Lithuania Leads Baltic Startup Resurgence with Record €238M Funding and Surge in Exits
•February 20, 2026
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Why It Matters
The surge demonstrates that the Baltic region is becoming a credible, high‑growth hub for early‑stage tech, attracting European and U.S. capital and reinforcing economic diversification. It signals scalable, export‑ready companies that can drive long‑term regional competitiveness.
Key Takeaways
- •Lithuanian startups secured €238M funding in 2024.
- •Early‑stage rounds hit €77M, seed €56.5M record.
- •Median pre‑seed valuations outpace Estonia, fastest growth.
- •CAST AI became Lithuania’s fifth unicorn in January.
- •Vilnius expands hackathons, accelerators, fostering founder pipeline.
Pulse Analysis
Lithuania’s 2024 funding boom reflects a broader shift in European venture capital, where investors are seeking resilient ecosystems beyond traditional hubs. While many markets faced pullbacks, the Baltic region, and Lithuania in particular, maintained strong deal flow, buoyed by a stable average ticket size of roughly €2 million. This stability suggests that capital is being allocated to companies with clear product‑market fit and defensible IP, rather than speculative bets, positioning Lithuania as a low‑risk, high‑potential destination for early‑stage investors.
The early‑stage surge is driven by a combination of robust public‑private initiatives and a maturing talent pipeline. Vilnius has expanded its startup‑formation infrastructure through hackathons, accelerator‑style programmes, and new hacker spaces like Basedspace and Lost Astronaut, broadening access to entrepreneurship beyond technical founders. These programs have accelerated the creation of high‑quality teams capable of scaling internationally, as evidenced by the record pre‑seed valuations and the emergence of a fifth unicorn, CAST AI. The ecosystem’s focus on deep‑tech, regulatory‑intensive solutions aligns with global demand for specialized, export‑ready products.
Looking ahead, the influx of new venture funds in 2025 and additional investment vehicles slated for 2026 are expected to amplify capital deployment, cementing Vilnius’s status as a fast‑rising startup centre in Central and Eastern Europe. For investors, Lithuania offers a compelling blend of attractive valuations, proven exit pathways, and a supportive environment that nurtures global‑scale companies. As the region continues to attract cross‑border acquirers seeking IP and talent, the momentum is likely to sustain, making the Baltic startup scene a strategic focal point for future tech investment.
Lithuania leads Baltic startup resurgence with record €238M funding and surge in exits
As global venture markets continue to rebalance, the Baltics are emerging as one of Europe’s more resilient early-stage ecosystems – and in 2025, Lithuania has taken the regional lead.
According to a new early-stage funding report by FIRSTPICK and Practica Capital, Lithuanian startups raised €238 million last year, alongside a record number of exits – the highest annual total ever recorded in the country.
Lithuania’s early-stage segment posted particularly strong results, attracting €77 million across pre-seed and seed rounds – both record levels – including €56.52 million raised in seed funding alone. Growth was driven primarily by an increase in deal volume, while the average ticket size remained stable at approximately €2 million.
Alongside Estonia, Lithuania now leads the region in median pre-seed valuations, with Lithuania showing the fastest upward momentum among Baltic peers.
In January, CAST AI became the country’s fifth unicorn.
According to Andra Bagdonaitė, Partner at FIRSTPICK, the surge in exits reflects growing global demand for specialised Lithuanian startups.
“Foreign acquirers are buying these companies primarily for product depth, IP, and teams – not local market access. The common thread is predictable enterprise value creation: sticky workflows, regulatory or operational complexity, and products that scale faster within a global distribution engine.”
Vilnius has also strengthened its long-term founder pipeline. Over the past year, the city has expanded its startup-formation infrastructure through additional hackathons, accelerator-style programmes, and new hacker spaces such as Basedspace and Lost Astronaut.
Across the Baltics, similar initiatives have already produced dozens of new startup teams, broadening access to entrepreneurship beyond traditional technical backgrounds.
“Vilnius’ startup ecosystem is gaining global attention not just for its strong numbers, but for the quality of companies emerging across the capital and the country,” says Mangirdas Šapranauskas, Head of Business Department at Go Vilnius, the official tourism and development agency.
“Investors are increasingly backing teams that can scale internationally, and our network of innovation programmes and talent initiatives ensures that these companies are ready to compete on a global stage.”
With new venture funds launched across the region in 2025 and additional investment vehicles expected in 2026, capital deployment in Lithuania is forecast to grow further, reinforcing Vilnius’ position as one of the fastest-rising startup centres in Central and Eastern Europe.
With early-stage investment and exits hitting record highs, Lithuania is attracting investors across Europe and the US Its growing ecosystem of programmes, talent, and capital is positioning the country as a Baltic startup hub capable of producing companies that can compete globally – and the trend shows no sign of slowing in 2026.
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