Techstars Announces First Riga-Based AI Accelerator Batch
Twelve startups from seven countries will participate in the inaugural programme running April through July in Riga's Skanstes district.
Global accelerator Techstars has confirmed that its first Riga-based AI programme will kick off in April 2026 with twelve startups selected from over 400 applications. The cohort spans seven countries, though six of the twelve teams have at least one Baltic co-founder.
The programme will be housed in the newly renovated Green Hall co-working campus in Skanstes, close to Riga's growing tech corridor. Each startup will receive $120,000 in initial funding and access to Techstars' global mentor network.
Managing Director Līga Ozoliņa described the selection criteria as "ruthlessly focused on applied AI — not demos, but products with paying users or clear paths to revenue within six months."
Notable participants include a Tallinn-based team building compliance automation for Baltic banks, a Vilnius NLP startup focused on Baltic-language customer support, and a Riga team developing computer vision for timber logistics.
The programme culminates with a demo day in July, expected to draw investors from across the Nordics and Western Europe.