UniLab

🚀 The Venture Catalysts program is in full swing and here's what we've been up to.

Over the past weeks, we've brought together entrepreneurs and researchers on one mission: transforming innovative ideas into real, scalable businesses. From deep dives into intellectual property and funding strategies to leadership and team-building sessions, every step has been intentional.

We've watched ideas take shape - participants learning about the commercial potential of their work, and building the confidence and tools to take their ventures to the next level.

This is what Venture Catalysts is all about 💡

Innovation in defence is not built in isolation - it thrives through collaboration, trust, and shared purpose 🤝

At the NATO DIANA Local Demo Day, held as part of the Drone Summit in Riga, we witnessed exactly that.

The event showcased startups from the NATO DIANA accelerator ecosystem, for 6 months also hosted in UniLab Defence accelerator in Riga. FireSwarm Solutions Inc, Aviant, Volta Space Technologies, Marble, Alchemy - their solutions demonstrated how emerging technologies are addressing real-world security and resilience challenges across the Alliance

Beyond the pitches, the discussions highlighted something equally important: the strength of the ecosystem behind innovation. Particularly valuable were the panel discussions on building transatlantic bridges and the realities of supporting startups through the defence innovation journey. The exchange of perspectives from NATO DIANA, military practitioners, international partners, and ecosystem builders reinforced the importance of collaboration in turning innovative ideas into operational capabilities 🤝

🙏 A sincere thank you to all speakers, innovators, mentors, partners, and attendees who made the event possible - Uģis Norītis, Ilmars A. Lejins, Dr. Catherine F. Cahill, Maj. JC (Wilk) Wilkinson, Nicolas Lepage, Rune Linding, Adam Poirier, Maj. Modris Kairiss and our own Andris Baumanis & Krists Avots.

The energy, expertise, and commitment in the room made it clear that the future of defence innovation is being built today. Looking forward to seeing these technologies continue their journey from concept to capability.

🌱 Founder Spotlight

From an idea to a mission - meet Hini, Founder of Green Loop Farm and one of the ambitious founders in our Venture Catalysts program.

Hini is in the early stage of building his startup and growing as a founder. His project tackles a real challenge: helping small farms become more sustainable and efficient. Green Loop Farm brings together circular agriculture, IoT automation, and digital farm management tools to make smart farming accessible to the farms that need it most.

So why Venture Catalysts?
💬 ""I joined the Venture Catalysts program because I wanted to learn more about startups, innovation, and how to transform an idea into a scalable business. The program has been a very valuable experience for me so far, especially because it connects ambitious people.""

Building the future of agriculture isn't a solo journey and Hini's story is a reminder that the right idea, paired with the right community, can grow into something meaningful.

We can't wait to see where Green Loop Farm goes next.

Lear more about Green Loop Farm: https://github.com/hinitbth-droid/smart-micro-farm-iot

🚀 Ready to scale your startup internationally?

Applications are now open for the second cohort of the “Time 2 Scale” international growth program - a 9-month accelerator designed for ambitious tech startups looking to expand globally. 🌍

The program is organized by Riga Technical University, Hanken School of Economics, and Estonian Business School, offering hands-on support for:
✨ International growth & market expansion
💰 Investment readiness & investor communication
📈 Sales strategy & customer acquisition
🧠 Expert-led workshops & tailored mentoring
🤝 Access to valuable partner and investor networks
✈️ Up to €1000 support for business trips
🎤 Opportunities to attend startup events like SLUSH, TechChill, and Latitude59

If your startup is ready for the next stage of growth, this is your chance to accelerate with support from leading Baltic innovation partners. 🚀
📅 Application deadline: June 15
👉 Apply here:
https://lnkd.in/dXHMasAc

The “Crystal Arrow 2026” exercise this year focused on improving brigade-level planning and the ex*****on of operations. Also, Latvian and Canadian soldiers integrated different technologies to support the ex*****on of their tasks 🙌

At “UniLab Defense”, we focus on helping innovators bring technologies to users faster. It’s great to see that some of them have already been tested. Thanks for the support Adam Poirier, Ilmars Lejins and NATO Multinational Division North .

👆 On May 27 join for the 6th closed Defence Tech Meetup, co-hosted by UniLab Defence and Startup House Riga, as part of the NATO DIANA UniLab Defence accelerator site in Latvia Demo Day.

🤝🛡️The meetup brings together government and armed forces, researchers, defence companies, investors, and technology developers to connect Latvia’s defence tech ecosystem with international partners.

The event will be conducted under Chatham House Rule to ensure open and honest conversation.

Registration is mandatory and should be approved by organizers.
Registration here 👉 https://luma.com/pt5vancs

✨ The journey has begun!

Venture Catalysts is now officially underway, bringing together ambitious researchers, innovators, and future founders ready to turn ideas into impact.

Over the next 5 weeks, participants will dive into hands-on learning, connect with experienced mentors, and take real steps toward building science-based ventures.

💡 From early-stage ideas to market-ready concepts, this is where transformation happens.

We can’t wait to see the ideas grow, teams evolve, and innovations come to life.

Stay with us as we follow their journey.

The program is supported by the ERDF project “Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship of SMEs”.

Deep Tech Atelier 2026 was a great opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and showcase innovation alongside the Baltic deep tech community 🚀

A huge thank you to everyone who visited the UniLab Expo / Demo Area, stopped by our booth, asked questions, shared ideas, and connected with our teams. We were truly happy to see so much interest, curiosity, and great conversations throughout the day.

Special thanks to the teams showcasing their work and prototypes:
🌲 Spruceful
🌊 SUBmerge Baltic
🧪 Bdetect
🚁 G-HOST
🌀BladeLifesMatter
🐟 Freshwave
💧SwyTest

Events like this remind us how important it is to bring together people, ideas, research, technology, and entrepreneurship in one place.

⏰ LAST CALL! Applications extended until May 17!

This is your final chance to join Venture Catalysts, the 5-week training program for aspiring entrepreneurs and researchers ready to turn ideas into real ventures.

During the program you will gain:
•⁠ ⁠A commercialization roadmap tailored to your idea
•⁠ ⁠Practical tools for funding, IP, and team building
•⁠ ⁠Leadership strategies for navigating uncertainty and growth
•⁠ ⁠Dedicated tracks for both entrepreneurs and researchers

Don't miss your chance!

👉 Apply here: https://liaa.business.gov.lv/en/event/training-program-venture-catalysts-1

The program is supported by the ERDF project “Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship of SMEs”.