What UniLab does

UniLab is an equity-free startup accelerator headquartered in Riga, Latvia, founded in 2022 by four of Latvia's leading universities: Riga Technical University (RTU), University of Latvia (LU), Riga Stradiņš University (RSU), and Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU). The organization runs a portfolio of cohort-based programs targeted at university-affiliated founders and technology-based startups, including UniLab Elevate (a pre-accelerator with up to €5,000 equity-free funding delivered in partnership with Accelerace), UniLab Defence (a defence-technology initiative backed by the Latvian Ministry of Defence and aligned with NATO DIANA), Venture Catalysts (a 5-week training program co-developed with RTU Riga Business School and RISEBA and supported by LIAA), the Entrepreneurial Gene initiative, Time2Scale (an EU Interreg Central Baltic Programme scale-up program across Finland, Estonia, and Latvia targeting 72 ventures over three years), and EPIC-X (a European consortium program supporting 20 women-led deep tech startups with €60,000 grants each).

The organization's primary customers are students, researchers, professors, and entrepreneurs affiliated with Latvian science universities or commercializing university IP, along with a growing cohort of defence and dual-use technology ventures and women-led deep tech founders from moderate and emerging innovator countries. UniLab does not develop proprietary technology products; instead it provides structured acceleration, mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs in residence and industry experts, equity-free funding, specialized workshops, dedicated Business Development Advisors, IP and commercialization strategy support, and access to international events such as SLUSH, TechChill, and Latitude59.

UniLab's business model is grant- and partnership-funded rather than fee-based. The organization operates as SIA "UniLab", a Latvian limited liability company, and is governed by shareholder representatives from its four founding universities. Funding inflows come from EU programs (Interreg Central Baltic, EPIC-X), Latvian public agencies (LIAA, Ministry of Defence), and program delivery partnerships with Accelerace, Hanken School of Economics, Estonian Business School, RTU Riga Business School, and RISEBA. The organization does not take equity in participating startups and does not publicly disclose revenue. As of the latest data, UniLab lists over 40 portfolio startups spanning healthcare, construction, defence, agriculture, environmental, and marine technology verticals, and operates with an 11–50 person team across its Riga headquarters at Ķīpsalas iela 6A.

Name

UniLab

Legal name

SIA "UniLab"

Website

https://unilab.lv

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UniLab is an equity-free startup accelerator in Riga, Latvia, founded by four leading Latvian universities, that runs cohort-based programs providing mentorship, funding, and ecosystem access to academic founders, defence-tech startups, and women-led deep tech ventures across the Baltic region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Acceleration Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

University-Led Summer/Winter Schools (Credit/Non-Credit) (EDAIAIAA)

Keywords

• Startup accelerator programs
• University technology transfer
• Pre-seed business incubation
• Deep tech commercialization
• Equity-free acceleration

Headquarters

HQ city

Riga

HQ country

Latvia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pre-Accelerator Program Services: UniLab Elevate provides equity-free funding up to 5,000 EUR to early-stage university teams, structured as a pre-acceleration service rather than equity investment. The program generates value through public funding, institutional partnerships, and ecosystem development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UniLab is an equity-free startup accelerator that provides structured pre-acceleration, training, scale-up, and defence technology programs for university-affiliated teams and researchers. It offers equity-free funding (up to 5,000 EUR per team for UniLab Elevate, 60,000 EUR grants for Epic-X), expert mentorship, business development advisory, and access to international networks including NATO DIANA, Accelerace, and EPIC-X European consortium.

Product overview

UniLab is an equity-free startup accelerator operated by four of Latvia's leading universities (RTU, LU, RSU, LBTU). The organization offers a portfolio of specialized programs including UniLab Elevate (pre-accelerator), UniLab Defence (NATO-aligned defence technology initiatives), Venture Catalysts (5-week training), Time2Scale (Baltic scale-up program), and Epic-X (women-led deep tech accelerator). These programs are designed to help technology-based teams transform ideas into business success through funding, mentorship, workshops, and access to international networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UniLab Elevate: Pre-accelerator program helping early-stage university teams transform technology and science-driven ideas into startups
• UniLab Defence
• Venture Catalysts
• Time2Scale
• Epic-X

Products and services

• UniLab Elevate Pre-accelerator program for early-stage university teams that transforms technology and science-driven ideas into startups. Partnered with Accelerace, it offers equity-free funding up to 5,000 EUR, mentorship, specialized workshops, Business Development Advisor support, and a 6-month acceleration timeline for teams with technology at TRL 3 or above.
• UniLab Defence Strategic priority area within UniLab supported by the Latvian Ministry of Defence and four Latvian science universities. Fosters defence technology ecosystem development in Latvia and across NATO, encompassing the NATO DIANA Latvian Accelerator (running January to June 2026), national pre-accelerator, and various defence technology ecosystem collaboration projects.
• Venture Catalysts 5-week hands-on training program for visionary scientists and entrepreneurs with groundbreaking ideas. Developed by UniLab in collaboration with RTU Riga Business School and RISEBA, supported by LIAA. Provides theoretical insights and practical tools for launching deep tech startups or commercializing research, covering commercialization, intellectual property, leadership, and funding acquisition. Participation is free of charge.
• UniLab Entrepreneurial Gene Ongoing initiative that promotes entrepreneurship among students and academic faculty through moderated guest lectures and workshops. Focuses on inspiring scientists and researchers to commercialize their work, aligned with university priority areas including Agrifood, Climate & Raw Materials, Mobility, Digital, and Defence & Space.
• Time2Scale Nine-month international scale-up program supporting technology-driven companies in Finland, Estonia, and Latvia to grow across borders and achieve revenue in new markets. Supports 72 selected ventures over 3 years with tailored support, resources, up to 1,000 EUR travel support, access to SLUSH, TechChill, and Latitude59 events, and connections to expert networks.
• Epic-X European innovation ecosystem project empowering women-led deep tech startups. Supports 20 female-led deep tech startups from countries classified as moderate and emerging innovators, distributing 60,000 EUR grant funding per startup via a structured 6-month acceleration program. UniLab represents the project in Latvia as part of the 16-ecosystem builder consortium coordinated by INOVA+ (Portugal).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 entrepreneurs developed since 2008 through Accelerace partnership
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Riga Technical University (RTU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRTU is one of four founding universities of UniLab, providing high quality education, advanced research, and innovation and technology transfer. RTU contributes technology-based ideas and talent to the accelerator pipeline.
• University of Latvia (LU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLU is one of four founding universities, offering diverse higher education and research opportunities in natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, technical sciences, and medicine to students from Latvia and abroad.
• Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSU is one of four founding universities, described as an open and international university for education, research, and innovation where today's knowledge meets tomorrow's challenges.
• Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBTU is one of four founding universities, described as a nationally and internationally recognized leader in bioeconomy innovations and sustainable resource use in the Baltic Sea region.
• AcceleracecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccelerace is the Nordics' leading pre-seed accelerator and investor, partnered with UniLab for the Elevate pre-accelerator program. Since 2008, Accelerace has developed over 2,000 entrepreneurs leading Europe's most promising startups and scaleups. UniLab also partners with Accelerace for Time2Scale Latvian program execution.
• NATO DIANAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniLab Defence is part of DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic), NATO's accelerator supporting cutting-edge technologies. The NATO DIANA Latvian Accelerator runs from January to June 2026, combining onsite innovation weeks with remote mentoring and business development support.
• Latvian Ministry of DefencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Latvian Ministry of Defence supports UniLab Defence as a strategic priority area to foster the development of defence technology ecosystem in Latvia and across NATO.
• RTU Riga Business SchoolmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRTU Riga Business School co-developed the Venture Catalysts program with UniLab and RISEBA. Also a partner for Time2Scale program delivery. Provides final lesson venue for Venture Catalysts Cohort 5.
• RISEBAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRISEBA co-developed the Venture Catalysts 5-week hands-on training program together with UniLab and RTU Riga Business School.
• Hanken School of EconomicsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHanken School of Economics (Finland) is a delivery partner for Time2Scale international scale-up program, bringing Nordic expertise to the Central Baltic ecosystem.
• Estonian Business School (EBS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstonian Business School (Estonia) is a delivery partner for Time2Scale international scale-up program, contributing to cross-border growth support for Baltic and Nordic tech ventures.
• INOVA+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINOVA+ (Portugal) is the coordinator of the EPIC-X project, managing the consortium of 16 ecosystem builders across moderate and emerging innovator countries in Europe.
• StartinminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStartin is listed as a UniLab partner, contributing to the startup ecosystem support in Latvia.
• GreenTech LatviaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGreenTech Latvia cluster partner connecting UniLab with sustainable technology and green innovation ecosystem.
• National Armed Forces of LatviaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a UniLab partner, particularly relevant for UniLab Defence initiatives and defence technology ecosystem development.
• HubSpot for StartupsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHubSpot provides startup resources and tools to UniLab portfolio companies through the HubSpot for Startups program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Accelerace: Nordics' leading pre-seed accelerator and UniLab's direct partner on the Elevate program; uses a similar cohort-based, mentor-led model for early-stage Nordic and Baltic tech founders.
• MassChallenge: Global non-equity accelerator running cohort programs across multiple verticals; very similar equity-free model and founder-development focus to UniLab.
• Founders Factory: London-based accelerator and venture builder operating across Europe; provides capital, mentorship, and operational support to early-stage founders in a model closely parallel to UniLab's.
• Rockstart: Amsterdam-based European accelerator running sector-specific programs in agri-food, health, and energy; matches UniLab's multi-vertical, deep-tech orientation and international scope.
• Antler: Global early-stage investor and accelerator that co-founder-matches and supports founders from idea stage; comparable pre-seed focus and equity-free participation in multiple markets.
• Startup Wise Guys: Leading Baltic/Nordic accelerator focused on B2B SaaS and fintech; operates in overlapping geography with a comparable cohort-based pre-seed model targeting international markets.

Regional players

• Latitude59: Estonia's flagship startup conference and ecosystem event; serves an overlapping Baltic founder audience with comparable focus on early-stage deep tech and international growth.
• TechChill: Latvia's flagship startup community and conference organizer; operates in the same geography and serves a similar Baltic founder community, though focused on events rather than cohort programs.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator network with hundreds of programs worldwide; broader portfolio but overlapping accelerator methodology and mentor-driven pre-seed approach.
• Plug and Play: Global innovation platform running multiple vertical accelerators (fintech, health, brand) with corporate partners; much larger scale but a comparable accelerator-plus-corporate-partnership model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xlinkedin.com/company/epicxeu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unilablv
• Facebookfacebook.com/Unilablv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UniLab