For two years now, Startup Social Kaunas has been uniting the Kaunas startup community through regular monthly meetings that provide a space, a voice, and a networking opportunity for everyone working in the startup ecosystem or considering joining it.
As Gytautas Kulakauskas, Project Manager of the Investment Environment of Kaunas IN Business Department, states, the idea to organise these meetings was conceived two years ago when it was observed that Kaunas lacked a space where members of the startup ecosystem could meet, interact, and collaborate.
“The symbolic two-year anniversary we are celebrating is not really about us, but rather it is about the entire community that has grown together, generated ideas, and sought solutions,” reflects Gytautas, recalling that the first event was attended by only a dozen participants, whereas now the meetings attract 100–150 participants every month.
“Today, I see more than one familiar face in the audience who attended the very first startup meeting. I think this is further proof that we are doing something right and creating something of substance. Developing a startup is not an easy process. Some lack a team, others need a clear business model, and some simply require the right environment to share ideas and receive valuable advice. Our goal was to create such a space where everyone could find like-minded people, mentors, and potential partners,” the organisers recall.
According to Kulakauskas, even the event organisers themselves operated like a startup in the beginning, for they listened to their audience, tested their ideas, experimented with different formats (ranging from lectures to DJ performances), and refined the “product” to ensure that each meeting was beneficial to the participants.
Gytautas Kulakauskas
Among the attendees of the celebratory event were several successful startup founders. When asked about their reasons for attending the Startup Social Kaunas meetings, they highlighted both tangible benefits, such as valuable networking opportunities and attracting new investments, as well as intangible benefits, including seeking inspiration and learning from their colleagues’ successes and mistakes, which are openly shared and discussed in the community.
One of the participants, Dr Neringa Šeperienė, who has a PhD in biomedical sciences and is the co-founder and CEO of the startup BrachyDose, is leading a team developing an innovative ionising radiation detector that increases the safety of cancer treatment through radiotherapy. This technology not only improves treatment precision but also reduces side effects for patients. BrachyDose has become an example of how high-tech innovations born in Kaunas can have a global impact on the healthcare sector.
“I have been attending these startup community events since they first began, and it is truly exciting to see how much our community has grown over the past two years. Perhaps the greatest value of these events is the opportunity to personally connect with other startups in Kaunas, share experiences, and expand one’s network with meaningful connections. In the past, it was common to only learn about a neighbouring startup when meeting them at an event in Los Angeles or London, but now we have a platform to engage right here in Kaunas, and it works exceptionally well,” shares Neringa.
Dr Neringa Šeperienė
Another member of the Startup Social Kaunas community is Edvinas Grauželis, the co-founder of the biotechnology startup Nanologistics. His company is developing advanced liposomal technologies that enable more efficient delivery of active substances within the body, demonstrating how Kaunas-based biotechnology innovations with high added value can compete in the global market.
“I attended my first Kaunastic Startups Meetup event in July of last year, and since then, I try not to miss a single one. These events not only help one experience a sense of belonging but also open up new opportunities. For example, it was here that we connected with potential investors, which led to a very specific discussion about the development of our technology and possible investments,” details Edvinas, reflecting on the opportunities these meetings have provided.
Edvinas Grauželis
Likewise, Vilius Vaičiūnas and Ieva Vaičiūnė, the founders of the family-run startup MBito, have been attending every event since the beginning. Their smart diagnostic device not only identifies issues within a car’s systems, but also allows users to modify parameters through coding, activate desired functions and customise their vehicles with just a few taps on a smartphone.
“When we started building our startup, we both came from traditional business sectors, so we had absolutely no experience in the startup ecosystem. These meetings helped us immensely, answering all our initial questions and introducing us to the right people,” states Vilius.
According to Ieva, events such as these make it easy to find the right contacts to solve any problem quickly: “Someone once joked that a strong network is one where you can solve a problem in five minutes or find the right person with a single phone call. This is exactly how we feel in the Kaunas startup community.”
Vilius Vaičiūnas and Ieva Vaičiūnė
The startups interviewed and the speakers at the event highlighted the crucial role of Kaunastic Startups Meetup in fostering a stronger, more united community. It not only drives the growth of individual companies but also expands the entire ecosystem, attracting new talent and investment to Kaunas. Ultimately, Kaunastic Startups Meetup has been identified as a key factor in helping businesses thrive while strengthening the city’s innovation ecosystem.
