The organizers would like to thank everyone for participating in the
Kurzeme Business Forum – BALTIC DEFENCE INVESTMENT PITCH 2025!
Kurzeme Business Forum – BALTIC DEFENCE INVESTMENT PITCH 2025!
November 28
Ventspils Science Center VIZIUM
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Kurzemes Business Forum 2025 — a meeting point for entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators shaping the next generation of business.
This year’s focus was on the development of the defence and security industry in the Baltic region, highlighting technology, innovation, and investment opportunities.
The forum also hosted the Baltic Defence Investment Pitch 2025 – the first Baltic-wide investment pitch for defence technologies, where innovation meets investors and ideas turn into real opportunities.
Armands Puče
Moderator of Part 1
Jānis Vītoliņš
Chairman of the Ventspils City Municipality Council
Viktors Valainis
Minister of Economy of the Republic of Latvia
Artis Pabriks
Executive Director of the Military Technology, Drones and Robotics Association ("MilTech")
Igors Udodovs
Acting CEO of the Freeport of Ventspils, Deputy CEO, Head of the Marketing and Development Department
Jēkabs Krieviņš
Member of the Board, ALTUM
Jānis Lielpēteris
Moderator of Part 2
Uģis Norītis
Deputy State Secretary for Planning Issues of the Ministry of Defence
Mart Luide
Chief Technology Officer, ARDLAT
Elīna Egle-Ločmele
Chairwoman of the Board, Federation and Defence Industries of Latvia
Laura Štrovalde
Deputy Director of Investment and Development Agency of Latvia
Sintija Radionova
Partner at Law Office WALLESS, Attorney-at-Law
Egidijus Gaidamavicius
CEO at E-STRATEGIJA
Beate Krauze-Čebotare
Managing Director of AMMUNITY Ltd., Board Member of the Military Technology, Drone and Robotics Association
Jānis Garisons
Chairman of the Board at
SIA NEWT21
Agenda
Part 1
Is Latvia ready to Host Defence Industry Manufacturing?
10:00 - 13:00
Moderator: Armands Puče
9:30 Registration and Coffee
10:00 Opening remarks
Jānis Vītoliņš, Chairman of the Ventspils City Council
Viktors Valainis, Minister of Economics of the Republic of LatviaUģis Norītis, Deputy State Secretary for Planning Issues of the Ministry of Defence
Laura Štrovalde, Deputy Director of Investment and Development Agency of Latvia
Elīna Egle-Ločmele, Chairwoman of the Board, Federation of Security and Defence Industries of Latvia
Laura Štrovalde, Deputy Director of Investment and Development Agency of Latvia
Elīna Egle-Ločmele, Chairwoman of the Board, Federation of Security and Defence Industries of Latvia
10:50-11:30 Diskusiju panelis
Igors Udodovs, Acting CEO of the Freeport of Ventspils, Deputy CEO, Head of the Marketing and Development Department
Viktors Valainis, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Latvia
Uģis Norītis, Deputy State Secretary for Planning Issues of the Ministry of Defence
Artis Pabriks,
Executive Director of the Military Technology, Drones and Robotics Association (“MilTech”)
Challenges and Opportunities in the Development of Defence Industry Manufacturing
11:30 EU and National Funding for the Defence Industry
Jēkabs Krieviņš, Member of the Board, ALTUM
11:45 How a Company Should Prepare for Raising Capital
Sintija Radionova, Partner at Law Office WALLESS, Attorney-at-Law
12.00 From Cartridge to Patriotism: Challenges in Small-Caliber Ammunition Production in Latvia
Beate Krauze-Čebotare, Managing Director of AMMUNITY Ltd., Board Member of the Military Technology, Drone and Robotics Association
12.15 Dual-Use Innovative Product Implementation Challenges
Jānis Garisons, Chairman of the Board, SIA NEWT21
12:30-13:15 Panel Discussion (in English)
Egidijus Gaidamavicius, CEO at E-STRATEGIJA
Mart Luide, Chief Technology Officer, ARDLAT
Elīna Egle-Ločmele, Chairwoman of the Board, Federation of Security and Defence Industries of Latvia
Laura Štrovalde, Deputy Director of Investment and Development Agency of Latvia
Egidijus Gaidamavicius, CEO at E-STRATEGIJA
Lunch Break*
* Complimentary lunch will be provided for event participants by the organizers.
Part 2
Defence investment pitch
14:15 - 17:00
Moderator: Jānis Lielpēteris
14:15 Moderator's Introduction
14:20 Opening Remarks by Investors
14:30 Aspired Ltd, Oskars Šļakota
14:40 GSMD Ltd, Liene Meldere
14:50 Falcon Sapphire Ltd, Kristofers Tjunitis, Rihards Tarvids
15:00 Onipipe Ltd, Oskars Strēlnieks
15:10 AGM Orthopaedics Ltd, Agris Mertens, Sergejs Lučkinskis
15:20 Biorefic NRG Ltd, Raitis Kalniņš
15:30 Airglade Ltd, Kaspars Mežapuķe, Rihards Sprukulis
15:40 Ajelix Ltd, Agnese Jaunošāne
15:50 Nexis Fibers Ltd, Toms Andersons
16:00 Ascent Lumina Ltd, Krišs Osmanis
15:50 Nexis Fibers Ltd, Toms Andersons
16:00 Ascent Lumina Ltd, Krišs Osmanis
Forum language: Latvian. Interpretation at the forum will be provided by the TILDE AI tool (Please bring your own headphones).
Organizers
