Unleash The TechCrunch Baltics!

Even if you live in a cave and communicate with the world via pigeons, you most likely already know about the 1st ever TechCrunch Baltics event in Riga, which is starting right now with the reception in TechHub Riga (scroll down for 'About  TechCrunch Baltics' if this the 1st time you here about this). And here goes fresh and exciting impressions from one of the attendees of TechHub Riga opening ceremony, Mindaugas Danys (director of SME dep. at Ministry of Economy of Lithuania, co-founder of Hub Vilnius):  

"TechHub Riga opening night, in anticipation of the upcoming TechCrunch Baltics conference, was a tribute to the ambitions of growing and active community of Latvian startups.

Andris K. Berzins (Chairman, TechHub Riga),
TechCrunch Baltics opening speech.

Who could have imagined that an idea to bring global brand of coworking and startup culture to Riga can bring such promising results. Andris Berzins, one of the founders of Tech Hub Riga just got an idea to seek partnership with an operating coworking space that's focused on technology startups and IT community. That's how Tech Hub London popped on the top of the list, and it was just a lucky coincidence that they wanted to expand globally - so the two made good sense to collide.

I am not sure that this explains what we saw at the opening event of Tech Hub Riga - imagine ambassadors of both UK and the US making speeches in praise of startups at your local coworking space followed by a warm welcome of your Minister of Economy! But that's what actually did happen tonight in Riga. However the biggest achievement in the whole process is solid base of founding Latvian startups and freelancers who committed themselves to get mobilized and agree to pay upfront for the rent.

The space itself is nice and one can say even luxurious, spread over several top floors of old building in the center of Riga. You can read more about THRiga here.

What should be mentioned, is that opening the hub in Riga once again send waves of encouragement for the whole Baltic startup community and beyond, no matter how fragile it is. It provides for an anchor to cool off, settle down and rethink new models of facilitation and partnership among the three countries (discussed here).

Was it worth coming to Riga? Absolutely, we've already met key people from the Baltic startups strateosphere there in the evening, can you imagine, what will happen during TC Baltics:) Here is the full agenda. So if you are serious about starting a business, expanding your startup or considering where to spend your venture capital money - check our next blog post of post conference impressions."

For updates follow #TCBaltics in Twitter (or #LTstartups, #estonianmafia, #aaltoes for that matter:). And eddy.lt, of course.

About TechCrunch Baltics

Life is random and strange things sometimes happen, so if you don't know anything about TechCrunch Baltics, here goes introduction from the beginning: 

• TechCrunch is a leading technology media property, dedicated to obsessively profiling startups, reviewing new Internet products, and breaking tech news. Twitter: @TechCrunch

• TechCrunch Europe is a blog covering Web 2.0 and Mobile start-ups.  TechCrunch Europe is part of the TechCrunch Network, which includes country-specific blogs for France and Japan. Twitter: @TCEurope 

• TechHub Riga is the first international expansion location of TechHub, the successful London-based community for product-oriented startups. TechHub provides a technology and entrepreneur-focused community and events, as well as physical co-working space. Twitter: @TechHubRiga

• TechCrunch Baltics will be the largest Baltic high-tech community conference so far, beginning tomorrow Thursday, Feb 9 in Riga this. Several hundred participants are expected to join and tickets were sold out a few weeks ago. And no wonder, because its going to be a really sweet event, as organizer put it:

"While Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are small countries in Europe, they have an outsized role in generating new technology startups that have the potential to change the world. TechCrunch will hold a conference and pitch contest to show the best that the Baltic startup and technology community has to offer. TechHub Riga will host and co-organize the event, which will culminate in the official launch party for this new community and co-working space." 

There will be a bunch of cool keynote speeches and panel discussions with Baltic tech leaders Aldas Kirvaitis (Cherry Media), Priit Salumaa (Garage48), Andres Susi (Flirtic), Margus Uudam (ASI), Kristjan Hiiemaa (Erply), Kristina Narusk (GrabCAD), Rain Rannu (Fortumo), Allan Martinson (MTVP) and Vitaly Rubstein. Plus guest stars from Seedcamp, Springboard London, HackFwd, Startup Sauna, Mail.ru. More info and agenda can be found here.

TechCrunch wants to showcase the best startups that the region has to offer. 8 Baltic startups were selected for final pitch contest (from 50 that applied): 

BusyFlow (LT) - a workspace that integrates cloud-based productivity and collaboration apps and makes them work together.

GateMe (EE) - a guestlist management (CRM) system for promoters and venues.

Infogram (LV) - web based infographic and data visualization software.

Mokipay (LT) - a mobile payments and loyalty system that works with NFC sticker attached to mobile phone and linked to subscribers' SIM card. 

Pozitel (LV) -  a cheap international calls right from Web or from any Android device.

Priienergia (EE) - a waste water heat exchanger.

Pult (EE) - lets you watch your content on any screen.

Sellfy (LV) - drag & drop solution enabling anyone to start selling digital goods within seconds.

For updates follow #TCBaltics in Twitter (or #LTstartups, #estonianmafia, #aaltoes for that matter:) And eddy.lt, of course. 

Those in TechCrunch Baltics - good luck and have an awesome conference! Others - good night! ;) 

Eddy

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