Startup Highway (SH) is an accelerator programme running in Vilnius, Lithuania. Now in its second year of operation, SH is on the road to becoming the most important startup accelerator and event in the CEE region.
Three months of intense work, combined with regular mentoring sessions and weekly guest visits seems to be a great recipe for all the companies participating in this programme. In addition, each startup receives up to €14,000 in seed funding, free office space and other essential services (accounting, legal, hosting, etc.) for free. In return, SH asks for 10% of the startup’s equity.
Startup Highway was founded by the local startup community guru, Rokas Tamosiunas. By exploiting his wide network of connections, Rokas was able to attract only the most promising startups in the region. Hundreds of applications were received, and nine startups have started this year’s programme. Around two months into it, only six remain. Strict SH criteria for constant progress each week ensures that the graduates from this programme are ‘going big’.
As their Demo Day approaches (likely in mid-September), startups are slowly switching their focus to the most important day yet. Investors from all over the region, the Baltics especially, are anticipating to see what this year’s Startup Highway Class has to offer. In the coming posts we will individually introduce all of the startups that make up the Startup Highway Class of ’12.
By the way: You can find out about other interesting startups from Lithuania in this list.
