The international accelerator implemented by the Innovation Agency Lithuania’s Startup Lithuania and Plug and Play has already delivered significant results: Lithuanian startups participating in the program have raised more than EUR 8 million during and after acceleration, while teams that joined the GOAL immersion program in Silicon Valley returned home with strengthened confidence and global ambitions.

“Lithuanian startups today are no longer a niche sector but a powerful driver of the country’s economic growth. Their added value has increased several times faster than the national average in recent years, and the entire ecosystem has now surpassed EUR 15 billion. Startups are creating high-skilled jobs, generating some of the most competitive salaries on the market, and increasingly exporting their technologies worldwide. This clearly shows that Lithuania’s innovation potential is global,” says Minister of Economy and Innovation Edvinas Grikšas.

Strong Interest Reflected in More Than 1,000 Applications

Startup Lithuania accelerator powered by Plug and Play—one of the largest innovation platforms in the U.S.—is the first initiative of this scale in Lithuania and has attracted more than 1,000 applications from teams in Lithuania and abroad. A large share of them develop solutions in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, or dual-use technologies.

“We’re seeing a clear shift—teams from other European countries, the U.S., and Asia are relocating to Lithuania. This proves that Lithuania is becoming a competitive place to build innovative technology businesses. Already 12 startups operating here have departed for Silicon Valley, and their progress and ambition show that we are moving in the right direction,” says the Head of Startup Lithuania at Innovation Agency Lithuania Karolina Urbonaitė.

Five selection rounds have been held so far, and more than 60 teams that passed them participated in the intensive acceleration program in Lithuania—from product development to individual mentor sessions. During each round, the most promising companies were selected to join the GOAL program in Silicon Valley, where they could pitch to investors, gain valuable insights, and build essential connections.

Every Startup’s Dream—Silicon Valley

For many founders, the accelerator experience transforms not only their business perspective but also their mindset. In Silicon Valley, they face a scale, speed, and openness that reshapes the limits of their ambition.

Biotech startup Vital3D Technologies says the GOAL program became a turning point for both the team and their product.

“We saw how the startup world operates—where our technology can have the greatest impact and the scale of competition we’re facing. Presenting alongside globally recognized universities and innovation centers, we felt like equals. It was a clear sign that we have all the necessary tools to build globally competitive technologies,” says Business Development Lead at Vital3D Technologies Eglė Čiuoderienė.

What inspired her most in Silicon Valley was the culture of collaboration. “Visiting a lab at Stanford, I clearly felt both the scale of biotech being developed there and how naturally people share knowledge. In such situations, talking to world-class experts and renowned scientists, sometimes you simply lack the courage,” she admits.

This is where advice from Plug and Play mentor Lital Cohen became invaluable. “She taught me how to start an equal conversation with the world’s top professionals and how to clearly communicate the value we create—even if you come from a smaller ecosystem. This gave me a completely new perspective and became one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve ever had,” Eglė adds.

That lesson was put to the test sooner than expected, when she had to pitch their 3D biofabrication technology to venture capitalist and billionaire Tim Draper.

“I took a deep breath, remembered Lital’s words, and delivered our introduction. To my surprise, he stopped, began asking detailed questions, and the conversation lasted far longer than I could have imagined. Finally, he said: ‘Here is my email—send me your pitch deck.’ I’ll never forget that moment,” she recalls.

For Deep Tech Teams, Sales Must Start Earlier Than Expected

AI and defense-tech startup Unbound Autonomy says the program reshaped their understanding of how to scale products internationally.

“In Silicon Valley, we realized that you must begin selling as early as possible—even before you have the final product. For deep-tech teams, this is a crucial lesson that often determines whether you survive in the market. We met organizations that could become our testing partners and help refine the technology. This opens entirely new horizons both in the U.S. and Europe,” says co-founder Vytautas Mikalainis.

In the U.S., the company presented a next-generation communication tool for soldiers.

“After returning to Lithuania, the snowball started rolling even faster—we finally began seeing real results. This week we had a call with a member of the U.S. Navy SEALs—never in a thousand years did I think I’d meet someone like that. Later, he opened even more doors, introducing us to colleagues who had served in special operations and now work with the U.S. Air Force. It’s unbelievable how much progress we’ve made thanks to this program,” the founder shares.

About the Program

Plug and Play is one of the world’s largest technology accelerators, headquartered in Silicon Valley. It operates as a platform connecting startups with major international corporations and investors. The organization is known for its early investments in technology giants such as Google, PayPal, and Dropbox.

GOAL (Global Overseas Acceleration & Learning) is a specialized Plug and Play program designed for the most promising startups from around the world. It is a six-week intensive acceleration, mentorship, and business networking program in Silicon Valley. Its culmination is the Plug and Play Summit, where participants pitch their business ideas to a global audience of investors and corporations.

As the acceleration program in Lithuania approaches its finale, the community will come together in Vilnius on February 25 at the “Lithuania Accelerated Startups: Late Night Show,” an event dedicated to celebrating the results achieved throughout the acceleration journey.