1st Tender Evaluation Board (TEB) of ESA BIC Latvia Is Officially Closed

Our 1st Tender Evaluation Board (TEB) for 🌌 Space startups is officially closed. The team of experts consisted of ESA BIC Latvia Manager Lev Lapkis, European Space Agency - ESA BIC Commercialisation officer Maud Moullec, Commercialization Reactor and Kaspars Karolis (head of the Latvian delegation to ESA from Izglītības un zinātnes ministrija) with the help of local Space economy experts from, RTU Science and Innovation Centre, RTU Aeronautikas Kosmosa inženierijas un transporta insitūts (AERTI) and Vides risinājumu institūts.

7️⃣ shortlisted startups that met ESA BIC's evaluation criteria pitched their cases, with some presenting their business case for the first time. We were thrilled to see promising startups presenting bold, ambitious ideas to commercialize space technology. After a careful review, the evaluation board decided to propose an incubation contract to 2️⃣ companies.

Startups that didn’t pass the review due to the TEB’s strict criteria will have the chance to get a debrief about the review with some recommendations that could be implemented in their business proposals. While details of the selected startups will be disclosed at a later stage, we can already share that one of the incubatees is developing an upstream solution, focusing on innovations within space technology, while the second startup is engaged in downstream applications, utilizing space data and services for commercial use on Earth.🛰️

ESA BIC Latvia is committed to fostering a strong space-related entrepreneurial environment by providing technical, financial, and business support to startups working on innovative space solutions. This selection round marks the beginning of many exciting developments in Latvia’s emerging space sector. In the coming years we hope to incubate at least 12 promising startups, each receiving the following benefits:

🎯 €60k equity free funding for product, service and IP development
🎯Up to 2 years of business incubation at an ESA BIC
🎯Technical support from leading experts in the region and from ESA
🎯Business coaching
🎯Legal and IPR advice
🎯Fundraising guidance and opportunities
🎯Access to business partners and networks
🎯Workshops and trainings
🎯Quality sign and access to ESA tender calls

Applications to ESA BIC Latvia incubation are open year-round, but for now, the tender board meetings will take place twice a year, with the next one planned for this summer (subject to change if we receive more promising applications throughout the year). Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions - comment on this post or email 📧 info@esabic.lv - and apply to the incubator via our website.