For scientists

Dr. Irit Yaniv, M.D., MBA, is a healthcare business executive, investor and entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience in medical devices and digital health. She is the co-founder and Chairman of Almeda Ventures, a public health technology research and development fund, and was previously a General Partner at Accelmed, a venture capital fund, where she participated in the sale of several successful companies including Eximo Medical, Cartiheal and SoniVie. Dr Janiva has held senior positions at Metacure and Impulse Dynamics and co-founded Digma Medical and NitiNotes. She is an active speaker, mentor and advisor in the Israeli health technology ecosystem and serves on several boards and accelerator programs.

Matīss Neimanis is Managing Partner and CEO of Buildit Latvia, a venture capital fund and accelerator. The fund specialises in early-stage investments in hardware and deep technology and has more than 50 investments in its portfolio. Matīss is also Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association and was previously a board member of the Digital Accelerator Latvia. He has more than 15 years of experience in startup support, innovation policy development and technology commercialisation, including at the University of Latvia and the Green Industries Innovation Centre. He holds a PhD in Sociology and an MBA in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Dr Peter Birk is a life sciences executive, investor and advisor with more than 25 years of experience in biotechnology and healthcare innovation. He is a partner at Accelerace, where he leads investments in biotech and medtech and has advised more than 50 start-ups. He is co-founder of the Nordic Mentor Network for Entrepreneurship (NOME) and has been instrumental in helping companies such as MonTa Biosciences and Cessatech raise and develop funding, successfully raising capital and becoming public companies.

Previously, he held senior positions, including Vice President at EpiTherapeutics (acquired by Gilead) and Pharmexa (acquired by Affitech). Peter Burke holds a PhD in protein engineering and is active on several advisory boards and startup evaluation committees across Europe and the US.

Martin Askne is an experienced startup coach, innovation manager and business angel with more than 25 years of experience in entrepreneurship and early-stage business development. He is currently working at RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden), where he leads pre-incubation and supports startups using Lean Startup methodologies.

Mārtiņš has co-founded or co-founded 14 start-ups in various sectors including life sciences, information and communication technologies (ICT), food and beverage, and digital outdoor media. He is also a board member and investor in several circular economy and technology companies, including Brighteco and Workify, and co-founded AdCityMedia, a public digital outdoor media company.

Specialises in medical technology development, entrepreneurship and investments in healthcare innovation. With more than 20 years of experience in founding and leading medical device and pharmaceutical companies, he has been a key driver in the commercialisation of ophthalmology and neurology technologies.

Dr Barak Azmon is the founder and CEO of several medical start-ups, including Notal Vision, Potentia and Azura. He is an active advisor and board member to a number of companies and works with venture capital funds in the healthcare technology space. As a partner at Accuitive Medical Ventures and The Innovation Factory, he has contributed to the development of early-stage medical innovation.

With a medical background and clinical experience in ophthalmology, he combines scientific understanding with strategic thinking to create sustainable solutions tailored to patients' needs. A passionate medical innovator, he builds bridges between science, business and investment on a global scale.

Specialises in early-stage investments, commercialisation of science-intensive technologies and development of mentoring programmes. With more than 10 years of experience in investment, acceleration programmes and financial management, he has fostered high-tech innovation and the growth of young entrepreneurs. 

Andris works at Riga Technical University, supporting the transaction flow management of the BioPhoT platform. As UniLab Manager, he develops early-stage entrepreneurship programmes, develops university start-ups and leads the expansion of the mentor network, including the creation of the NATO DIANA Accelerator within UniLab Defence. 

Member of the Board of the Commercialisation Reactor Fund, leading early-stage investments and investor relations. While at ALTUM, he developed state-backed investment funds, including Baltic Innovation Fund I (EUR 130 million) and its EUR 156 million investment fund. EUR 156 million. Experience at the Latvian Ministry of Finance has given him a broad understanding of financial management and strategic investment planning. 

A passionate connector between science, industry and investment, supporting deep-tech start-ups, mentoring programmes and the development of innovation ecosystems in Europe. 

Science-intensive (deeptech) is a technology entrepreneur and strategic mentor specialising in technology commercialisation, systemic change and career development in science-intensive industries. As a former CEO and co-founder of a biotech startup, she brings hands-on experience in launching ventures and supporting researchers in turning scientific discoveries into market-ready solutions.

Works closely with the European Innovation Council's accelerator, venture capital networks and mentoring programmes to support technology transfer and investment strategies. Her expertise lies in bridging research and business, managing innovation and fostering sustainable growth. 

Commercialisation expert, entrepreneur and business strategist specialising in technology transfer, start-up development and investment attraction. More than 10 years of experience in raising €700,000 of venture capital for high-tech start-ups, managed the first European Space Agency contracts for Latvian start-ups. 

As a senior expert at the Institute of Solid State Physics at the University, he accelerates the commercialisation of research in sensors, electronics, optics and biotechnology. He has co-founded several start-ups and mentored more than 20 deep-tech start-ups, building bridges between science and industry. 

More than 20 years' experience in science, innovation and technology commercialisation, helping to turn research results into real solutions. His expertise covers renewable energy, photonics and smart materials, with a particular focus on fostering science-industry collaboration. 

As Head of Development at the Institute of Solid State Physics, he has led commercialisation projects, supported start-ups and fostered collaboration between research and business. He has organised industry hackathons, designed innovation programmes and contributed to the development of the Latvian photonics and smart materials ecosystem. 

In addition to management experience, she has practical knowledge of intellectual property management, technology transfer and business strategy. He founded and managed a high-tech start-up in the field of solar technologies, where he was responsible for business strategy, product development, marketing and investment attraction. 

As a mentor, he helps science and innovation teams understand the commercialisation process, develop market strategies, attract investment and build collaborations with industry. 

Business development and innovation expert with more than 18 years of international experience working with corporations, start-ups and multinational organisations. She has worked for globally renowned companies including Microsoft, Procter & Gamble and NielsenIQ, where she learned the ins and outs of sales, marketing, strategic partnerships and operational management.

Deep understanding of business growth strategies in different sectors, based on experience in international markets and multi-stakeholder work.In addition to working in a corporate environment, she was an innovation and business development advisor at ECR Baltic. 

Active in the start-up ecosystem, combining entrepreneurial experience with strategic mentoring. She has been a mentor and evaluator at EIT Food, NewChip Accelerator and UniLab, supporting the development of early-stage startups. 

Her expertise lies in fostering innovation and industry collaboration, helping to create sustainable, scalable and impactful business models.

Science-intensive (deeptech) is a technology commercialisation expert, entrepreneur and business strategist with extensive experience helping scientists turn research into market-ready solutions. He specialises in aerospace technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics and industrial automation, helping start-ups to develop products and attract investment. 

With in-depth knowledge of investment attraction, sales strategies and market penetration, he has successfully advised start-ups to help them compete in the global marketplace. His expertise includes technology transfer, business development and strategic expansion, making him a valuable mentor for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

Entrepreneur and business angel specialising in science-intensive (deeptech) in technology, education and productivity. He has founded and led companies in various sectors and countries, acting as founder, CEO, investor, advisor and independent board member.

In 2021, he was named Investor of the Year by the Latvian Venture Capital Association and the Latvian Business Angel Network. Voldemārs is actively involved in the Nordic innovation ecosystem, supporting high-tech start-ups and investment networks.

A strategist with a strong problem-solving portfolio to help turn ideas into products and assets into capital. With extensive experience in mentoring, business growth and investment strategies, 

Voldemārs is a valuable mentor for start-ups moving towards technology commercialisation.