Investor Day to be Held During the Digital Freedom Festival

Investor Day will be held on November 15th at Hanzas Perons during the Digital Freedom Festival. The event will connect corporations, startup entrepreneurs and investors, paving the way for future cooperation. Investor Day will also include a green technology startup pitch competition in cooperation with Latvia's State Forests (LVM) and Climate-KIC. The Netherlands Embassy and Rockstart mentor union will hold a smart mobility pitch competition, in turn the leading global accelerator 500 Startups will search for future economy startups. The event will incorporate investor presentations, discussions and investor “speed-dating”. This year's main festival theme is sustainable development and positive impact.

Digital Freedom Festival Co-founder Uldis Leiterts: “Sustainable investment is the fastest growing investment sector in the world. According to the Global Sustainable Investment Review 2018 it's already reached 31 trillion US dollars. That's why this year the focus of Investor Day will be global sustainability and positive impact - to specifically highlight solutions and technology, which is created and developed with the goal of improving long-term common economic development, and addressing climate change and social equality issues.”

Event attendees will include representatives from influential global accelerators and risk capital funds such as Plug and Play, APX Axel Springer and Porsche, Trind Ventures etc.

Green Technology in Cooperation with Latvia's State Forests and Climate KIC

LVM is cooperating with the EIT Climate-KIC accelerator on a startup pitch competition evaluating startups, which have chosen green technology as their business direction, promoting the development of environmentally friendly technological solutions. EIT Climate-KIC is one of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Climate KIC knowledge innovation community initiatives.

“Latvia's State Forests is a place where the environment meets smart technology every day. Each seedling planted in the forest undergoes a high-tech selection process, is armed against pests with environmentally friendly technology and is placed in the forest using geospatial information technology. Environmentally friendly technologies are those, which allow us to sustainably use land, forest and water resources to build homes, create heating, produce food and clothing, and create employment. Drone fleets, logistics optimisation, geospatial solutions, image analysis, chipping, robotisation – all of these are instruments not only for smart land and forest management, but for all of our business direction development,” says LVM Development Department Director Ilga Bērzkalna.

Smart Mobility in Cooperation with the Netherlands Embassy and Rockstart

Leading European accelerator Rockstart is cooperating with the Netherlands Embassy to hold a startup pitch competition. Startup teams, which have already developed a product prototype and conducted tests, will pitch their ideas for the smart mobility, energy or artificial intelligence sectors.

The Dutch Ambassador to Latvia, Govert Jan Bijl de Vroe stated: “In Europe, the topic of Smart Mobility and Sustainable Logistics has been high on the innovation agenda for some time. The Netherlands offers international entrepreneurs and start-ups the opportunity and incentives to develop innovative technologies. This is based on an extensive transport hub, developed knowledge clusters, with infrastructure and an innovation climate that ranks among the best in the world.  The Digital Freedom Festival will focus on opportunities for collaboration between Dutch and Latvian start-up stakeholders, with Dutch Smart Mobility experts participating in the event. We are also pleased to have the involvement of the Dutch Accelerator Rockstart. I am very much looking forward to attending and speaking at this event.”

Competition winners will have the opportunity to take part in the final selection round for the Rockstart 6-month accelerator programme in the Netherlands. During the accelerator programme startups will have access to a EUR 20 000 euro cash prize, EUR 80 000 in indirect financing through office space rental and mentor support, as well as more than 50 various additional support tools valued at around EUR 100 000. The programme will also provide the opportunity to qualify for EUR 500 000 -1 million in further investment.

Future Economy in Cooperation with 500 Startups

Leading global accelerator 500 Startups is searching for the best European seed-stage startups for the fourth time in Riga. The winner will receive a fast-track to the final interview round for the next accelerator batch, where they will fight for the opportunity to receive world-class mentoring, access to a USD 150 000 seed fund and participation in the 4-month accelerator programme.

The 500 Startups Pitch Competition is open to seed-stage startups, which have developed and tested a product prototype. The top three to five will advance to the next round, where they will have the opportunity to present their ideas to local and international investors, media and other festival attendees.

Gain access to Investor Day by purchasing a Digital Freedom Festival pass. Find out more information - www.digitalfreedomfestival.com.

The Digital Freedom Festival will gather more than 1600 attendees from around the world on November 14th & 15th in Riga. This year the conference invites everyone to participate in the discussion about the impact of technology on sustainable development, emphasising the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. The focus this year will be on humans and their role in the technology era. Main conference topics include future economy, healthcare technology, green technology, smart mobility and lifestyle.

The Digital Freedom Festival media accreditation form is available here: http://www.digitalfreedomfestival.com/why-join/media/