7th Vilnius TechFusion Awards Will Highlight Year’s Major Tech and Business Achievements

Vilnius TechFusion Awards, hosted for the seventh year on January 30, will put a spotlight on the most distinguished players of the ecosystem. Startups, innovators, and other creators will be awarded for their significant accomplishments throughout the year that strengthened the capital’s startup scene.

For the seventh time, Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, is hosting the annual Vilnius TechFusion Awards 2025. The event, scheduled for January 30, 2026, highlights the year’s accomplishments of the startups, innovators, creators, and builders within the capital’s startup and technology business ecosystem. 

The Lithuanian startup ecosystem has grown 39 times over the last decade, with companies valued at over €16.8B. In 2025, startups based in Vilnius alone raised €215 million in venture capital – a 60% increase year-on-year. The ecosystem is also continuously expanding, and recently, a new unicorn, Cast AI, joined the already internationally recognized unicorns Vinted, Nord Security, and Baltic Classifieds Group.

Therefore, each year, Vilnius TechFusion Awards, representing diverse sectors such as Fintech, IT and Communications, Life Sciences, and Lasers, among others, honors the accomplishments of ecosystem players that continuously fast-track the city’s growth and change the business landscape. 

“Vilnius was recently ranked the number one global sharing economy city in Europe and second globally, surpassing London and Nashville, and placed fifth in the latest global tax competitiveness index alongside Switzerland and other Baltic capitals. The annual awards event is a celebration designed to recognize innovative ideas, solutions, and technologies that are the driving force behind the ecosystem’s momentum. The top performers transform the capital’s technology and business landscape day after day, while their contributions extend well beyond Lithuania”, says Mangirdas Šapranauskas, Head of Business Development at Go Vilnius, the official tourism and business development agency of Vilnius, which is the organizer of the event along with Unicorns Lithuania and Sunrise Tech Park.

Awards pinpoint the year’s outstanding performances

At the Vilnius TechFusion Awards 2025, 26 nominees – startups and organizations as well as visionary individuals – will be competing across eight categories: Early-Stage Star, Ecosystem Storyteller of the Year, The Bold Move, Tech for Good, Ecosystem Partner, Science in Action, Talent Gateway, and Emerging Vilnius Ambassador. Each category highlights a different role in shaping the capital’s ecosystem throughout the year.

Over the last seven years, the event has recognized essential players in the Vilnius ecosystem. Last year, Nord Security, one of the country’s unicorns and the leader in online cybersecurity, won the Vilnius Ambassador award, while Ovoko, an online marketplace for car parts, was recognized as the Money Magnet for securing the largest investment of the year, amounting to €20M (about $23.2M).

Collaborative hub as a catalyst for growth

While the TechFusion Awards highlight the most impactful achievements of the technology and business community, Vilnius itself stands as the driving force behind this success. The city’s ecosystem has consistently cultivated a culture of innovation, creativity, and collaboration, transforming Vilnius into one of the leading technology and business hubs in the region. 

This role as a dynamic, collaborative hub is reinforced by international recognition. In 2025, Vilnius was named the city with the Best Foreign Direct Investment Strategy among fDi’s Mid-Sized European Cities of the Future. Simultaneously, the city’s ambition extends well beyond technology and business: holding the title of European Green Capital 2025, Vilnius demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainable growth and long-term environmental responsibility.

According to Šapranauskas, the growing maturity of Vilnius’ tech and business ecosystem is driven primarily by its deeply collaborative culture.

“Innovation and ambition thrive here because support is always within reach. Agile governance, active associations, and tightly-knit networks make partnerships effortless and opportunities visible. Everything moves fast, ideas flow freely, and progress is collective. The TechFusion Awards don’t just celebrate success; they also shine a light on the ecosystem’s spirit, its drive, and the connections that keep it constantly moving forward. This collaborative culture not only helps the city grow and attract investment, but also reflects a capital that actively invests in its future, creating a place where people live well, work creatively, and innovate boldly,” he adds.