Forum, Innovations, Markets and Companies, Technology
International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics
Thursday, 03.07.2025, 04:35
Digital Freedom Festival Searches For Top Startups with Leading Global Accelerators 500 Startups and Rockstart

![]() |
---|
Digital
Freedom Festival Co-founder
and Latvian Startup Association Startin.lv Board Member Dagnija Lejiņa: “We're
very pleased to continue cooperation with our reliable partners at 500
Startups and Rockstart. Getting into 500 Startups is like
jumping to the front of a very long line. It increases trust in the eyes of
investors and offers invaluable personal experience and growth. I suggest you
get rid of your doubts and participate in the competition, after all - you lose
100% of the shots you don't take!”
The 500
Startups Pitch Competition is open to seed-stage startups, which have
developed and tested a product prototype. The top three to five will advance to
the next round, where they will have the opportunity to present their ideas to
local and international investors, media and other festival attendees. The
winner will receive a fast-track to the final interview round for the next
accelerator batch in Silicon Valley. There they will fight for the opportunity
to receive world-class mentoring, access to a USD 150 000 seed fund and
participation in the 4-month accelerator programme.
500 Startups Partner Marvin Liao: "I am personally a big fan of the Digital Freedom Festival and would
recommend it to anyone and everyone. This is also why 500 Startups has been involved with the event the last 3
years!"
The 500 Startups pitch application form is available
here.
The Rockstart Pitch Competition is open to startups
operating in the smart mobility, energy or artificial intelligence sectors.
Applicants must have developed and tested a product prototype.
Competition
winners will have the opportunity to take part in the final selection round for
the Rockstart 6-month accelerator
programme in the Netherlands. During the accelerator programme startups will
have access to a EUR 20 000 euro cash prize, EUR 80 000 in indirect financing
through office space rental and mentor support, as well as more than 50 various
additional support tools valued at around EUR 100 000. The programme will also
provide the opportunity to qualify for EUR 500 000 -1 million in further
investment.
Rockstart Co-founder
and CEO Rune Theill: “The Digital Freedom Festival is a
well-organised event for changemakers, innovators, and creative thinkers. In
beautiful surroundings, DFF is an intimate event optimised to create meaningful
connections.”
The Rockstart pitch application form is available
here.
Participation
in the pitch competitions allows startups to develop their ideas and
presentation skills, gain constructive criticism from industry representatives
and experts, and gain access to world-class contacts and investors.
As
previously reported, last year's 500
Startups Pitch Competition winner was Latvian startup Asya. In turn,
the winner of the Dutch accelerator's
Rockstart Pitch Competition was CostPocket from Estonia.
Asya CEO Ēvalds Urtāns emphasises: “Participation in DFF gave us great media exposure,
connections to top startup accelerator programs in the global arena and a lot
of early beta users before the actual launch of the asya.ai app.”