By Roberta Rudokienė, CEO of LitBAN

If someone had told me a decade ago that Lithuania would become one of the most exciting startup investment destinations in Europe, I probably would’ve smiled and said: “Just give us a moment — we’re getting there.”

Well, that moment has arrived. And it’s becoming more visible every year.

According to Dealroom.co, Lithuania’s tech ecosystem has been the fastest-growing in Central and Eastern Europe in recent years. The combined value of Lithuanian startups now exceeds €16 billion — an astonishing 39x leap in just ten years. For a country of only 2.8 million people, Lithuania is home to over 1,000 startups, 3 unicorns (Vinted, Nord Security, Baltic Classifieds Group), and has significantly contributed to the rise of 6 unicorns more through founders, teams, and core operations based here.

So what’s behind all this momentum?

Smart Money That Shows Up Early

Lithuania’s startup progress is the result of many players working together — founders pushing boundaries, accelerators shaping talent, VCs boosting scale, policymakers clearing paths, and ecosystem builders stitching the pieces into a whole. And right at the earliest, most critical stages stand Lithuania’s business angels, united under the Lithuanian Business Angels Network (LitBAN) since 2018.

From that time LitBAN members have invested over €50 million into startups, with €12.1 million in 2024 alone. Approximately 60% of all publicly announced startup deals in 2024 and 2025 included business angels — a sign of just how strongly early-stage capital drives the ecosystem here.

And yes — the results speak for themselves: business angels experienced 6 successful investment exits last year, including two delivering more than 10 times return.

Global Investors Are Betting on Lithuania

Over the past decade, Lithuanian startups have consistently drawn the attention of top international venture capital funds. Capital from some of the world’s most respected investors is already flowing into the country — a clear signal that Lithuania has entered the global investment map.

In 2024, Lithuanian startups raised approximately €128 million, ranking second in CEE for VC investment per capita. Founders here now attract around €44 per capita, compared to a CEE average of €12.
And in 2025, the total amount of investments has almost doubled — Lithuanian startups have already more than €215 million.

Among the global investors who have placed bets on Lithuanian startups are Accel, Insight Partners, Plug and Play Tech Center, Intel Capital, Inventure, Sequoia Scout and others.

But it’s not only about capital coming in — Lithuania has already produced several notable exits that have already delivered significant returns for investors. Among the most prominent are Oberlo, acquired by Shopify; MailerLite, sold to Vercom for €79 million; and Interactio, which generated exceptional returns for early backers. These, along with successful outcomes in SaaS, cybersecurity, and fintech, demonstrate that Lithuanian startups are not only attracting global capital — they are consistently converting it into real, high-value results.

The message is clear: major investors have discovered Lithuania — and those looking for Europe’s next high-performing startups should be here too.

A Co-Investment Model Europe Talks About

One Lithuanian advantage is becoming something of a legend across Europe: the angel‑friendly co‑investment model offered by the government‑backed VC fund Coinvest Capital.

Through an evergreen VC fund with €44,3M committed capital, angels and other private investors, from family offices, to endowment funds, CVCs and VCs,  can co‑invest on equal terms in early‑stage deals. And here’s what investors value most: at exit, the fund caps its return at 4-8% annual interest — all additional investment returns  go directly to the accredited private investors.

It’s unique  in Europe. It’s powerful. And it works.

Foreign investors can also participate when co‑investing alongside Lithuanian angels.

The Interactio exit is a perfect example — the incentive model helped to increase angel returns from 9x to nearly 34x. Very few ecosystems can offer such co-investing schemes.

And Now, We Open the Door Wider

LitBAN is a proud member of EBAN, and we believe in cross-border investing as the next stage of our region’s growth. We’ve spent years building bridges with other ecosystems, sharing knowledge, and learning from our peers.

And in June 2026, we’ll take this one step further –  the EBAN Congress is coming to Vilnius.

If you’re an angel investor looking for:
✨ A fast-growing ecosystem
✨ Ambitious founders with global drive
✨ A co-investment model that rewards early belief
✨ A community that’s open, active, and collaborative

…then Lithuania should be firmly in your eyesight.

Feel the Vibe of Vilnius

Beyond the numbers and the capital flows, Lithuania offers a unique cultural backdrop for business and life. Its capital, Vilnius, has not only become a vibrant tech hub but also a city with flourishing cultural life and welcoming energy. Vilnius has been recognised in global rankings for its rapid growth as a tech city — reflecting both its innovation culture and impressive heritage. 

And if you’re visiting ahead of the EBAN Congress in June 2026, there’s no better way to experience the spirit of the city and the country than at one of its most colourful local festivals — Pink Soup Fest, where the streets of Vilnius come alive in celebration of Lithuania’s beloved cold beetroot soup – šaltibarščiai. Tens of thousands of people gather to enjoy parades, creative costumes, music, and culinary fun that reflect the playfulness, creativity, and community spirit that also animate Lithuania’s startup scene.