Imperial Organic on working with LIAA: a solid 8 out of 10 stars
Latvian company Imperia Organic is an innovative, science-intensive start-up whose business model is built around mushroom cultivation and the bioactive properties of these mushrooms. The company develops high added-value products in the field of functional foods and biopharmaceuticals, with a deliberate focus on exports. Imperia Organic products are currently being sold in such markets as Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, in cooperation with high-end health centres and Michelin-level restaurants.
Since its establishment five years ago, the company’s development has been in closely tied with the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), which it rates very positively, highlighting both the wide range of support instruments and the professional attitude. Imperia Organic’s cooperation with LIAA began with innovation vouchers, which allowed it to co-finance scientific research in collaboration with Latvian scientists, and later the company joined the LIAA business incubation programme at its Talsi office.
“Overall, there are so many support opportunities that it is sometimes difficult to choose which ones to use. The programmes are very diverse—for innovation, digitisation, exports, exhibitions, training. It’s almost impossible to keep up with everything,” says Uģis Zemturis, founder of the company.
Imperia Organics sees significant added value in the business incubation programme, which provides not only financial support but also a structured environment for growth—the opportunity to receive co-financing for the purchase of equipment, participate in training, and take advantage of networking opportunities. Mr Zemturis highlights training, including on the use of artificial intelligence in business, as well as LIAA support for participation in international exhibitions, as particularly useful: “Getting to be part of the national stand at international exhibitions provides enormous support, both financially and in terms of the quality of contacts. These are not cold calls, but people who are already interested in this sector. This is where real contacts and cooperation arise.”
At the same time, the entrepreneur also openly points out the challenges that have to be faced, mainly in relation to administrative and bureaucratic processes after project implementation. According to Mr Zemturs, the requirements for reports and documentation are often equally extensive for both small and large amounts of funding. “Regardless of whether you are recovering thousands or hundreds of thousands of euros, the requirements are often the same. There have been cases where I have simply opted to not submit a request for smaller amounts, because the time and costs involved would have outweighed the benefits,” he says.
Mr Zemturis emphasises that this approach particularly affects small businesses and start-ups, where one person often performs several roles at once—from management and finance to marketing and sales. At the same time, he acknowledges that most processes are digitised, which greatly facilitates cooperation.
Despite the critical nuances, Imperia Organic rates its cooperation with LIAA as very good overall. “If I had to rate it from one to ten, I would give it a solid eight. The attitude, service, and interest on the part of LIAA are very good. The support is real—the question is more about how to further facilitate the process for small businesses so that they can devote more time to business development rather than bureaucracy," Mr Zemturis says.
Information material prepared with the support of the European Regional Development Fund
