On 27 November in Riga, the annual Riga Business Award ceremony took place at the historic premises of the Small Guild, honouring companies that over the past year have made a significant contribution to the city's economic development, innovation, and the strengthening of Riga's international competitiveness. This year, awards were presented in six priority sector categories and an additional category, Riga's New Company of the Year.
2025 Award Laureates:
- Riga's Startup of the Year— Longenesis
- Riga's Enterprise of the Year in the Global Business Services Sector — Atea Global Services Ltd.
- Riga's Enterprise of the Year in the Information and communication technologies sector — Zabbix
- Riga's Enterprise of the Year in the real estate sector— Linstow Baltic
- Riga's Enterprise of the Year in the life sciences sector— Novartis Baltics
- Riga's Enterprise of the Year in the high-added value manufacturing — Erica Synths
- Riga's New Company of the year— Fyello Productivity (BirdyChat)
"Here in Riga, we have already begun working to listen to entrepreneurs, identify challenges, and actively work to reduce bureaucracy so that processes become simpler, faster, and easier to understand. Your experience and ideas help us determine development directions and create an environment where entrepreneurs can not only survive but truly thrive. I often say that the people and minds of Riga are our 'Nokia'. Riga's labour market is knowledgeable, ready for change, and able to acquire new skills quickly. And we need to ensure that this remains the case in the future. This is what companies planning growth and competitiveness in international markets need," said the Mayor of Riga Viesturs Kleinbergs in his opening speech.
Throughout the evening, both award recipients and industry professionals emphasised that entrepreneurs are a key driving force in Riga's development, and this year's laureates demonstrate that the city can provide a dynamic, high-value-added business environment.
The director of the event's organisers, the Riga Investment and Tourism Agency (RITA), Fredis Bikovs, said in his address: "The daily work of both myself and our agency team is, of course, to 'sell' Riga. And in this context, there have been many discussions—internally and nationally—and even working groups on the themes of Riga's and Latvia's image and offer in the business environment, and how we position ourselves internationally. My conviction has always been that our country's and city's image is its substance—in other words, its enterprises. Your competence, your product, your talents—all of this shapes the city's image. Therefore, a big thank-you to all of you present for what you do!"
This year's evaluation jury consisted of:
Roberts Alhimionoks, CEO of the Latvian Startup Association (Startin.lv); Aļesja Kirčenko, Chair of the Board of the Association of Business Service Leaders in Latvia (ABSL Latvia); Andris Melnūdris, Chair of the Board of the Latvian Information and Communications Technology Association (LIKTA); Laura Bluša, Project Manager at the Real Estate Developers Alliance (NĪAA); Vladislava Marāne, Director of the International Innovative Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (SIFFA); Inese Berga, Executive Director of the Latvian Electrical Engineering and Electronics Industry Association (LETERA); Kaspars Gorkšs, Executive Director of the Employers' Confederation of Latvia (LDDK); Edīte Alksne, Vice-Chair of the Riga Entrepreneurs Association Board and representative of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LTRK); Edgars Bergholcs, Chair of the Riga City Council's City Development Committee.
For the third year, laureates received a specially crafted, symbolic award—a cast-glass statuette featuring a golden rooster, jointly developed by Overpriced Design and Sporrong and created by artist Baiba Glass.