SINCE 2012

TALLINN, EST: MAY 22-24, 2024

L59 Pitch Competition
2024 for €1,000,000

Latitude59's Pitch Competition is back in 2024 with a €1,000,000 syndicate led by Specialist VC and EstBAN. We're looking for bold and promising startups that are shifting paradigms and changing the world for the better. Could that be you?

The application deadline for L59 Pitch Competition 2024 is April 1.
Do you have what it takes to pitch for one million euros? Apply now and find out!

€1,000,000 €1,000,000 €1,000,000 €1,000,000 €1,000,000 €1,000,000 €1,000,000 €1,000,000 €1,000,000 €1,000,000 €1,000,000 €1,000,000

Meet the investors: Specialist VC & EstBAN

RIIVO ANTON
Lead Investor for Specialist VC

“We do not limit the choice with the field; the presence of a technological component and a visibly scalable business model are important.”

SAMELA KIVILO
Lead Investor for Specialist VC

“We are looking for startups that have built an impactful product and are not afraid to scale fast.”

HEIDI KAKKO
Lead Investor for
EstBAN

“Certainly, the journey of raising money has become slower and more difficult […] but the best teams still receive investments.”

MARTIN GOROŠKO
Lead Investor for
EstBAN

“In addition to a strong team and great market potential, those whose product is complex, i.e. it is difficult to copy, have an advantage.”

If you’re an early-stage startup with a proven traction, we dare you to join!

We are looking for founding teams with a solid mission, a scalable business model, and a functioning product with proven traction/feedback. But most of all, you should have a strong core team, ready to take your idea to the moon and back.

Early-stage

Depending on the vertical, early-stage can mean many things, but your business activities should date back less than 3 years.

Actively fundraising

Applying startups should be in an active fundraising process or about/ready to start with it.

Proven traction

Ideas are great but we want solid proof that people get excited about your product and love what you've got.

Impactful

You have potential to grow global and change the world for the better.

Any questions? Problem-solving is our superpower – please contact our team at info@latitude59.ee

Prizes & perks from Latitude59 partners

L59 Pitch Competition 2024 timeline

April 1
Application deadline
Week 16
Announcing the TOP 40 teams

Pitch training

Apr 29 - May 3
Pre-Finals, online
May 6
Announcing the TOP 8 teams

Investor meetings, mentoring sessions

May 14
Announcing the TOP 5 teams

Final pitch training

May 24
Final pitches on the Latitude59 main stage

Do you have what it takes?

Join the life-changing opportunity that opens doors around the world

"It has been such an empowering experience & brought us so much visibility that we have been able to pitch in a lot of cool places such as Brazil, Singapore, Japan."

– Nemailla Bonturi, Co-Founder of ÄIO & a winner of L59 Pitch Competition 2023

"We'd love to see awesome technologies that could potentially change the lives of millions & millions of people around the world."

– Martin Goroško, EstBAN’s Lead Investor at L59 Pitch Competition 2024

L59 Pitch Competition 2024 FAQ

Main criteria

In general, we are looking for founding teams with a solid mission, a scalable business model, and a functioning product/service with proven traction/feedback.

The applying company:

  • Should be in an active fundraising process,
  • We look for teams who are passionate and committed to the business,
  • The market opportunity is essential – providing a solution to a problem with a large potential market,
  • Innovative and novel technological components, we prefer to invest in first-of-a-kind new ideas. Also, great science projects that demonstrate a clear path to commercialization,
  • Clear unique value – competitive advantage includes intellectual property protection, exclusive licenses, exclusive marketing and distribution relationships, strong brands, and scarce human resources (i.e. knowledge and skills),
  • Good match between the valuation of the company and the capital need,
  • Preferably practicing novel technologies and unique business models.

     

Topics and verticals

L59 Pitch Competition is industry-agnostic, with some preferences based on our previous experience and the background of lead investors. 

In 2024, the Latitude59 conference follows areas such as deep tech and impact, which is why we welcome these companies to apply. However, this does not give any particular bonus points in the evaluation, and the selection will be based on the best fit with lead investors.

Countries

Startups from all around the world are invited to apply. 

However, it is important to note that Latitude59 stands with Ukraine, which is why startups with strong connections to Russia and Belarus will not be included in the evaluation process.

Lead investors have joined the L59 Pitch Competition as partners who will make the investment offers to the most promising startup(s). Together, these partners can give away an investment up to 1 million euros. Ideally, all partners would like to select one startup whose current phase and investment-readiness would meet this goal. However, it is possible that the final choice will be different, which can also result in multiple investment offers to more than one startup.

The pitch competition gives away up to 1 million euros of investment.

Investments can, but don’t necessarily have to go to the same company. This also means that more than one investment decision can be made. The VC fund and the lead investor of the business angels syndicate leave the right to make the investment offer to 1–3 startups.

Concerning the investment size, we take into account previous experience. Thus, most broadly the investment can be named as a seed stage.

  • Eligible startups are invited to apply before April 1, 2024.
  • After that, all startups will be sorted to broad categories (internally).
  • Each startup will be evaluated by two separate people. Evaluators are chosen based on their experience and background to guarantee clarity. 
  • Each evaluator will share their top recommendations (based on grades and personal recommendations) with the lead investors. Based on these shortlists and grades, lead investors will agree on the TOP 40 startups who will pitch in semi-finals.
  • Pre-finals will take place on April 29 – May 3, 2024. The Pre-finals will be held in hybrid format.
  • From each Pre-final, one strongest startup will be selected each day (4 altogether). Based on the pitches, feedback of experts, and materials provided, 4-6 more startups will be selected on Friday, May 3, 2024. Altogether, 8-10 most promising startups will continue in the next round.
  • TOP 10 startups are asked to sign the general term sheet with the investors.
  • There will be one internal pitch for the investors that will take place on May 14, 2024. There, the TOP 5 startups will be selected.
  • The lead investors will conduct due diligence with top startups. Based on the results, investment decisions, and offers will be made. 
  • The TOP 5 startups will pitch on the Latitude59 Main stage on 24 May 2024. Winners will be announced on the stage.