Latvian entrepreneurs encouraged to apply in the Entrepreneurship World Cup 2026
Swedbank invites startup entrepreneurs to apply for the global selection of the Entrepreneurship World Cup. To test their strength and the potential of their business idea among the best in the world, entrepreneurs are invited to apply for the global selection by 31 May. The selection is open to any company registered in Latvia and founded within the last ten years. The Latvian selection for the Entrepreneurship World Cup is organised by Swedbank in collaboration with partners – the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LTRK), Investment & Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), and Latvian Start-up Association “Startin.LV”.
“Latvian entrepreneurs have demonstrated again and again that they are capable of building innovative and internationally competitive solutions. The Entrepreneurship World Cup is an excellent platform for testing your ideas on a global scale, gaining valuable insights, and expanding your network of contacts. We urge every company to take advantage of this opportunity and dare to apply – your idea could become Latvia’s next success story,” says Jevgenijs Ivanovs, Board Member and Head of Corporate Customer Division at Swedbank.
The aim of the Entrepreneurship World Cup is to boost the competitiveness of companies of various countries, including Latvia, on the global market, as well as strengthening the confidence of Latvian businesses about their business idea, growing faster and getting cross-border experience. Applications submitted by 31 May this year will be evaluated in the global selection, with the opportunity for Latvian participants to meet with the winners of the previous year’s Latvian national finals and receive training under the guidance of an experienced public speaking coach to prepare for a potential participation in the global finals.
Any company registered in Latvia and meeting the criteria regarding the year of founding (must be 2016 or later) is welcome to submit its application in English by 31 May at the website https://ewc26.short.gy/GEN. After the application deadline, the submitted applications will be evaluated by members of the global jury, who will select the top 250 most promising companies, which will receive mentoring, public speaking training, and support with investor relations.
From selection to international competition in Saudi Arabia
The winners of the Latvian national finals in all the previous four years (Hymet.eu, Longenesis, BirhgerMind, and Bdetect) have gained recognition and taken to the global stage in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, representing the top 100 most promising companies. Every company that applies by 31 May will have the opportunity to compete in the global selection for a spot in the top 100 and a ticket to the global finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this November. This years' total prize pool amounts to $1 million, along with additional investment opportunities and support for global growth. This is a unique opportunity to represent Latvia internationally and to get global exposure.
Kaspars Eiduks, Business Development Manager at Bdetect, the winner of the last year’s Latvian finals of Entrepreneurship World Cup and the top 100 finalist at the global finals, notes: “Participating in the Entrepreneurship World Cup was an opportunity for us both to challenge ourselves and to get confidence that we can compete in the global market. Competition is fierce, but that is precisely what helps us better understand the global potential of our product. I encourage every company to take advantage of this opportunity — it not only gives you international visibility, but also offers a unique experience of connecting with outstanding entrepreneurs from around the world and investors of every calibre from countless industries, all in one place.”
The application deadline is 31 May. The competition rules and application form are available on the website https://ewc26.short.gy/GEN.
About the Entrepreneurship World Cup
Swedbank has been the Latvian representative of the Global Entrepreneurship Network since October 2020, which comes with the unique right to organise the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) selection in Latvia for a fifth time. Since 2019, the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) has grown into one of the largest and most diverse competitions and support programmes of its kind for startups, with more than 420,000 entrepreneurs from nearly 200 countries having participating, while offering an impressive prize pool for the winners.