Applications for the UniLab Elevate Pre-Acceleration Program are open
Until September 12, students, researchers, employees or recent graduates of Latvian universities of science (RTU, RSU, LU and LBTU) have the opportunity to apply for UniLab Elevate - a pre-accelerator for technology driven business ideas. The aim of the pre-accelerator is to support innovators from the university ecosystem who want to turn their business ideas and teams into companies.
UniLab Elevate is implemented in partnership with Accelerace, the Nordic region's leading early-stage startup investment fund. Since 2008, Accelerace has helped over 2,000 entrepreneurs run some of the most promising startups in Europe today.
To apply for UniLab Elevate, the team must include at least one student, researcher, employee or recent graduate of the University of Latvia (LU), Riga Technical University (RTU), Riga Stradiņš University (RSU) or Latvian University of Biosciences and Technology (LBTU) and/or the idea must include the university's intellectual property. The program is aimed at early-stage startups with high scalability potential - either unregistered teams or newly founded companies with a developed product prototype or technology readiness level (TRL) 3+. To apply, you need to fill out the form found on the UniLab website.
"We are looking for teams that really want to start their own companies. This pre-accelerator is not about research or prototyping, but about turning your scientific or technologically intensive business idea into a real startup now and immediately - within the first three months of the program," shares the CEO of UniLab Andris Baumanis.
What's coming up in the program
The UniLab Elevate program is a two-stage program that offers a structured path from idea to investor readiness. Both stages include self-paced online learning on the program platform, workshops with industry experts, and one-on-one consultations with experienced business development advisors, providing a combination of theory, practice, and personalized support.
In the first three months, teams are supported in building a sustainable team, validating product-market fit, creating a compelling pitch, and planning fundraising. In the second phase, the focus is on implementing the commercialization roadmap with the help of a business development advisor.
High-potential teams have the opportunity to receive up to 5,000 euros in financial support to develop their technology and incorporate their startup. By the end of the UniLab Elevate pre-acceleration program, teams have a commercialization roadmap, an established startup, and are ready to attract early investments.
5 Elevate programs have already been implemented
Since 2020, 53 emerging startups that develop high-value-added products and services have already received UniLab support, for example, Adventum Tech has developed wireless real-time monitoring solutions for the construction industry, this year receiving a €250,000 investment for development after winning the Latitude59 pitching competition, Laflow has developed a lactation regulation medical device for home use and, as a result of the Elevate program, initiated clinical validation of their technology, SUBmerge Baltic has developed an underwater drone for search and survey operations, and P-Agro Minerals has developed phosphorus extraction technology for wastewater under industrial conditions.
Joint accelerator of science universities
UniLab was born through cooperation between LU and RTU, later joined by RSU and LBTU, thus making it a national initiative of science universities for the transformation of science-intensive and technological business ideas into new companies.
More information and the application form can be found here.