EIT Health invites innovators to join EIT Jumpstarter 2025

EIT Health Latvia invites students and researchers to join the EIT Jumpstarter programme and make 2025 the sixth consecutive year that Latvia takes home a Jumpstarter prize. Jumpstarter programme, a flagship pre-accelerator initiative by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), supports innovators in transforming their ideas into successful start-ups, offering mentorship, funding opportunities, and access to a European innovation network. Over the past five years, Latvian teams have demonstrated exceptional results, securing a win each year across various categories.

EIT Jumpstarter is a pre-accelerator programme that empowers innovators to develop their ideas into viable businesses within a supportive and equity-free environment. The programme is free of charge, and since its inception, has upskilled over 1,300 entrepreneurs and helped establish 124 start-ups. The Jumpstarter 2025 edition features eight categories, including Healthcare (powered by EIT Health), Food & Agritech (powered by EIT Food), and Smart Cities and Mobility (powered by EIT Urban Mobility), among others. Winners in each category will receive €10,000 in prize money and gain access to tailored support to bring their innovations to market.

Latvia has a remarkable track record in the EIT Jumpstarter programme, with teams securing victories for five consecutive years. Among the winners is BirgerMind, the 2021 EIT Health category winner, which developed a non-invasive Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) enabling fully paralysed patients to communicate independently. Other Latvian winners include DronePlan (2020, EIT InnoEnergy), Bruntor (2022, EIT Urban Mobility), WatchBuilt (2023, EIT Digital), and the most recent winner, Neamo (2024, EIT Food), which created an integrated sensor system for autonomous vessels to monitor fish farms automatically, enhancing efficiency and minimising operational risks.

Luīze Madara Ziediņa, EIT Health Latvia Coordinator, shared her thoughts on the programme: 'EIT Jumpstarter, at its core, is an idea contest. We are looking for innovative ideas rooted in research and discoveries – ideas that have the potential to transform healthcare and make a significant impact not only in Latvia but also beyond our borders. This is an excellent opportunity for startups, researchers, innovators, and students to grow their competencies, gain mentorship, and secure funding for their business.'

Applications for EIT Jumpstarter 2025 are open until April 2, 2025. Interested individuals and teams can apply directly via the official EIT Jumpstarter website. Selected teams will participate in online bootcamps and Pitch Days, with the top 80 teams advancing to local trainings and business plan development. Ultimately, 48 teams will compete in the final pitching competition in November 2025 for a chance to win cash prizes totalling €150,000.

For more information, visit the EIT Jumpstarter website or contact the EIT Health Hub in Latvia: eithealth@rsu.lv.