From Stockholm to Riga, Outlast Fund launches €21M fund to back founders in it for the long game
Outlast Fund, a Baltic-Nordic VC fund, has closed its first fund at 21M EUR to invest in pre-seed and seed-stage startups from the region. The fund is based in Riga and Stockholm, and aims to be the first cheque in backing founders building solutions that are built to last, with initial pre-seed tickets of up to 250,000 EUR and 1.5M EUR seed rounds.
The fund goes against the grain in the investment environment, eschewing typical VC advice to prioritize quick exits. Rather, they look to scour the edges to uncover the most promising founders in the Baltics and Nordics, and are prepared to invest in them at the earliest stages to help them build enduring companies.
The fund is particularly keen to keep an eye out for serial entrepreneurs with a proven track record, ready to back them as early as the idea stage. Outlast Fund also invests in first-time founders who possess unique and specific insights within their chosen verticals. However, a trait that they look for in all cases is an obsessive drive to solve their customers’ most pressing problems. Regardless of whether the founders are better suited for building lean teams with the help of angels, microfunds, and syndicates, or if they are eyeing large rounds from the get-go, Outlast Fund is ready to support from the first cheque, rather than jumping in at the middle.
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Originally published on 18 Sep
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On 1 April 2026, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the promotion of long-term investment in Latvia’s transport and logistics sector was signed at the Ministry of Economics. The memorandum was signed by Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis, Director General of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) Ieva Jāgere, and Povilas Drižas, Secretary General of the International Transport and Logistics Alliance (Tarptautinio transporto ir logistikos aljansas – TTLA). The objective of the memorandum is to facilitate the expansion of Lithuanian transport and logistics companies in Latvia, strengthening regional cooperation and developing a competitive transport and logistics ecosystem in the Baltics.
The International Transport and Logistics Alliance (TTLA), founded in 2019, unites 25 of Lithuania’s largest transport and logistics companies and represents a significant share of the international road freight market. The organization works to enhance the sector’s competitiveness and represent business interests at both national and international levels. TTLA members are international hauliers operating in European and Asian markets, forming a vital link in the Baltic region’s logistics chains.
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Originally published on 8 Apr
As cruise and other maritime operators face growing pressure to cut emissions, modernize vessels, and upgrade port infrastructure, Estonia is bringing a practical maritime transition approach to Seatrade Cruise Global 2026. The Northern European country presents a connected ecosystem spanning €25 million state-backed retrofit support, port electrification, digital systems, and companies across the whole maritime value chain.
Across shipping, the green transition is increasingly being shaped by implementation. Decarbonization is no longer only about newbuilds, but also about how existing vessels can be modernized in a practical way – improving efficiency, upgrading passenger areas, and preparing ships for new fuels within real refit windows and operational limits.
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Originally published on 10 Apr
Since launching its ferry route between Malmö and Świnoujście on April 10, 2024, Finnlines has transported over 200,000 passengers and drivers in its first two years of operation. To mark the two-year milestone, Finnlines is adding an extra Saturday evening departure from Malmö on April 18 and April 25, bringing the total to two departures on those dates.
“Reaching over 200,000 passengers and drivers in just two years is a testament to the strength of this route. We have seen a steady increase in demand as more discover the convenience of a direct connection between Malmö, a key hub in southern Sweden close to Copenhagen, and northern Poland, with easy access to Germany,” says Marco Palmu, Head of Passenger Services at Finnlines.
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Originally published on 8 Apr
Electric boat company Candela, which is a tenant of Ports of Stockholm, has secured extensive orders for its hydrofoiling vessels from countries around the world. Now the first ship is being delivered from Frihamnen port, via Stockholm Norvik Port, to Mumbai. And of course it will be delivered by sea.
The first of Candela’s electric vessels, the P-12, left Frihamnen port in central Stockholm for Stockholm Norvik Port under its own power in early April. There, the vessel was loaded onto a larger vessel for onward transport by sea via Antwerp to Mumbai in India.
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Originally published on 10 Apr
The first month of spring saw continued strong demand for travel to and from Copenhagen Airport. In March, 2.590 million passengers travelled through the airport, representing an increase of 16 per cent compared with the same month last year. This made it the busiest March in the airport’s history.
“We have had a March with many travel-ready passengers in the terminals. Many have already travelled for the Easter holidays, either to warmer destinations or to one of the many major cities with direct connections from Copenhagen. At the same time, March marks that we have now had 12 consecutive months of passenger records, which demonstrates continued strong demand for air travel,” says Peter Krogsgaard, Chief Commercial Officer at Copenhagen Airport.
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Originally published on 8 Apr
During the WindEurope Offshore Helsinki conference last week, Euroports presented the development of the port of Koverhar, located in the Port of Hanko area, Finland, as the next-generation industrial hub for Finland, Sweden and across the Baltic Sea.
The port of Koverhar is designed to address a key structural gap in the market: the lack of integrated, industrial-scale port infrastructure capable of supporting both fabrication and marshalling activities.
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Originally published on 8 Apr
To reach net zero emissions by 2045, Sweden must electrify its transport sector. In the Spring Amending Budget, the Government and the Sweden Democrats intend to allocate more funding to expand the electric vehicle premium and to increase government agencies’ purchasing of fossil-free alternatives.
“Electrification is the future. These are two proposals aimed at furthering the transition by electrifying our transportation and thereby making society less sensitive to, for example, oil price surges,” says Acting Minister for Climate and the Environment Johan Britz.
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Originally published on 7 Apr
Estonian biotechnology company ÄIO and natural cosmetics brand tilk! announce the launch of their first commercial product together: Skin Booster Bio‑Fermented Serum with ÄIO RedOil.
The product is a significant step for ÄIO, marking its evolution from research and ingredient development to market-ready, consumer-facing applications. Developed by tilk!, the serum combines ÄIO’s RedOil with marine and plant-based actives to deliver a high-performance skincare solution grounded in both science and nature. The partnership marks a breakthrough for Estonia’s rising biotech and cosmetics sectors, demonstrating how local innovation can shape the future of clean, high‑performance beauty.
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Originally published on 7 Apr
Lithuanian space and defence technology company Astrolight has launched its ATLAS-1 laser communication devices into orbit, in what the company says is the first Lithuanian laser communications system to reach space.
The devices were launched on 30 March 2026 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket during SpaceX’s Transporter-16 mission in California. According to Astrolight, the ATLAS-1 units will be used in three separate customer missions led by a French deep-tech company, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
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Originally published on 7 Apr
VTT has published its key results from the national Towards Fossil‑Free Steel (FFS2) project as part of the consortium final report. VTT’s work in FFS2 focused on solutions that help steel producers replace fossil fuels and make full use of industrial side streams in a future fossil‑free value chain.
The transition to fossil free steel requires not only new energy sources, but also system level solutions that work on an industrial scale. In the FFS2 project, VTT has addressed this challenge by developing and validating technologies that integrate electrification, hydrogen and circular material flows into existing and future steelmaking processes. The results strengthen the technological basis for industrial decision making and support a faster, lower risk transition towards fossil-free steel production
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Originally published on 7 Apr