Latvian startup “RedFrog” is developing an indoor navigation solution called “Stride Navigation,” which enables highly precise orientation within large building complexes. The company is currently expanding rapidly—its solution will soon be implemented at Riga 1st Hospital, where it will help patients and visitors navigate the extensive premises. At the same time, the company is broadening the application of its technology beyond navigation, developing it as a precise location-tracking tool.
A project is currently under discussion to deploy the solution in an Eastern European country, where it could be used in a correctional facility to monitor inmates under an open regime who are allowed to be outside the prison at certain times, for example, at their place of residence. In this case, the solution functions as a locator embedded in a wristband that continuously communicates with the prison and can determine a person’s location with accuracy of up to one meter—significantly more precise than previously used GPS solutions.
Support from the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) has played an important role in the company’s development. “RedFrog” operates within the LIAA Jelgava Business Incubator program and has also made use of the Innovation Voucher program, which helped create the first version of the product. “The voucher was very valuable for us—it allowed us to build the entire software skeleton and the first version of the product. Essentially, thanks to the voucher, the product itself was created, which we could then continue to develop,” says the company’s co-founder, Madara Kalniņa-Kalnmale.
She emphasizes that the Innovation Voucher program is particularly well-suited for early-stage companies, as it enables them to turn an idea into a real, functioning solution. At the same time, the flexibility built into the program is also important.
“At first, we thought we would complete everything in five months, but in reality it took longer. It’s good that the program allows for this—that it’s possible to complete the project over a longer period, rather than everything coming to a halt if the initial deadline is not met,” explains Madara.
In addition to funding, the company highly values the day-to-day support provided by the LIAA incubator—both consultations and access to information about other development opportunities. “There are always people in the incubator you can ask. We also have shared communication with other entrepreneurs, where we exchange information about opportunities—such as grants or programs. That’s how we recently learned about an SEB grant and successfully applied for it,” says Madara Kalniņa-Kalnmale.
She also notes that while participation in support programs requires preparing documentation and applications, cooperation with LIAA has overall been very positive. “Of course, documents have to be prepared, but the approach from LIAA is very human—if something isn’t right, they point it out and allow you to correct it. That helps entrepreneurs not to get lost in the process and to keep moving forward,” Madara emphasizes.
The program is funded under the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027, within Specific Objective 1.2.1 “Strengthening research and innovation capacity and introducing advanced technologies in enterprises,” measure 1.2.1.4 “Support for improving the technology transfer system.”
