The winner of the “Public’s Favourite” nomination was determined solely by the votes of the public.

This year, the jury consists of: Laima Balčiūnė, Director of Sunrise TechPark, Inga Langaitė, CEO of Unicorns Lithuania, Greta Mieliauskaitė, Managing Director of the Lithuanian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, Gintarė Bačiulienė, Head of the Technology Sector Team at Invest Lithuania, Roberta Rudokienė, Managing Director at LitBan, Gintarė Narakienė, Head of Sector Development at Startup Lithuania, and Lina Šetikienė, Head of Go Vilnius.

 

Vilnius TechFusion Startup Awards 2023 are organised by Go Vilnius, Unicorns Lithuania, and Sunrise TechPark.

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Vilnius TechFusion Startup Awards, to be held on 11 January in Vilnius, reveal the competitors for the “Startup of the Year” title
2024-01-11

Vilnius TechFusion Startup Awards, to be held on 11 January in Vilnius, reveal the competitors for the “Startup of the Year” title

Vilnius TechFusion Startup Awards, one of the major events of the year, will take place on 11 [...]

Vilnius TechFusion Startup Awards, one of the major events of the year, will take place on 11 January in Vilnius, the Cyber City space, where startups will compete in 7 different categories. The award ceremony will recognise business leaders and high-tech companies with the major contribution to the growth of the Lithuanian startup ecosystem. With the awards already this week, the jury is now announcing the nominees for the most important category of the event, i.e. “Startup of the Year”.

 

For the fifth year in a row, the Startup Awards aim to recognise and honour startups that have made an important contribution to the national economy and to making the name of Vilnius known worldwide. These high goals could not be achieved without cooperation between companies. According to Inga Langaitė, a member of the jury and CEO of the startup association Unicorns Lithuania, 2023 was neither an easy nor a quiet year for startups around the world, thus the results of the Lithuanian startup ecosystem in this context are unique, with notable achievements and victories. 

“The startup sector in Lithuania is growing and getting stronger, as is the added value the sector brings to the economic growth of the country. I can give some figures: over 870 startups employing 17 800 talents are operating in Lithuania, and these startups alone added EUR 275 million to the national budget in the first three quarters of the year, which is a quarter more than at the same time last year, and EUR 272 million in investment was raised in 2023. Market adjustments take time, but I can assure you that we are definitely in the startup era – we want to publicly thank those who are creating a modern future for Lithuania based on a high added value economy,” says Ms Langaitė.

 

The “Startup of the Year” nomination aims to identify the best and most deserving startup. The winner of this category is chosen by the startup ecosystem leaders. According to Roberta Rudokienė, a member of the jury and Managing Director of the Lithuanian business angel network Litban, this nomination is not only an honour but also a responsibility.

 

“The “Startup of the Year” nomination recognises the achievements and impressive results of a startup or the value it brings to both the city of Vilnius and the entire Lithuanian startup ecosystem. From past awards, we have noticed that this award category is the most popular, both among the public and in various media. This shows that an increasing number of people are interested in the current business and startup issues in Vilnius, and more and more companies want to be included among the nominees,” notes Roberta Rudokienė.

 

The nominees of the Vilnius TechFusion Startup Awards in the “Startup of the Year” category are listed in the alphabetical order:

 

  1. carVertical, a company providing vehicle history check services;
  2. CAST AI, an all-in-one platform for Kubernetes automation, optimization, security and cost management;
  3. Ovoko, a platform for selling used car parts;
  4. PVcase, a startup developing tools to organise solar power plants;
  5. Surfshark a cybersecurity company focused on developing humanized privacy & security protection.

 

 

The “Startup of the Year” award has been previously awarded to companies such as Qoorio (2020), TransferGo (2021) and Omnisend (2022).

 

Here are the finalists in 6 more nominations:

 

The nominees in the “Ecosystem Hero” category: Darius Žakaitis, CEO of Tech Zity, Tomas Okmanas and Eimantas Sabaliauskas, Managers of Tesonet, Women Go Tech, an organisation that helps women pursue careers in IT, Lithuanian Junior Achievement, a non-governmental organisation, Vladas Lašas, an entrepreneur and investor.

 

The nominees in the “Newcomer of the Year” category: Hoperfy, a corporate travel management company, Monavate, a payment solutions company, Deep Scientific, a startup developing molecular sensors, Payhawk, a business financial solutions and cost management company, and Plug and Play, the Lithuanian branch of the US Startup Accelerator.

 

The nominees in the “Rising Star” category: Ovoko, a platform for selling used car parts, Atrandi Bioscience, a biotechnology company, Turing College, a company that trains high-tech employees, Heavy Finance, a climate tech company, and myTU, a digital banking platform.

The nominees in the “Highlight of the Year” category: opening of the Cyber City area in Naujamiestis, organisation of a direct flight to the Web Summit and related events, launch of the Tech Zity Vilnius project for startups, the first public IT exam in Lithuania, and the Lithuanian startup ecosystem.

 

The nominees in the “Tech for Good” category: Viezo, a creator of a generator that converts vibrations into electricity, Inbalance grid, a developer of electric vehicle solutions and a network of charging stations, Inion, a developer of solar monitoring and analysis tools, PVcase, a company developing advanced solar power plant design tools, and Dancer, a company offering electric public transport solutions.

 

The nominees in the “Public’s Favourite” category: AMLYZE, a RegTech startup offering automated AML solutions to fintech companies, Hoperfy, a corporate travel management company, RatePunk, a tool for finding the best hotel rates on the web, RSI Europe, a company specialising in the development of innovative radio and electronic systems for the defence sector, and Surfshark, a global privacy security solutions company founded in Lithuania.

 

This year, the jury consists of: Laima Balčiūnė, Director of Sunrise TechPark, Inga Langaitė, CEO of Unicorns Lithuania, Greta Mieliauskaitė, Managing Director of the Lithuanian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, Gintarė Bačiulienė, Head of the Technology Sector Team at Invest Lithuania, Roberta Rudokienė, Managing Director of LitBan, Gintarė Narakienė, Head of Sector Development at Startup Lithuania, and Lina Šetikienė, Head of Go Vilnius.

 

Vilnius TechFusion Startup Awards 2023 are organised by Vilnius Tourism and Business Development Agency Go Vilnius, the association Unicorns Lithuania, and Sunrise TechPark. The award ceremony, which will take place on 11 January 2024, will be streamed live remotely: https://www.delfi.lt/a/95553567 or on Facebook.

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20 million euros for Ukrainian Tech Ecosystem: first call for applications!
2023-12-20

20 million euros for Ukrainian Tech Ecosystem: first call for applications!

December 20, Kyiv — A pan-European consortium, composed by renowned tech, funding and business companies, signed a €20 million grant agreement with the European Innovation Council (EIC) for the [...]

December 20, Kyiv — A pan-European consortium, composed by renowned tech, funding and business companies, signed a €20 million grant agreement with the European Innovation Council (EIC) for the deployment of an initiative, "Seeds of Bravery" (UASEEDs), aimed at supporting the Ukrainian Tech Ecosystem.

The consortium is now accepting applications for Innovation Services of up to €10,000 per startup. This grant aims to assist innovative tech companies in improving their business model, business plan, or growth strategy. 

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With a focus on deep tech innovation, the group has earmarked €12 million to support over 200 Ukrainian startups that have been allocated by the European Innovation Council (EIC). 

The Innovation Services are the initial part of a comprehensive package of 5 types of support, with a potential grant totaling €60,000. The different types of support will be:

  • Innovation Services (up to 10k€)
  • Entrepreneurship (restart, relocate, continuity, and women entrepreneurs) (up to 25k€)
  • Deep Tech incubation (up to 25k€)
  • Rebuilding Ukraine (up to 25k€)
  • Deep Tech Scale-Up (up to 50k€)

"Seeds of Bravery" initiative aims to not only provide support but also attract additional investment, promote Ukrainian projects, train entrepreneurs, enter international markets, and integrate the Ukrainian innovation ecosystem into the European network. The initiative also plans to introduce more innovation services, including: IPR and patent analysis, user experience pilots, demand testing or piloting, market analysis/validation, internationalization services (such as participating in conferences, fairs and missions), portfolio management services, investor relations, planning, and digital tools for (equity) crowdfunding campaigns. 

An interesting aspect of the "Seeds of Bravery" project is that it is centered around fostering women's entrepreneurship, with a minimum goal of having 20% of startups and innovative SMEs led or co-led by women.

For more information on the terms and conditions, please follow the link: https://seedsofbravery.eu/ 

To apply: https://getonepass.eu/opportunities/uaseed 

The opening of applications for the remaining “Seeds of Bravery” types of support will be announced shortly.

More about “Seeds of Bravery”:The “Seeds of Bravery” project was initially announced in May 2023.  The consortium is coordinated by FundingBox, the leading European platform for deep tech funding distribution to startups. The Ukrainian members of the consortium include the Ukrainian Startup Fund, Vacuum Deep Tech Acceleration, Cyber/nnov8, Techosystem, EEN Ukraine + Academy of Science and YEP.

"We are grateful to the European Innovation Council for entrusting FundingBox with the coordination of this transformative project for Ukraine and the EU ecosystem. Such funding not only stimulates the development of more than 200 innovative teams, but also demonstrates the joint efforts that bring together Ukrainian and European organizations to restore and strengthen the technology ecosystem. FundingBox Accelerator is honored to coordinate this effort leading the Seeds of Bravery consortium to help the Ukrainian tech ecosystem get to the next level." — Anna Dymowska, CEO, FundingBox Accelerator, Warsaw, Poland.

"In the contemporary landscape, investments in the tech sector function as a source of inspiration, instilling confidence among Ukrainian innovators in the prospect of growth. Together with FundingBox and other consortium members, we are honored to be a part of this initiative, contributing to the recovery of the Ukrainian innovative ecosystem. We are currently actively working on the fastest launch of the project to help unlock the potential of Ukrainian deep tech." — Pavlo Kartashov, CEO of the Ukrainian Startup Fund. 

“We strongly believe that innovations and technology entrepreneurship will be the locomotive of Ukraine’s future economy. Seeds of Bravery consortium is a truly unique pan-European partnership that unites some of the strongest players in the ecosystem, including start-up associations, innovation agencies, academia and accelerators all focused on supporting Ukraine’s innovation community and integrating it into the wider European technological ecosystem.  We welcome another major step from the European Commission and European Innovation Council to support Ukraine in creation and growth of breakthrough innovations to address existing local rebuilding and recovery, and global challenges.” — Sviatoslav Sviatnenko, Founder and CEO, cyber/nnov8

The “Seed of Bravery” project complements the ongoing initiatives of the European Research Area for Ukraine (ERA4Ukraine), Horizon4Ukraine and ERC for Ukraine, as well as a special €25 million scholarship scheme under Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) for refugee researchers from Ukraine. 

Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them. UASEEDs project has received funding from the Horizon Europe Framework Programme under grant agreement No 101104445.

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Sunrise Tech Park unveils plans for Cleantech competence center
2023-12-04

Sunrise Tech Park unveils plans for Cleantech competence center

From its humble beginnings as a startup incubator 20 years ago, Lithuania’s Sunrise Tech Park has evolved into the region's premier hub for tech startup experience sharing and [...]

From its humble beginnings as a startup incubator 20 years ago, Lithuania’s Sunrise Tech Park has evolved into the region's premier hub for tech startup experience sharing and networking. Over the next few years, park aims to transform into a European-level cleantech competence center.

Over two decades, the park has provided innovation support services to more than 350 Lithuanian companies, contributed to the emergence and growth of nearly 150 startups, and executed 44 projects accelerating innovation culture, collaboration between science and business, and integrating sustainability and digitization.

   

In the last six years alone, investments attracted for the development of startups and park projects exceeded 18 million Euros.

"Today we witness the organization's transformation into a new quality competence center, employing current resources further expanding high-tech infrastructure for startup incubation, nurturing innovation culture and the startup ecosystem," says Laima Balčiūnė, Sunrise Tech Park CEO.

The cleantech business promotion initiatives created by the park became the first projects of this type, the example of which was later followed by many businesses that are expanding globally today.

Initiatives like the "Climate Launchpad" or the pre-accelerator "Futurepreneurs" were the first of their kind in Lithuania, dedicated to addressing sustainability and climate change challenges.

Over two decades, the park has seen the growth of globally recognized and successful companies such as "Oxipit," "Deeper," "Bored Panda," "Eskimi," and "Integrated Optics."

In the last couple of years, a new biotech startup cluster has naturally emerged in the park, featuring prominent names in Lithuania's life sciences startup ecosystem, including "CasZyme," "Delta Biosciences," "Vital 3D Technologies" and others.

The close partnership with Vilnius TECH and Vilnius University's academic community significantly contributed to the growth of these technological startups.

Embarking on Cleantech leadership

Lithuania's cleantech sector currently leads in size and scope among Baltic countries. Notable startups in this sector, such as "Vinted", "PVcase", "Inbalance Grid" and "Ovoko" have successfully attracted multimillion-dollar investments from international VC funds, demonstrating Lithuania's maturity in the cleantech sector.

However, the rapidly growing sector still faces challenges in attracting more investments, with a need for increased government attention to create favorable conditions for the development of companies in this field, including tailored regulatory environments.

Therefore, one of the park's major tasks this year was the foundation of the "Cleantech for Baltics" coalition and the formulation of a climate change mitigation agenda for local governments. Alongside partners from Latvia and Estonia, the park took the lead in advocating for the importance of the clean technology sector to regions economies and positioning Lithuania in the global economic context.

"In renewable energy, new mobility and other cleantech sectors, significant global investments are coming, and we should use this trend to our advantage. Several years ago we established Lithuania's cleantech cluster and since then we actively participate in the national mission “Smart and Climate Neutral Lithuania”. We are ready for a breakthrough," says Laima Balčiūnė of Sunrise Tech Park.

Today, Sunrise Tech Park is considered the major technology park in the Baltic countries, accumulating knowledge in the cleantech sector and facilitating startups in this field. The park’s new generation Sustainable business incubator-accelerator is under way, injecting even more energy into this dynamic ecosystem.

Recently, the park became a partner in the European Commission’s pan-European network who will implement a €20 million European Innovation Council (EIC) action supporting Ukraine’s innovation community. The initiative will support at least 200 Ukrainian deep tech start-ups with up to €60 000 each to further develop their innovation and business activities.

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Election of the best Lithuanian startups of the year: the first nominees announced
2023-11-21

Election of the best Lithuanian startups of the year: the first nominees announced

For the fifth year in a row, the leaders, businesses and high-tech companies with the most significant contribution to the growth of the startup ecosystem in Lithuania will be honored at the Vilnius [...]

For the fifth year in a row, the leaders, businesses and high-tech companies with the most significant contribution to the growth of the startup ecosystem in Lithuania will be honored at the Vilnius TechFusion Startup Awards on 11 January 2024. The first 25 nominees, representing 5 ecosystem growth areas, have been announced.

The Awards aim to recognise and present to the public the startups that create the most value, to thank them for promoting Vilnius and contributing to the growth of the Lithuanian economy. This year, the team of Go Vilnius, the organiser of the Awards, has been joined by the Lithuanian Startups Association Unicorns Lithuania and the Sunrise Tech Park. Valdas Benkunskas, Mayor of Vilnius, says that the annual event, organised for the startup community, not only helps to reveal the true significance of high-tech to the city, but also brings the business community closer together.

“Vilnius has many promising and entrepreneurial minds who are able to offer relevant products to the world, thus creating new jobs in our country and paying taxes here. This is why it is so important to continue to develop initiatives such as the Startup Awards, which help our ecosystem stay united and achieve even better results. Last year’s winners include companies that have established themselves in the global marketplace and have millions of customers. I believe that the winners of the Awards categories this year will be no exception and that we will soon see many more unicorns born in Vilnius,” comments Mr Benkunskas.

 

The organisers announce the first 5 nominations:

 

Newcomer of the Year. The newcomers in the ecosystem who have achieved excellent results both in Lithuania and internationally will be awarded. Nominees:

  • Hoperfy, a corporate travel management company.
  • Monavate, a payment solutions company.
  • Deep Scientific, Deep Scientific, a start-up developing molecular sensors.
  • Payhawk, a business financial solutions and cost management company
  • PlugAndPlay, the Lithuanian branch of the US Startup Accelerator.

 

Rising star. The startups with high growth potential, rapid growth or significant expansion will be awarded. Nominees:

  • Ovoko, a platform for selling used car parts.
  • Atrandi Bioscience, a biotechnology company.
  • Turing School, a company that trains high-tech employees.
  • Heavy Finance, a crowdfunding platform.
  • myTU, a digital banking platform.

 

Highlight of the Year. An event or phenomenon that grows the startup ecosystem of Lithuania and encourages it to become the best place for unicorns. Nominees:

  • Opening of the Cyber City area in Naujamiestis.
  • Organisation of a direct flight to the Web Summit and related events.
  • Launch of the Tech Zity Vilnius project for startups.
  • The first public IT exam in Lithuania.
  • The Lithuanian startup ecosystem is the second fastest growing in Central and Eastern Europe. The value of the Lithuanian startup ecosystem has grown 17 times in 5 years.

 

Tech for Good. The nominees are the cleantech startups who are using technology to protect our planet:

  • Viezo, creators of a generator that converts vibrations into electricity.
  • Inbalance grid, developers of electric vehicle solutions and a network of charging stations
  • Inion, a developer of solar monitoring and analysis tools,
  • PVcase, a startup developing tools to organise solar power plants.
  • Dancer, a company offering electric public transport solutions.

 

Ecosystem Hero. These are startups, individuals or organisations that have successfully increased communication between communities and engaged their members in pursuing common goals. Nominees:

  • Darius Žakaitis, CEO of Tech Zity.
  • Tomas Okmanas and Eimantas Sabaliauskas, Managers of Tesonet.
  • Women Go Tech, an organisation that helps women pursue careers in IT.
  • Lithuanian Junior Achievement, a non-governmental organisation.
  • Vladas Lašas, an entrepreneur and investor.

 

Ecosystem growth is inseparable from cooperation

According to Inga Langaitė, CEO of Unicorns Lithuania, sharing experiences and connections both within the ecosystem and abroad is one of the prerequisites for the startup growth.

“By building a startup community, we share experiences and insights, provide a platform to help startups grow faster and solve various issues together. The Awards are not only about finding out who deserves to win, but also about encouraging the creation of the future of Lithuania – a successful modern country based on a high added value economy. We aim to have a startup ecosystem where startups become an important driver of Lithuania’s economic growth,” says Ms Langaitė.

Vilnius Mayor Mr Benkunskas points out that it is the community of startups and high-tech companies that makes Vilnius highly visible on the global map of business, investors and talent. This helps the city to receive highly significant awards in various international competitions. The best examples of this are the Europe’s Top City of the Future by fDi Intelligence, a branch of Financial Times, or the Business-Friendly City Perception Index by Emerging Europe, where Vilnius, which is celebrating its 700th anniversary this year, has been recognised as the most business-friendly city in emerging Europe.

 

Last year’s Awards winners celebrate their recognition

Omnisend won the “Startup of the Year” title at the Vilnius TechFusion Startup Awards last year. According to Rytis Laurinavičius, CEO of the company having more than 100 000 clients in 130 countries, winning such an award helps to understand that the company is moving in the right direction.

“Like every award, it gave me a lot of joy and motivation. I thought there were other strong candidates and I didn’t consider us favourites. When you work, you see yourself from all sides – the underdog and the overachiever, so it’s important to see yourself from a winning perspective. It means a lot. These awards, together with the work we, Vilnius TechFusion, Unicorns LT or other startups, have done, mean that other businesses no longer look down on us. They appreciate our efforts and results. The ongoing Startup Awards help us to appreciate, understand and feel part of the community. Such initiatives connect and strengthen the community,” notes Mr Laurinavičius.

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Cleantech for Baltics Ecosystem Coalition launched to drive sustainable development in the region
2023-06-07

Cleantech for Baltics Ecosystem Coalition launched to drive sustainable development in the region

Cleantech for Baltics Ecosystem Coalition was officially launched in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, marking a significant milestone in the run towards net-zero for the Baltic [...]

Cleantech for Baltics Ecosystem Coalition was officially launched in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, marking a significant milestone in the run towards net-zero for the Baltic cleantech sector on May 23. Cleantech for Baltics initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of clean technologies and foster collaboration among the Baltic countries — Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. By pooling resources, knowledge, and expertise, Cleantech for Baltics endeavours to address pressing environmental challenges as business opportunities for driving the transition to a sustainable future.

The key objective of the Cleantech for Baltics Ecosystem Coalition is to tackle the Baltic cleantech challenges together - to increase investment opportunities and influence policy development - for creating the best environment for the growth of Baltic cleantech startups and scaleups.  “This collaborative initiative represents a crucial step towards a development of Cleantech for Baltics, as we bring together key ecosystem members to drive innovation, motivate partnerships, and create lasting positive impact in our region,” says Erki Ani, Executive Director at Cleantech for Baltics.

The Coalition serves as a knowledge and opportunity sharing platform updating one another on the latest developments in the cleantech sector and sharing valuable insights and experiences. Cleantech for Baltics provides regular insights of the Baltic cleantech sector and policy scene; up-to-date information and analysis on the latest trends, innovations, and opportunities for the cleantech industry with the possibility to influence local and EU policy-making through the collaboration between Cleantech for Europe and other regional  cleantech initiatives. By staying informed and engaged, the coalition members can make more informed decisions and drive positive change in their respective domains. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, the coalition aims to strengthen the collective efforts towards achieving sustainable growth.

To further advance the adoption of clean technologies, the coalition conducts deep dives into various cleantech sub-categories. By examining specific areas such as renewable energy, waste management, and sustainable transportation, the coalition aims to identify challenges, best practices, and emerging solutions. This in-depth exploration enables the coalition to develop targeted strategies and initiatives that address the unique needs and opportunities within each sub-category and country.

By harnessing the power of cleantech innovation, we can revolutionize industries, mitigate climate change, and create a world where sustainability is the foundation of prosperity,” said Dr. Éric Dusseux, Venture Partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a Cleantech for Baltics member and organization that aims to accelerate the clean energy transition to help the world reach net-zero emissions by 2050. “This ecosystem coalition will strengthen European cleantech and be a catalyst for decarbonization that will help safeguard the planet for future generations.

The Cleantech for Baltics ecosystem coalition has successfully launched, bringing together a distinguished group of prominent organisations and associations dedicated to driving the race towards net-zero and fostering clean technology innovation in the Baltic region. The coalition boasts an impressive line-up of esteemed members, including the Latvian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, Estonian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, Lithuanian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, Latvian Business Angel Network, Estonian Business Angel Network, Lithuanian Business Angel Network, Latvian Startup Association Startin.LV, Rockit Vilnius, Startup Estonia, Estonian Founders Society, Lithuanian Responsible Business Association, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, Accelerate Estonia, Lithuanian Confederation of Renewable Resources, CleanTech Cluster Lithuania, Estonian Renewable Energy Association and Hydrogen Alliance Latvia.

Cleantech for Baltics is powered by Cleantech Estonia, Greentech Cluster Latvia, and Sunrise Tech Park, and is supported by Breakthrough Energy, a network of investment vehicles, philanthropic initiatives and policy and advocacy efforts founded by Bill Gates in 2015 to accelerate the clean energy transition and help the world reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Launched in 2021, Cleantech for Europe represents the trailblazers developing, deploying and invesng in clean technologies across the EU. Our mission is to make cleantech a strategic priority in the EU by bridging the gap between cleantech and policy leaders. The iniave equips policymakers with insights about cleantech and builds coalions to chart a new path for the connent.

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Lithuanian Cleantech Ecosystem 2022 Review
2023-04-13

Lithuanian Cleantech Ecosystem 2022 Review

In 2017 the consolidation of the Lithuanian cleantech market began. Since then, investments in local cleantech have reached 705 mils EUR. The energy, transportation, and [...]

In 2017 the consolidation of the Lithuanian cleantech market began. Since then, investments in local cleantech have reached 705 mils EUR. The energy, transportation, and resources sectors have been booming the most, with 48 startups and scale-ups attracting more than 50 investment rounds during the period.

The new “Lithuanian Cleantech Ecosystem 2022 Review”, published by Sunrise Tech Park and Cleantech Cluster Lithuania, analyzes local energy, mobility, and resource startup ecosystems, as well as engineering and production scale-ups with globally recognized cleantech products & services. 

The research aims to highlight the importance of Lithuania’s clean technology sector for the local economy and position Lithuania in the context of the global economy. As renewable energy, new mobility, and related cleantech sectors are attracting significant global investments, it is hoped Lithuania should play an important role in this process. 

Click HERE to see the review  or check this link: https://bit.ly/LTCleantechEcosystem.

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Launch of Cleantech for Baltics to help become a vanguard in sustainable innovation
2022-11-30

Launch of Cleantech for Baltics to help become a vanguard in sustainable innovation

Cleantech for Baltics was launched at Baltic Sustainability Awards in Riga on November 30th. 

Cleantech for Baltics

Cleantech for Baltics was launched at Baltic Sustainability Awards in Riga on November 30th. 

Cleantech for Baltics goal is to strengthen the region by streamlining available opportunities and enabling stakeholders to mobilize finance, policies and demand to accelerate innovation. We intend to build bridges between the cleantech community and the Baltic policy-makers to put cleantech innovation at the centre of the public debate. 

“The Baltics are one of the most exciting regions for cleantech innovation in Europe. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania can leverage their vibrant innovation ecosystems and strong demand for energy security and sustainability to develop and scale the technologies we need for a global net-zero emissions future. We believe that the Cleantech for Baltics coalition can be a platform for more coordination between investors, public decision-makers, innovators and companies to establish a new Baltic leadership in cleantech,” says Julia Reinaud, Senior Director at Breakthrough Energy.

Baltic countries are already taking ambitious steps towards the race to net zero with vibrant innovation ecosystems, regional and national policies in place, and more under development, not to mention the growing number of climate-aware industrial players, venture funds focusing on cleantech, sustainability-oriented citizens, and world-class scientists. As a group of three agile countries with shared sustainability and energy security goals, the Baltic region can build on cross-border synergies and complementarities to become one of the leading regions for developing and deployment the next generation of clean energy technologies.

“The Baltics are a great launchpad for cleantech innovation. The strong start-up culture means ideas can be validated quickly, before being scaled across Europe. We are thrilled to see Baltic countries coming together to make cleantech a regional strategic priority,” says Jules Besnainou, Executive Director at Cleantech for Europe. 

“While our countries share a somewhat similar culture and history, the ambitions and progress in the cleantech sector innovation haven’t been too coordinated. Now, with the help of world-class leadership, we are translating the strategic development into a tremendous economic potential,” says Erki Ani, Chief Executive Officer at Cleantech for Baltics. 

Issuing the Baltic cleantech sector report, looking at investment figures into innovative   startups   and   policy-level   opportunities   or   hindrances   in   Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania marks the first step towards the planned activities of the initiative. Moreover, strengthening the core of Cleantech for Baltics, the founding members of the investor's coalition held the first meeting on November 29 to align the interests and paths forward in seeking broader scale capital allocation opportunities and insights from the Baltics VC community.

Cleantech for Baltics is supported by Breakthrough Energy and powered by Cleantech Estonia, Greentech Cluster Latvia and Sunrise Valley Science and Tech Park. 

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About Breakthrough Energy 

Breakthrough Energy was founded by Bill Gates in 2015 to accelerate the clean energy transition and help the world reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Through investment vehicles, philanthropic programs, policy advocacy and other activities, Breakthrough Energy is committed to scaling the technologies the world needs to meet its climate goals. 

About Cleantech for Europe 

Launched in 2021, Cleantech for Europe represents the trailblazers developing, deploying and investing in clean technologies across the EU. Our mission is to make cleantech a strategic priority in the EU by bridging the gap between cleantech and policy leaders. The initiative equips policymakers with insights about cleantech and builds coalitions to chart a new path for the continent.

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