Startup Awards 2026
Latvian Startup Awards
Ceremony and announcement of winners
Until the ceremony 00d 00h 00min 00s
The Latvian Startup Awards 2026 are back to celebrate the people behind it all: the founders who went for it, the teams who kept going, and the ideas that made us stop and think, damn, that’s good.
2026 process
Nominations and judging
The process is simpler this year. It runs in five stages, from nominations opening on 30 September to the ceremony on 6 November.
- 01
30 September to 9 October
Nearly 20 organisations and representatives of Latvia's startup ecosystem are invited to nominate candidates.
- 02
2 to 16 October
Public nominations open, including the option to nominate yourself in one of the categories.
Nominations closed on 16 October.
- 03
19 October
Nominations are compiled and Community Choice goes to a public vote.Nominations are compiled and Community Choice goes to a public vote.
Voting is open until 27 October.
The public vote closed on 27 October.
- 04
Shortly before the Startup Awards ceremony
The jury evaluates the nominees against the set criteria and selects the winners.
- 05
6 November
Startup Awards 2026 ceremony and announcement of the winners.
Categories
Seven categories for 2026
What each award recognises, as described by the organisers.
- 01
Newcomer
A promising newcomer (the company was incorporated within the last 2 years) to the Latvian startup scene, demonstrating high potential for growth and market demand.
- 02
Breakthrough
A startup that has accomplished remarkable goals in the past year, e.g. unicorn, exit, IPO, big investment deal, exponential growth, new significant market.
- 03
DeepTech
A startup developing breakthrough technology based on significant scientific or engineering innovation, with the potential to solve complex real-world challenges and create substantial market impact.
- 04
Defense Tech
A startup developing technologies that strengthen national security, defence and societal resilience (from military and dual-use solutions to cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection and civil preparedness), with proven relevance and traction among defence or security end-users.
- 05
Founder-Hero
Recognises the exceptional leadership and vision of an individual who has made a significant impact in the startup ecosystem.
- 06
Community Choice
Public vote from 19 OctoberA startup which, whatever the reason, inspires you. Perhaps it’s their work ethic and team culture that resonate with you? Or maybe it’s the can-do mentality and the bravery to go where no one else is heading? This category is a carte blanche, so use this opportunity to voice your choice!
The public vote closed on 27 October.
- 07
FinTech
The description will come from the institution presenting this award.
Until the ceremony
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Ceremony
Latvian Startup Awards 2026 ceremony and announcement of winners
- Date
- Friday, 6 November 2026
- Time
- 17:00 to 22:00
- Venue
- Latvian Railway History Museum, Uzvaras bulvāris 2A, Riga
- Registration
- Register on Luma
Programme
- 17:15Doors open and networking
- 18:00The Year Wrapped: the highs, the lessons and everything in between
- 18:30Latvian Startup Awards ceremony
- 20:00DJ, drinks and networking until 22:00
Event details from the organisers, checked on 14 October 2026.
Jury
Who picks the winners
Ieva Felman
Senior Startup Ecosystem Project Manager at Riga Investment and Tourism Agency
LinkedInAnda Asere
Startup media expertCo-founder of Finday
LinkedInAnna Andersone
Co-founder and CEO of StartSchoolChairperson of the Board of Riga TechGirls
LinkedInArta Abasina
Head of Business Operations at FYUL
LinkedInAndris K. Berzins
Partner at Change Ventures
LinkedIn
Archive
Winners and finalists from earlier years
2025
- Breakthrough, Winner: Aerones
- Newcomer, Winner: BirdyChat
- Scaleup, Winner: HackMotion
- Impact, Winner: Protium Technologies
- Hardware, Winner: Azeron
- Digital, Winner: Handwave
- Community Choice, Winner: The Crowd
- DefenceTech Special Award, Winner: Ascent Lumina
The organisers have not yet published the Founder-Hero winner’s name or the 2025 finalists.
2024
- Breakthrough, Winner: Supliful, Other finalists: AM Craft, Viangoo
- Newcomer, Winner: RivalSense, Other finalists: Affire, Blossom Reads
- Scaleup, Winner: Prime Prometics, Other finalists: Aerones, HackMotion
- Impact, Winner: PrintyMed, Other finalists: Longenesis, Spirulina Nord
- Hardware, Winner: HackMotion, Other finalists: Adventum Tech, Bruntor
- Digital, Winner: Abillio, Other finalists: RivalSense, ZOLT
- Founder-Hero, Winner: James Berdigans, Other finalists: Kristofs Blaus, Roberts Bernans
- Community Choice, Winner: Spirulina Nord
Results as published by the organisers, checked 19 October 2026.
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