The brands of the three winning teams of the youth entrepreneurship program Kickstart Lab lit up one of the world’s most iconic locations — the Nasdaq tower screen in Times Square. This became an exceptional prize for the program’s winners and a symbolic proof that ideas born in Lithuania can achieve international visibility even in their early development stages.
“Young people in Lithuania have courage and strong ideas, but to turn them into successful businesses, they need knowledge, experience, and practical support. Investing in youth entrepreneurship today means a strong, competitive, and innovation‑driven Lithuanian economy in the future. In 2025, as we maintain our position as the fastest‑growing startup ecosystem in Central and Eastern Europe, we must create conditions for innovative businesses — the startups of the future — to emerge not only in major cities but across the whole country. Initiatives like Kickstart Lab, which reach the regions and open opportunities for young creators throughout Lithuania, meaningfully contribute to this,” says Minister of the Economy and Innovation Edvinas Grikšas.
The Innovation Agency, which initiates Kickstart Lab, sees a clear transformation — young people who join the program with only an idea leave it with a clear direction, a first MVP, and tangible initial results. At the start of a business, perfection is not what matters most — courage to begin, willingness to learn, and openness to feedback are what help ideas grow, attract customers, and test the market.
The investment endowment fund Jaunaragiai accompanied program participants by providing not only support but also financial assistance — the €55,000 fund distributed during the program became a real boost for developing youth‑driven solutions. The fund’s mission is to help young ideas grow and to bring together people who believe in impact‑driven investments. International consultancy Civitta, which worked with Kickstart Lab participants, emphasizes the growth of the country’s startup ecosystem — and notes that, in order to maintain this pace, it is essential to encourage the creation of new innovative solutions and support young people from their very first steps.
“Consistent work and targeted support open new opportunities for young creators, and the Kickstart Lab project helped teams refine their ideas and acquire real tools for growth. We believe that their achievements being showcased on the Nasdaq Times Square screen offered them the chance to be noticed in a significantly wider international context. The startup ecosystem is extremely important to the capital market — which is why supporting young businesses is crucial. Without them, no new companies would emerge capable of entering the capital market, attracting investment, creating economic value, and reaching even greater heights,” says Gediminas Varnas, President of Nasdaq Vilnius.
About the Kickstart Lab Winning Teams
Chessodoro is developing a chess platform that connects players with professional coaches for structured learning. They say the program gave them clearer direction and strengthened their confidence.
Gravity X is developing an advanced manufacturing platform for the space, aviation, and defense industries, and notes that the program was the first time they truly felt real belief in their idea.
Muuza is creating an AI‑based women’s health solution and says the program provided structure, critical feedback, and valuable connections that enabled their product to evolve.
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Media Contacts:
Eglė Juškaitė
Nasdaq Vilnius
Marketing and Communications
egle.juskaite@nasdaq.com
+370 618 17811