FIRSTPICK and Lost Astronaut have launched a collaboration to support young startup founders in the Baltics, with a particular focus on Gen Z. The goal is to invest in 100 early-stage startups over the next three years, providing a platform to develop globally competitive companies from the ideation phase.

Initiative Details

The initiative includes an investment of €100,000 for each selected startup. Lost Astronaut will handle the initial phase, while FIRSTPICK will provide support for scalability. This combined approach aims to bridge the funding and knowledge gap that often hinders young talent.

Tadas Burgaila, founder of Lost Astronaut, emphasizes that FIRSTPICK is not a traditional accelerator, but a "league of All-stars" that brings together the best builders in the Baltics.

Support and Resources

In addition to funding, startups will have access to a community of over 100 experienced coaches and 250 founders who have already developed successful companies. FIRSTPICK provides an archive of workshops, templates, and operational advice.

Andra Bagdonaitė, Partner at FIRSTPICK, highlights the importance of providing practical guidance for fundraising strategy, feedback on materials, and introductions to qualified venture capitalists (VCs), thanks to a network of over 700 funds.

The Baltic Ecosystem

The goal is to strengthen the Baltic ecosystem, focusing on quality rather than quantity. Burgaila emphasizes that many first-time founders do not follow traditional venture capital models, preferring to focus on shipping, testing, and learning in real time. The collaboration is designed to support this shift, investing early and quickly to ensure that strong builders are not excluded by slow decision cycles.