Baltic Vision: Fueling Gen Z Founders with €100K for 100 Startups
February 28, 2026, 10:13 am
Location: Lithuania, Vilnius County, Vilnius
Employees: 51-200
Founded date: 2016
Total raised: $6.18M
Location: United States, California, Palo Alto
Employees: 501-1000
Founded date: 2018
Total raised: $163.9M
Location: United States, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh
Employees: 1-10
Founded date: 2007
Baltic VC Firstpick and venture builder Lost Astronaut launched All-stars. They plan €100K investments in 100 early-stage Gen Z startups over three years. This initiative addresses a global 'youthquake' trend in tech, where younger founders emerge quickly. The program provides crucial capital, hands-on mentorship, and extensive access to a 700+ VC network. It counters escalating early-stage market competition in the Baltics, where funding soared. This joint effort aims to build a deeper talent pool, fostering a more competitive ecosystem focused on quality builders, not just metrics, driving regional innovation forward.
Global tech sees a profound shift. Young founders increasingly dominate the startup landscape. The average age of AI unicorn founders dropped sharply. It went from 40 in 2020 to 29 in 2024. This trend continues its downward trajectory. A "youthquake" now shakes tech hubs worldwide.
Ambitious Gen Z individuals drive this change. They come of age in the AI era. They do not wait for permission. College degrees are not prerequisites for their ambition. They turn dreams into reality. They act. They make things happen.
This wave attracts significant attention. Some of the world's fastest-growing startup ecosystems respond. Key players now join forces. They fuel this young ambition. They aim to send next-generation founders to compete on the global stage. The Baltic region, a burgeoning innovation hub, embraces this movement.
Firstpick and Lost Astronaut have formed a new alliance. This collaboration, named All-stars, directly supports young startup founders. It targets the very beginning of their entrepreneurial journey. Their goal is ambitious: invest in 100 early-stage startups. This initiative spans the next three years.
The program focuses specifically on Gen Z founders. It provides a robust platform. They can build globally competitive businesses. Support begins from the idea's inception. Resources combine strategically. Hands-on programs address critical gaps. These include funding and knowledge shortfalls. Young talent stays within the region. It moves forward, empowered.
Early-stage momentum now carries higher stakes. The push to back early founders is a worldwide funding trend. Average early-stage funding round sizes have climbed. Startups achieve higher valuations more rapidly. This compares to a decade ago. Competition intensifies greatly. Gen Z founders face this pressure early. They demand more upfront resources to succeed.
Baltic data mirrors this global surge. The latest Baltic Startup Funding Report confirms it. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania show new records in early-stage funding. Venture investments across the region rose. They went from €505 million in 2024 to €607 million in 2025. Much of this growth stemmed from pre-seed and seed rounds. This creates a highly competitive environment. New startups find market entry harder. Global funds invest earlier. They invest bigger. Baltic founders need a stronger initial push. They must keep pace with this accelerating market.
The All-stars program avoids traditional accelerator models. It unites top Baltic builders. It is a league of All-stars. Founders gain critical first-contact experience. This happens at the initial stage. They also receive strategic depth for scaling. This environment empowers Gen Z startups. They receive the right support. They learn rapidly. They compete at the highest global level.
Many first-time founders make common errors. They spend too much time perfecting plans. They build in isolation. Rapidly testing ideas proves more effective. Speed and momentum are crucial. Waiting for the perfect moment can be a fatal delay.
The All-stars program covers the full founder journey. It begins with a significant €100K investment. Each selected company receives this capital injection. This approach offers more than just financial checks. It connects early founders to an extensive community. Over 100 experienced coaches provide guidance. More than 250 other All-star founders share their hard-won lessons. They have grown real companies.
Firstpick brings extensive experience. In seven years of investing, it backed nearly 100 startups. Notable examples include Ondato, Turing College, and Jeff App. This history built a huge archive. Workshops, templates, and insider operator advice are all available. New teams access these valuable resources. They avoid starting from scratch.
Program support extends further. It includes hands-on guidance for fundraising strategy. Founders receive feedback on their materials. They get warm introductions to relevant VCs. A network of over 700 funds is leveraged. The ultimate aim is to back true builders. It is not merely to polish existing ideas. Wildcards and underdogs are sought. They must possess the drive. They must turn strong ideas into tangible reality.
The Baltic ecosystem thrives on quality. Not merely on quantity. Many first-time founders today do not fit traditional venture patterns. They show less interest in "pitch theater." They focus more on shipping products. They prioritize real-time testing and learning.
This collaboration directly supports this evolving mindset. It invests early. It moves fast. This ensures strong builders are not overlooked. Slow decision cycles do not filter them out. Not everyone seeks the next big headline. Some build quietly. They build relentlessly. Value lies in this persistent, often unseen, effort. The program backs people. It backs them before it backs metrics.
This joint approach builds more than just individual startups. It cultivates a deeper talent pool. It creates a more competitive ecosystem overall. The Baltic region strengthens its position. It solidifies its presence on the global innovation stage. It fosters a new generation of relentless, successful entrepreneurs.
Global tech sees a profound shift. Young founders increasingly dominate the startup landscape. The average age of AI unicorn founders dropped sharply. It went from 40 in 2020 to 29 in 2024. This trend continues its downward trajectory. A "youthquake" now shakes tech hubs worldwide.
Ambitious Gen Z individuals drive this change. They come of age in the AI era. They do not wait for permission. College degrees are not prerequisites for their ambition. They turn dreams into reality. They act. They make things happen.
This wave attracts significant attention. Some of the world's fastest-growing startup ecosystems respond. Key players now join forces. They fuel this young ambition. They aim to send next-generation founders to compete on the global stage. The Baltic region, a burgeoning innovation hub, embraces this movement.
Firstpick and Lost Astronaut have formed a new alliance. This collaboration, named All-stars, directly supports young startup founders. It targets the very beginning of their entrepreneurial journey. Their goal is ambitious: invest in 100 early-stage startups. This initiative spans the next three years.
The program focuses specifically on Gen Z founders. It provides a robust platform. They can build globally competitive businesses. Support begins from the idea's inception. Resources combine strategically. Hands-on programs address critical gaps. These include funding and knowledge shortfalls. Young talent stays within the region. It moves forward, empowered.
Early-stage momentum now carries higher stakes. The push to back early founders is a worldwide funding trend. Average early-stage funding round sizes have climbed. Startups achieve higher valuations more rapidly. This compares to a decade ago. Competition intensifies greatly. Gen Z founders face this pressure early. They demand more upfront resources to succeed.
Baltic data mirrors this global surge. The latest Baltic Startup Funding Report confirms it. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania show new records in early-stage funding. Venture investments across the region rose. They went from €505 million in 2024 to €607 million in 2025. Much of this growth stemmed from pre-seed and seed rounds. This creates a highly competitive environment. New startups find market entry harder. Global funds invest earlier. They invest bigger. Baltic founders need a stronger initial push. They must keep pace with this accelerating market.
The All-stars program avoids traditional accelerator models. It unites top Baltic builders. It is a league of All-stars. Founders gain critical first-contact experience. This happens at the initial stage. They also receive strategic depth for scaling. This environment empowers Gen Z startups. They receive the right support. They learn rapidly. They compete at the highest global level.
Many first-time founders make common errors. They spend too much time perfecting plans. They build in isolation. Rapidly testing ideas proves more effective. Speed and momentum are crucial. Waiting for the perfect moment can be a fatal delay.
The All-stars program covers the full founder journey. It begins with a significant €100K investment. Each selected company receives this capital injection. This approach offers more than just financial checks. It connects early founders to an extensive community. Over 100 experienced coaches provide guidance. More than 250 other All-star founders share their hard-won lessons. They have grown real companies.
Firstpick brings extensive experience. In seven years of investing, it backed nearly 100 startups. Notable examples include Ondato, Turing College, and Jeff App. This history built a huge archive. Workshops, templates, and insider operator advice are all available. New teams access these valuable resources. They avoid starting from scratch.
Program support extends further. It includes hands-on guidance for fundraising strategy. Founders receive feedback on their materials. They get warm introductions to relevant VCs. A network of over 700 funds is leveraged. The ultimate aim is to back true builders. It is not merely to polish existing ideas. Wildcards and underdogs are sought. They must possess the drive. They must turn strong ideas into tangible reality.
The Baltic ecosystem thrives on quality. Not merely on quantity. Many first-time founders today do not fit traditional venture patterns. They show less interest in "pitch theater." They focus more on shipping products. They prioritize real-time testing and learning.
This collaboration directly supports this evolving mindset. It invests early. It moves fast. This ensures strong builders are not overlooked. Slow decision cycles do not filter them out. Not everyone seeks the next big headline. Some build quietly. They build relentlessly. Value lies in this persistent, often unseen, effort. The program backs people. It backs them before it backs metrics.
This joint approach builds more than just individual startups. It cultivates a deeper talent pool. It creates a more competitive ecosystem overall. The Baltic region strengthens its position. It solidifies its presence on the global innovation stage. It fosters a new generation of relentless, successful entrepreneurs.