Public Money for Latvian Startups: LIAA Grants and Altum Loans

Latvia's public money for startups comes through two institutions. LIAA, the investment and development agency, gives grants, and Altum, the state development finance institution, lends and guarantees. This page sets out the terms, who qualifies, what gets applications turned down, and the deadlines, which the funding guide only summarises.

Budgets, intake windows, and conditions change, sometimes within weeks. Every figure here is in the ledger at the end with the date it was checked, the page is refreshed each March before the spring deadlines, and the programme rules on LIAA's and Altum's own sites always govern.

What Public Funding Can a Latvian Startup Get?

Grants from LIAA for product development, research-based startups, incubation, and EU grant applications, the Idea Cup prize for individuals, and a start-up loan and credit guarantees from Altum. Almost all of it is de minimis aid, capped at EUR 300,000 over any period of three years per company across every programme.

The Startup Law's payroll relief and salary grant are a separate route, set out in the Startup Law guide.

How Do LIAA Innovation Vouchers Work?

LIAA issues a voucher that pays an outside provider for development work, and the company pays the rest plus VAT. A classic voucher covers up to EUR 25,000 at 85%, an introductory one up to EUR 10,000 at 100%, and the work must be done within 12 months, and no later than 29 February 2028.

• Four types. Besides the introductory and classic vouchers, a design voucher covers up to EUR 5,000 at 85%, and support for hiring a highly qualified employee covers up to EUR 25,000 at 45%, repaid after the salaries.
• A price survey first. Before applying, survey at least three comparable providers to establish the expected price, and choose the most economically advantageous offer.
• What qualifies. A new product or technology with demonstrated demand, a plan that runs through to production, and work in one of Latvia's smart specialisation fields: biomedicine and medical technology, ICT, photonics and smart materials, the knowledge-intensive bioeconomy, or smart energy and mobility.
• Timing. LIAA evaluates an application within a month. For the employee voucher, the employment contract can be signed only after LIAA's positive decision.
• Foreign branches. A Latvian company owned from abroad applies like any other. A Latvian branch of a foreign company can apply only if at least half of the branch's shareholders are companies registered in Latvia or Latvian nationals.

LIAA listed EUR 2,153,114 left in the voucher budget, and applications stay open while money remains.

Who Qualifies for LIAA's Science-Intensive Startup Grant?

A company commercialising a product or technology developed by a research organisation, either holding rights to it or founded by the scientist who developed it, at a completed TRL4 up to TRL8. It pays up to EUR 150,000 at 80% of salaries, prototyping, and commercialisation costs, for projects of up to 24 months, ending no later than 30 April 2027.

The company can owe no more than EUR 150 in tax, needs de minimis headroom, and must show that an end customer is interested. At the top of the readiness scale, it also needs a private investment of at least EUR 10,000, or proof of its own financial contribution.

An advance of up to 50% of the project is possible once the contract is signed, and LIAA listed EUR 2,467,805.60 left.

What Does LIAA Business Incubation Offer?

Mentoring, training, expert advice, and co-working space for companies up to five years old, plus grants covering 70% of eligible costs, up to EUR 10,000 for services, EUR 8,000 for equipment, and EUR 5,000 for materials. Innovative companies can also get up to EUR 10,000 towards salaries and up to EUR 20,000 for prototyping and technology development.

A company needs a minimum viable product at TRL4 or BIMRL5 or further, and tax debt of no more than EUR 1,000. It applies to the LIAA office for its region, each office takes only a handful of companies per intake, and the 2026 intake for new companies runs 9 to 24 September. LIAA asks applicants to book a consultation before applying.

Can LIAA Pay for an EU Grant Application?

Yes, up to EUR 10,000 at 50% of the cost of preparing an application to programmes such as Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, or the European Defence Fund. Costs count from the day you apply to LIAA until the EU submission, and the claim is due by 31 August 2029, and within two months of the EU submission round or selection result.

The funding guide covers the EIC Accelerator, the EU programme most relevant to a deep tech startup.

What Is the Idea Cup Competition?

A LIAA business idea competition for individuals rather than companies, open to anyone aged 18 or over living in Latvia, and each person may enter one business idea. It runs in rounds with online training and mentoring, and awards EUR 1,500 to 10,000 for the 12 best ideas. The 2026 round takes applications from 25 August to 13 September.

The prize is de minimis aid to the winner, so finalists pass a de minimis check. Idea Cup's own site runs the entries and announces the next round.

What Are the Terms of an Altum Start-Up Loan?

Up to EUR 250,000 at a fixed rate from 4.9%, for companies registered no more than seven years ago, with terms of up to 3 years for working capital, 10 years for equipment and vehicles, and 15 years for property. A founder can apply before the company is founded, and without previous business experience, and smaller loans need very little collateral.

• Collateral. For smaller loans, only property or a registered vehicle bought with the loan is pledged, with no valuation or insurance. Larger ones need at least 135% collateral once loans exceed EUR 100,000 in total.
• Credit history. The company, its owners, officers, and beneficial owners must have no current overdue entry in the Bank of Latvia Credit Register or other debtor registers.
• Regional rate. Companies in the Augšdaugava, Balvi, Krāslava, Ludza, and Alūksne municipalities can get a 0% rate on new loans applied for by 30 June 2027.
• Availability. The start-up loan programme runs until the end of 2029.

Can Altum Guarantee a Bank Loan for a Startup?

Yes. Altum guarantees part of a loan from a commercial bank, helping a company borrow on terms it could not get alone. Its guarantees for businesses came to EUR 247 million in 2025, and individual credit guarantees carried a 0% premium rate, most of them backing working capital, bank guarantees, and investment loans.

Altum's venture capital money reaches startups differently, through the funds it backs, which the investor directory profiles.

How Does the De Minimis Cap Limit Public Funding?

Every LIAA grant here and the Altum start-up loan count as de minimis aid, and one company can receive at most EUR 300,000 over any period of three years of it in total. Loans and guarantees count at their grant equivalent rather than their face value, so check your headroom before combining programmes.

The cap covers all de minimis aid from any Latvian public body, not only LIAA and Altum, and LIAA asks for the company's de minimis record number from the State Revenue Service's system when you apply.

What Gets a LIAA or Altum Application Turned Down?

Failing an eligibility condition, before the idea is judged at all. Check tax debt against the programme's limit, de minimis headroom, whether your sector is excluded, whether the product has reached the required readiness level, and that nothing was signed before LIAA's decision where the rules require waiting.

• Tax debt. No more than EUR 150 for the science-intensive startup grant and vouchers, and EUR 1,000 for incubation.
• Excluded sectors. Trade, financial services other than fintech, real estate, gambling, fishing and aquaculture, primary agriculture, and tobacco.
• Company size. Vouchers are for small and medium-sized companies, counted together with linked and partner companies, which a startup with a large corporate shareholder may not be.
• Order of steps. A price survey before a voucher application, and for the employee voucher, no contract until LIAA decides.
• Credit history at Altum. An overdue entry in the Bank of Latvia's Credit Register stops a start-up loan.

Where Does the Co-Funding Come From?

From the company, because none of these grants pays everything. The science-intensive startup grant leaves a fifth of the cost, incubation grants three tenths, and EU application support half, while a voucher leaves the provider's remainder and the VAT. Founders cover it from revenue, their own money, an Altum loan, or an angel round.

Plan the cash as well as the share. Incubation grants are paid after the spending, a voucher's share goes straight to the provider, and the science-intensive startup grant can pay an advance. The investor directory lists the angels and funds a founder might raise the rest from.

What Are the Deadlines for LIAA and Altum Programmes?

The nearest are Idea Cup applications, from 25 August to 13 September, and the business incubation intake, 9 to 24 September. Science-intensive startup projects must finish by 30 April 2027, voucher projects by 29 February 2028, and Altum start-up loans run until the end of 2029.

Vouchers, the science-intensive startup grant, and EU application support also close early if their money runs out, so an application is safer sooner than later.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Can a Startup Get From LIAA?

Up to EUR 150,000 from the science-intensive startup grant, up to EUR 25,000 from a classic innovation voucher, and incubation grants for services, equipment, and prototyping, all within the de minimis cap of EUR 300,000 over any period of three years.

Can a Foreign-Owned Company Get LIAA Grants?

A company registered in Latvia can, whoever owns it. A Latvian branch of a foreign company can apply for vouchers only if at least half of the branch's shareholders are companies registered in Latvia or Latvian nationals.

Does an Altum Start-Up Loan Need Collateral?

It depends on the size. For smaller loans, only property or a registered vehicle bought with the loan is pledged, with no valuation or insurance, and larger ones need at least 135% collateral once loans exceed EUR 100,000 in total.

What Is the De Minimis Limit in Latvia?

EUR 300,000 over any period of three years of de minimis aid per company, under the EU regulation that covers most LIAA grants and Altum's start-up loan.

When Is the Next LIAA Incubation Intake?

The 2026 intake for new companies runs 9 to 24 September, through the LIAA office for the company's region.

Who Can Enter the Idea Cup?

It is open to anyone aged 18 or over living in Latvia, with one business idea each, and the 2026 round takes applications from 25 August to 13 September.

Sources

• LIAA, on innovation vouchers, the science-intensive startup grant, business incubation, support for EU applications, and the Idea Cup.
• Altum, on the start-up loan and its guarantees in 2025, and the Ministry of Economics on how long start-up loans remain available.
• Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2831, article 3, for the de minimis cap.

This page explains the programmes. Whether your company qualifies is decided by LIAA or Altum on the application in front of them.