Grace Ashiru
Latitude59 CEO Liisi Org said the competition’s international reach has expanded significantly over the years. “This year, strong teams from five continents and 53 countries competed for the investment. The jury will not have an easy task, but our investors are highly motivated to carefully assess all candidates. The most promising startups will get the chance to shine on the Latitude59 main stage in less than a month and I am confident that new success stories that will shape the future of technology will begin here,” said Org.
The competition’s grand prize fund has grown by €100,000, reaching more than €400,000.
The Estonian Business Angels Network EstBAN will contribute up to €200,000 to the prize fund, while the Latvian Business Angels Network LatBAN will add up to €100,000. The Finnish Business Angels Network FiBAN will join the syndicate, representing Nordic investors. Lithuania-based venture capital fund FIRSTPICK VC will put forward an investment of up to €100,000.
Org also promised that more good news regarding the competition’s prize fund and other awards will be announced soon.
Latitude59’s Head of Startup and Investor Relations Krista Meinarde said that this year’s competition is the most geographically diverse in Latitude59’s history.
“Last year, we had applicants from 48 countries. This year, 53 countries are represented, making the applicant pool more diverse than ever. We have also seen remarkable growth from Africa, with 70 African startups applying this year, which is more than twice as many as last year,” said Meinarde.
From all applicants, 15 top teams will be selected for the semi-finals, where they will receive professional training and mentoring. The winners will be announced at the final on 22 May on the Latitude59 main stage.
Latitude59 2026 will take place on 20–22 May in Tallinn at Kultuurikatel. This year, Latitude59 has chosen The Global Village Experiment as its main theme, testing the hypothesis that the most valuable connections happen when ecosystems collide. In 2026, the ambition is to bring founders and ecosystem builders from around the world to Estonia, positioning Tallinn as a gateway to the New Nordics. Organisers expect participants from more than 70 countries.
