Continuing a successful tradition of cooperation, on 19 December 2025, the “Entrepreneurship Initiatives Hackathon” was held for the third time within the framework of the Latvian state budget-funded programme “Cultural Orientation Courses and Integration Activities for Ukrainian Civilians,” project “STRONG TOGETHER-4. СИЛЬНІ РАЗОМ-4,” ID No. 2025.LV/UKR_KO/018/L28. The event brought together Ukrainian civilians and representatives of Latvian society to develop joint business ideas, strengthen leadership skills, and promote mutual cooperation.
The aim of the event was to encourage the active involvement of representatives of Latvian society and Ukrainian civilians in the development of business ideas, while strengthening teamwork skills and practical understanding of the fundamentals of the entrepreneurial process. Working in teams, participants developed ideas, created their structural frameworks, and assessed potential development opportunities. The hackathon was moderated by Andrejs Zelčs, Head of the LIAA Latgale Region, and entrepreneur Inga Zelča, who provided methodological support to participants in formulating ideas, identifying target audiences, assessing potential risks, and developing sustainable business models.
During the hackathon, participants worked in teams that also included representatives of the host community. This provided a practical perspective on the business environment in Latvia. Through intensive collaborative work, the teams developed several business ideas based on mutual exchange of experience and realistic development opportunities across various sectors.
At the conclusion of the hackathon, the teams presented prototypes of their business models based on the ideas they had developed. These were evaluated with regard to their relevance, social significance, and development potential. Participants also received professional feedback and had the opportunity to engage in an exchange of experiences and viewpoints.
The teams received valuable prizes in four categories: “Best Problem Solution,” “Most Socially Significant Business,” “Idea with the Greatest Business Potential,” and “Business Focused on Cooperation and Co-Creation.”
The hackathon demonstrated the importance of this format of cooperation, fostering not only the generation of new ideas but also strengthening leadership skills and a sense of belonging within Latvia’s entrepreneurial environment.
The sustainability and practical impact of the event are also demonstrated by the participation of Olena Riumina, a Ukrainian designer and a participant of the first “Entrepreneurship Initiatives Hackathon,” whose idea for the clothing collection “Memory Code” won first place in 2023. The successful cooperation with Olena Riumina continues to this day and can be regarded as an inspiring example for other hackathon participants.
More information about the clothing collection is available on our website:
Clothing collection “Memory Code”.
Thank you to all participants for their active engagement!
The event was organised within the framework of the project “STRONG TOGETHER-4. СИЛЬНІ РАЗОМ-4,” No. 2025.LV/UKR_KO/018/L28.
It is financially supported by the Society Integration Foundation using funds allocated from the Latvian state budget.
Responsibility for the content of the project activities lies with the Daugavpils University Society for Lifelong Learning, Culture, and Science Communication “Park of Intellect.”
