On August 28, 2025, the training program Venture Catalysts successfully concluded its third edition, marking another significant step in strengthening Latvia’s science-driven innovation ecosystem. Over the course of five intensive weeks, nearly 50 researchers, entrepreneurs, and deep-tech enthusiasts have successfully graduated the program by participating in lectures, workshops, and mentoring sessions designed to transform scientific knowledge into ventures.
The program, launched on July 29, was structured around practical skills development, entrepreneurial mindset building, and commercial readiness. Participants engaged in hands-on sessions covering a wide range of topics crucial for science-based entrepreneurship, including:
- Innovation and commercialization strategies by exploring how to bring scientific discoveries to market.
- Startup team building and HR management by understanding team roles, responsibilities, and scaling strategies.
- Evaluating technological advantages by identifying the innovation, commercial, and intellectual property potential of research outcomes.
- Organizational development and resilience by handling uncertainty, risk, and long-term growth of ventures.
- Entrepreneurial leadership by learning different leadership styles and their impact on organizational culture and performance.
Throughout the program, participants learned from the expertise of both Latvian and international professionals. Among the speakers and mentors were Andris Baumanis, Ella Kalniņa, Voldemārs Brēdiķis, Greg Mathers, Irina Sennikova, and others, who shared their experience in building, leading, and financing innovative companies.
About Venture Catalysts
Venture Catalysts is a national training initiative that supports the development of science-based startups in Latvia. A joint effort by LIAA, UniLab, RTU Riga Business School, and RISEBA, and funded from the ERDF project "Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship of SMEs", the program is designed to accelerate the commercialization of deep tech innovation and foster a more dynamic and globally competitive startup ecosystem.
As this batch concludes, the program leaves behind not only newly acquired skills and knowledge but also a stronger community of innovators, ready to shape the future of Latvia’s science-based entrepreneurship.