Smiltene hosts Inspiration Day for local entrepreneurs
At the Smiltene municipality's annual Inspiration Day, held at Smiltene Technical School, 70 entrepreneurs and other interested people gathered. Representatives of companies founded in 2025 were also honoured.
The Smiltene municipality in northern Latvia held its annual Inspiration Day for local established, new and aspiring entrepreneurs at Smiltene Technical School, Pils iela 8, in the town of Smiltene. The event, held under the motto “Enterprise is built by ideas. The future is built by people. Inspire. Trust. Develop.”, drew 70 entrepreneurs and other participants. The municipality organises the day each autumn to encourage the exchange of experience, provide practical information and inspire people to take on new business challenges. In recent years the venue has changed every time, so that attendees can get to know the area.
Stories and discussion
This year the focus was on growth, development, leadership and passion. Speakers included fitness trainer and studio manager Ilze Lāce, Māris Asafrejs, development director of the company LV Timber, Ilze Bogdanova, chair of the management board of the joint-stock company Smiltenes piens, and Apē-based sports event organisers Mairis Levans and Jānis Baltaisbrencis, whose motocross and mountain bike races attract hundreds of athletes and fans every year.
Entrepreneurs also learned about funding and investment options, state and municipal support programmes, and professional development opportunities. A panel discussion looked for ways to improve the business environment in the municipality.
Ervins Labanovskis, chairman of the Smiltene municipal council, stressed that local entrepreneurs, who create jobs and new products, play an important role in the area's development. He said the biggest investors are the area's own entrepreneurs.
New companies
Traditionally, the event honours entrepreneurs who registered their businesses in the municipality in the previous year. In 2025, 76 new companies were registered there. Two were represented, both registered in Drusti parish: Gatartas Muiža, which manages the historic Gatarta manor complex, organises cultural events and offers tourism and accommodation services, and Ugunii Ceramics, which makes handmade ceramic tableware and runs workshops for adults and children. Their representatives, Aigars Klucis and Ramona Zariņa, received a silver commemorative coin.
Sabīne Latve, owner of SUSHI SMILTENE, founded this year, also attended. Her project did not win support in the municipality's co-funding competition “Be an Entrepreneur in Smiltene Municipality!”, but together with her partner she may open a sushi bar in central Smiltene as early as this year.
