Applications are now open for the 6th and final cohort of “Venture Catalysts”, which will take place from 13 October to 12 November 2026. The practical training programme invites researchers, entrepreneurs, innovation enthusiasts, and anyone interested in gaining foundational knowledge of deep tech, innovation, and how to develop innovative ideas, taking the first steps from an idea towards potential commercialisation.
“Venture Catalysts” is a practical training programme designed both for participants who are just beginning to explore deep tech and science-based innovation and for those who already have an idea they would like to develop further. The programme aims to provide participants with foundational knowledge and practical tools to help them understand the process of developing and commercialising innovations. The programme is organised by UniLab in cooperation with Riga Business School at Riga Technical University (RTU), RISEBA, and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA).
The programme will run online for five weeks and will include 10 sessions held every Tuesday and Thursday from 17:00 to 19:00. During the sessions, participants will gain practical insights into topics such as innovation and technology commercialisation, startup team building, intellectual property strategy, entrepreneurial leadership, evaluation of technological advantages, innovation management, and investment attraction.
The programme will give participants the opportunity to gain practical knowledge of innovation and deep tech fundamentals, understand how to develop and build a startup, and connect with experienced mentors and industry professionals. Participants will be able to develop their ideas, gain confidence in taking the next steps, and build connections with other members of the innovation ecosystem.
An important part of the programme is hands-on experience and the opportunity to learn from professionals across different fields. The programme brings together participants with diverse backgrounds and expertise, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, idea development, and a better understanding of how science-based innovations can become the foundation for new business solutions.
Applications are open until 4 October 2026. As the final – sixth – cohort of the programme, it will provide one more opportunity for interested participants to gain foundational knowledge and practical tools for developing deep tech and innovation.
We invite everyone interested to take advantage of this opportunity and apply for the 6th cohort of “Venture Catalysts” by 4 October.
About Venture Catalysts
Venture Catalysts is a nationwide training initiative that supports the development of science-based startups in Latvia. It is a joint initiative by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), UniLab, RTU Riga Business School, and RISEBA, funded through the ERDF project “Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises” (1.2.3.1/1/23/I/001). The program aims to accelerate the commercialization of deep tech innovations and promote a dynamic and competitive startup ecosystem in Latvia.