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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Luleå University of Technology is breaking new ground in mining technology by conducting innovative research into 6G networks in collaboration with Oulu University. This pioneering project aims to explore how next-generation wireless technology can enhance safety, efficiency, and communication in mining environments, laying the foundation for a transformation in the industry.
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Originally published on 14 Mar
The Swedish Maritime Administration and Ports of Stockholm establish a joint maritime traffic centre
The Swedish Maritime Administration and Ports of Stockholm are taking a historic step by establishing a joint maritime traffic centre in Stockholm. The co-operation will enhance the efficiency and safety of vessel traffic from Oxelösund in the south and up along the entire northern coast of Sweden. In early March, the parties signed a cooperation agreement that marks the start of a groundbreaking initiative. The traffic centres of the Swedish Maritime Administration and Ports of Stockholm will form a joint maritime traffic centre at the Värtahamnen port in Stockholm.
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Originally published on 14 Mar
On 12 March 2025, the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) priced a new seven-year, EUR 750 million NIB Environmental Bond (NEB). This latest transaction takes NIB’s total green bond issuance past the EUR 10 billion milestone since its first NEB in 2011, solidifying the Bank’s position in the market and underscoring the robust investor confidence in its environmental mandate.
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Originally published on 13 Mar
The construction procurement for the mainline of Rail Baltica’s Estonian section has reached a significant milestone: two international consortia have been declared successful. Upon contract signing, these consortia will implement the construction of two major sections of the international high-speed railway. This step ensures full contractual coverage of the Estonian passenger mainline, bringing Rail Baltica closer to establishing a functional rail corridor between Tallinn and Warsaw by 2030.
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Originally published on 13 Mar
Vilnius has been awarded the top international recognition for its foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy, securing the prestigious Best FDI Strategy Award at MIPIM 2025, one of the world’s largest real estate exhibitions. The Lithuanian capital was honoured in the fDi European Cities and Regions of the Future 2025 rankings for mid-sized cities, an initiative by fDi Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times. This recognition underscores Vilnius’ long-term commitment to attracting global investment, fostering a business-friendly environment, and driving innovation.
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Originally published on 12 Mar
If you are 16-29 and live or are from the Baltic Sea Region, you are invited to run for a top leadership position in the Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum (BSRYF), a platform enabling young individuals to shape their future. Registration for the third election cycle is now open. Young individuals and aspiring young leaders can apply until 6 April 2025, with elections taking place online on 24 April 2025.
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Originally published on 12 Mar
The second Green4HEAT regional working group took place in Salaspils, where representatives of local governments, experts of heat supply companies and energy specialists discussed the development of energy communities in Latvia. The event took place within the framework of the Interreg Europe programme project Green4HEAT, which aims to accelerate the deployment of low-temperature heating solutions by promoting cooperation and knowledge sharing between regions.
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Originally published on 11 Mar
The Tehnopol Film and Multimedia Accelerator, which is part of the IDA Hub film campus being developed in Jõhvi, is looking for new and ambitious teams who want to drive innovation in film production and multimedia work. The news last week that the building contract for the Jõhvi film campus had been signed was very exciting for us and for our partners. The doubters who said that Ida-Virumaa could not be a base for new technology and a major platform for cinematic advances have been shown to be mistaken. Technology develops so fast that a technological approach can achieve a great deal without anyone needing to go anywhere near Hollywood.
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Originally published on 11 Mar
Today, a study was presented regarding the role of green hydrogen in the Norwegian economy and its potential development in Latvia. Currently, Norway produces 10% of Europe’s total green hydrogen, making it the second-largest player in the industry after Germany. Latvia has also begun early-stage hydrogen technology applications in various sectors, including water transport and aviation fuel, which could potentially establish a new economic industry.
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Originally published on 10 Mar
Sunly, in collaboration with Metsagrupp, is developing a 16 MW / 32 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) next to the 45 MW Raba solar park. The total project cost is €7 million, and it will be built without subsidies. Construction is set to begin this summer, with completion expected in early 2026.
The construction permit for the Raba battery park, located in Pärnumaa, was obtained in January, and work will commence in the coming months. The 16 MW battery can store 32 MWh of electricity over two hours, ensuring that solar energy can be used even when the sun is not shining.
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Originally published on 7 Mar