Rīga Stradiņš University Opens Its Business Incubator

To promote innovation and encourage students, alumni and other interested parties to develop leadership skills and take their first steps towards entrepreneurship, Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) has launched its Business Incubator B-Space. B-Space is a safe environment where participants can develop brand new business ideas. Prospective entrepreneurs without a business idea but who have a desire to work in the field of business and innovation are also welcome at B-Space. As part of the opening week the meet-up event Planēta: Iedvesma (Planet: Inspiration) was held on November 19 at 17:00 with three entrepreneurs sharing their stories online on the RSU website and on Facebook. 

The event Planēta: Iedvesma was attended by innovative Latvian entrepreneurs - Marina Petrakova, Co-founder of VREACH and Riga TechGirls, Ģirts Ozoliņš, Co-founder and Manager of the brand Uppo and Jānis Kondrāts, Co-owner of Exonicus Inc., who has already worked together with the RSU Medical Education Technology Centre and the Military Medicine Research and Study Centre. The event was moderated by Kristaps Zaļais, Manager of the B-Space Business Incubator.

B-Space is located in Pārdaugava, near the RSU main building, at 12 Vīlipa iela and offers participants free access to common areas equipped with everything one might need to work (wi-fi, office equipment, meeting and leisure rooms, kitchen). In this innovative atmosphere prospective entrepreneurs will be able to experiment and create new ideas, meet like-minded people, build teams, consult with experts, receive advice from mentors and participate in events organised by B-Space. ‘For innovation to grow and reach a world-class level it is important to exchange ideas with researchers and entrepreneurs and to attract funding. The incubator will serve as a vital piece to complete the innovation culture at our university and outside of it,’ says Vice-Rector for Science Agrita Kiopa, adding that B-Space operates under the RSU Technology Transfer Office which has vast experience in promoting cooperation between the academic and business environments. 

B-Space has been offering support to prospective entrepreneurs since October when its pre-incubation programme (PINK) was launched. The programme offers weekly lectures and will be held for 3 months. 60 prospective entrepreneurs, among them RSU students, employees and other interested parties, are taking part in the PINK programme. ‘PINK shows that students and graduates from both social sciences and health care study programmes are interested in B-Space. The uniqueness of the RSU Business Incubator lies in the fact that it is possible to create particularly innovative ideas by combining social sciences and health care,’ points out Kristaps Zaļais. The new incubator’s manager says that B-Space will be exactly what its participants want it to be, and the benefits of participating will depend on the time and energy of the participants themselves.