At the beginning of October the program selected seven climate technology startups that for the next two months will work together with experienced corporations to validate their product readiness for the market.
During the program the selected startups will collaborate with such enterprises as Rimi Baltic, Tet, Omniva, Cēsu alus, Very Berry, Malduguns, State scientific institute BIOR, Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, and the Port of Ventspils.
In addition to individual product validation, during the next two months the selected startups will receive support from mentors to improve their existing products, develop successful sales and marketing strategies, and boost business development.
Startups selected for the program are:
AlgaePhos4x (Latvia) - has developed a microalgae-based wastewater treatment which involves manipulated biomass for rapid phosphorus removal from wastewater and its recovery. The produced algal biomass has various applications and downstream processing possibilities, including in agriculture. During the program the startup together with partners Cēsu alus and Malduguns will test their solution on wastewater produced in the brewing industry.
Biohifas (Lithuania) - is experimenting with solid state fermentation using food grade sidestreams of food/beverage industry and mycelium. The result of the process is a biomass, which can be processed into nutritious, clean label, and affordable food. The startup together with partners Cēsu alus and Maldugus will test how the cultivation process is affected by brewer's spent grain (BSG) of various compositions.
Bruntor (Latvia) - has developed an electric four-wheeled cargo scooter, which is simple and easy to use. The stand-up solution makes deliveries 15% quicker than with e-cargo bikes and 40% faster than a van in the city while consuming 5 times less energy. Together with Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital the startup will test the scooter's suitability for use on hospital campuses to solve internal logistical issues. At the same time, the startup will collaborate with Omniva to confirm the vehicle's capabilities in last-mile deliveries. Bruntor was recently featured in this piece on LSM.
CHUM Tableware (Latvia) - produces an alternative to single-use plastic plates from food-safe and environmentally friendly materials such as oats and quinoa. After use the plates can either be consumed as food or composted. During the program with the help of Rimi Baltic the startup will attempt to move closer to a larger scale production capabilities and meeting the quality requirements needed to start selling the product in supermarkets.
PEAK SAVE (Latvia) - has developed smart sensors and an approach that intelligently shifts energy consumption patterns to the most cost-effective hours, resulting in significant cost savings for the consumer and reduced strain on the grid during peak demand periods. In collaboration with Tet, the startup plans to improve their algorithm and to gain additional experience in broad system optimisation.
SUBmerge Baltic (Latvia) - has developed an underwater drone which uses adapted lights and software to increase visibility in the Baltic Sea region. The drone can be used for monitoring underwater infrastructure and obtaining information and samples of underwater ecosystems along with other use cases. In a close collaboration with BIOR and the Port of Ventspils, the startup will test new use cases for the drone and will attempt to increase the solution's capabilities.
Smart Agrometer (Lithuania) - has developed a sensor and system that determine the limiting nutrient in growing crop plants using a spectrophotometer, machine learning algorithm, and an agronomy portal. The obtained information can be used to make smart decisions regarding fertilisation; thus, limiting wasteful application of fertilisers while at the same time increasing the yield. In cooperation with Very Berry the startup will try to expand the area of application from cultivation of grain to pomiculture.
The program will conclude with the startups presenting their product validation results in front of climate tech investors during the Baltic Sustainability Awards 2023 on December 7, 2023, onsite in Rīga at Splendid Palace.
