For the fourth year running, Swedbank is inviting entrepreneurs to apply for the national final of the Entrepreneurship World Cup (Entrepreneurship World Cup 2024). To test their abilities and the potential of their business idea against the best in the world, entrepreneurs are invited to apply for the national final by 14 May. Any company registered in Latvia and founded within the past ten years may apply for the national selection round. The national final of the Entrepreneurship World Cup is organised by Swedbank in cooperation with its partners – the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LTRK), the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) and the start-up association Startin.LV, as well as its media partner TechChill.
“The Entrepreneurship World Cup in Latvia has shown over the past few years that Latvian entrepreneurs are ready to defend their business ideas with passion at international level, gaining valuable experience and widening their network of contacts in the process. The ability to grow beyond national borders is a significant asset in business, and that is why this year too we are giving Latvian entrepreneurs the chance to take part in the Entrepreneurship World Cup. We are confident that the winner of this year’s national final will carry Latvia’s name proudly out into the world, presenting their idea to an international jury and to potential investors,” says Jevgenijs Ivanovs, Head of Corporate Banking at Swedbank.
The aim of the Entrepreneurship World Cup is to strengthen the competitiveness of companies from various countries, Latvia among them, on the global market, as well as to build Latvian entrepreneurs’ confidence in their business ideas, help them grow faster and give them international experience. By applying for the Latvian national selection round of the Entrepreneurship World Cup, companies have the chance to compete for one of five places in the Latvian national final. The five participants in the Latvian national final will receive free ‘elevator pitch’ training led by an experienced speech coach, and video business cards will be produced for each company to introduce the Latvian public to its work and business idea.
By 14 May any company registered in Latvia that meets the criteria on year of establishment (founded in 2015 or later) is invited to submit an application in English at www.entrepreneurshipworldcup.com/ewc. Once the application deadline has passed, the submitted applications will be assessed by the members of the Latvian national jury, who will select the companies that will present their business ideas at the Latvian national final, to be held at the LAMPA Conversation Festival in Cēsis on 20 June.
From the national final to the international competition in Saudi Arabia
The winner of the Latvian national final will go on to compete among the world’s TOP 100 entrepreneurs for a place at the global final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and for a prize fund of 1.5 million US dollars, as well as further investment opportunities and support for global growth. This is a unique chance to represent Latvia internationally and gain global recognition.
Last year’s winner of the Latvian final of the Entrepreneurship World Cup and TOP 100 finalist in the global final, Juris Kļonovs, founder of BirgerMind, says: “Winning the Latvian national final opened the door for our company to make valuable contacts at global level and to raise our profile not only in Latvia but around the world. Last year we had the honour of representing Latvia at the Entrepreneurship World Cup final in Riyadh and of becoming one of the 100 most prestigious companies in the world, seeing off competition from more than 16 thousand companies. At the BIBAN forum, which drew more than 182 thousand participants, BirgerMind was named in the Top 16 list of healthcare start-ups. I would encourage Latvian entrepreneurs to be bold and make the most of this opportunity. It is precisely events like these that give you the chance to grow, to compete on a global scale and to gain valuable advice from experienced mentors, investors and other players in the business environment, fostering productive international cooperation. Latvia really can do it!”.
Applications are open until 14 May. The competition rules and the application form are available at www.entrepreneurshipworldcup.com/ewc.
About the Entrepreneurship World Cup
Since October 2020 Swedbank has been the representative of the Global Entrepreneurship Network in Latvia, which also brings with it the exclusive right to organise the final of the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) in Latvia, now for the fourth time. Since 2019 the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) has become one of the largest and most diverse start-up competitions and support programmes of its kind, with more than 370,000 entrepreneurs from over 200 countries taking part, while also offering the winners an impressive prize fund.