All applications will be evaluated in the global selection, with the opportunity in the autumn 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, which is tentatively scheduled for February 2027. The selection is open to any company registered in Latvia and founded within the last ten years. This also includes entrepreneurs with an idea who have not yet registered a company.
At present, 20 companies from Latvia have applied to participate in the global selection, representing a range of industries, including information and communication, education, manufacturing, and real estate.
Applications submitted by August 31 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. Afterwards, the companies compete for a spot in the top 100 and a ticket to the global finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This years' total prize pool is 1 million USD, along with additional investment opportunities and support for global growth. This is a unique opportunity to represent Latvia internationally and to get global exposure. 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.
The competition rules and application form is available on the website https://ewc26.short.gy/GEN.
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. 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 start-ups association Startin.LV.
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.