A syndicated investment by angel investors from EstBAN, LatBAN, and FiBAN will be split between two startups. Finnish deep-tech company Granarium Technologies will receive up to €200,000, while Estonian AI startup DogBase will receive up to €100,000. Lithuanian venture capital fund FIRSTPICK will invest €150,000 in Lithuanian company Backoffice.

Latitude59 CEO Liisi Org said this year’s winners showcased the potential of the New Nordics region. “This year’s finalists delivered truly inspiring pitches on the Latitude59 stage that were incredibly inspiring, yet professional and passionate. I believe our investors have found new superstars for their portfolios, while the founders will gain not only investment, but also professional and committed partners who are ready to contribute to their success. I am convinced that the Latitude59 stage will serve as an important springboard for future success, not only for the winners but for all finalists,” she said.

According to Jana Budkovskaja and David Clark, the lead investors behind the joint EstBAN, LatBAN, and FiBAN investment, the decision to invest up to €200,000 in Granarium Technologies reflects the current needs of the global economy.

“A key structural shift is that storage is no longer just a ‘backup power’ – it is becoming core grid infrastructure. Granarium is the perfect addition to our angel investment portfolio because the company is solving a massive global challenge in a safe and scalable way. We are impressed with their technology and experience, as well as the capacity to use local raw materials to make the production process sustainable and inexpensive,” Jana Budkovskaja explained.

Granarium Technologies is a Finnish deep-tech startup specializing in developing 100% renewable supercapacitors made from nanocellulose and activated carbon, designed to stabilize electricity grids and manage power fluctuations.

 
Estonian startup DogBase will receive up to €100,000 in syndicated investment from angel investors. The company is developing a training platform for working and rescue dogs, addressing a clear need among dog trainers whose work helps save lives. The platform replaces outdated paper logs and spreadsheets with mobile-friendly tools that make it easier to track training progress, certifications, and health data.

 
“We were convinced by the team’s deep domain expertise as well as clear market validation, with a strong share of users converting into paying customers. This combination of real-world impact, functional technology, and a validated business model gave us the confidence to invest,” Budkovskaja said.

Managing Director of LatBAN Emīls Kraģis said Latvian angel investors are proud to have selected DogBase and Granarium as winners of the Latitude59 pitch competition together with EstBAN and FiBAN. “DogBase addresses genuine market demand and Granarium, as a deep tech company, stood out for its thorough understanding of the technology founders are building and a clear, convincing vision of where the market is heading. Both teams bring the kind of founder energy and conviction that gives us confidence in their journey ahead,” said Kraģis.

Lithuanian venture capital fund FIRSTPICK will invest up to €150,000 in Backoffice, a Lithuanian startup developing a workforce management solution for restaurants.

According to Andra Bagdonaite, General Partner at FIRSTPICK, the fund sees strong potential in Backoffice. “Strong progress made in a relatively short time, that’s what we value most: the ability to move fast and learn from the market. We see the potential for this product to become infrastructure for the entire sector. Today the average hospitality business uses 5 or more different systems, and Backoffice aims to bring that together into one platform,” Andra Bagdonaite said.

In addition to the €450,000 investment, this year’s Latitude59 pitch competition prize pool was supported by SEB, TalentHub, Knowzilla, Widen Legal, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud.

Competition in the Latitude59 pitch competition was fiercer than ever this year. In total, 465 startups from 53 countries applied for the main prize. The applicants included startups from North and South America, Africa, various regions of Europe, Ukraine, the Baltics, and the Nordic countries. From among all applicants, the 15 strongest teams were first selected, with seven startups advancing to the final on Latitude59’s main stage.

 
Latitude59 is the most international and influential startup and technology conference in the New Nordics region. This year, it brought together more than 3,000 participants from 70 countries, with 140 speakers taking to the stage. Latitude59 welcomed more than 800 startup representatives and over 600 investors from around the world, as well as 20 national and startup delegations.

The next Latitude59 in Estonia will take place on 19–21 May 2027 at Kultuurikatel, with tickets available at latitude59.ee.