Lithuanian Startup News: GREÏ Raises €650k in 2025 and Unlocks AI for Industrial and Retail Monitoring
In a significant milestone for Lithuania’s burgeoning DeepTech ecosystem, GREÏ, a Kaunas-based startup, has raised €650,000 in pre-Seed funding to bring its cutting-edge AI-powered monitoring technology to complex industrial and retail sites across Europe. This achievement not only highlights the growing innovation within the DeepTech sector but also underscores Lithuania’s expanding footprint in AI technology.
What Makes GREÏ a Game-Changer?
GREÏ, founded in 2024, offers a revolutionary solution catering to intricate industrial operations. Managing large-scale operations, whether in factories, warehouses, or retail chains, often suffers from inefficiencies, safety violations, and operational blind spots. GREÏ's AI operational intelligence platform seeks to fill these gaps by harnessing existing site infrastructure (like cameras and sensors).
Imagine this:
A mis-sorted waste bin is identified in real-time at a factory chain.
Or a rule violation in a corporate warehouse triggers alerts to the managers instantly.
GREÏ offers instant operational transparency, allowing for automated problem detection, faster solutions, and overall improved productivity.
Insights Into the Funding Round
The pre-Seed funding of €650k provides the perfect runway for GREÏ to expand its platform. The round was led by FIRSTPICK, a Baltic VC fund that focuses on early-stage startups. According to Marijus Andrijauskas, partner at FIRSTPICK, the investment aligned perfectly with the fund’s vision of solving complex industrial challenges through scalable AI.
This investment will be channelized into team expansion, deeper product innovation, and the platform's first large-scale market launch across Europe, which is scheduled for 2026.
The AI Startup Revolution: Why 2025 is Key for GREÏ’s Market Expansion
The broader DeepTech ecosystem has grown significantly in 2025, with European governments and industry leaders focusing on smart automation and AI. Here’s how GREÏ plans to capitalize:
Market Opportunity: Europe faces an acute lack of solutions that unify hardware with real-time AI-powered monitoring platforms. GREÏ’s integration-friendly technology targets existing infrastructure, avoiding costly overhauls.
Operational Need: The annual costs of workplace injuries across Europe alone account for billions, with downtime costs at around €100,000 per hour for factories (source: ABB survey).
Future Trends: As industries attempt to “do more with less” due to labor shortages and rising operational challenges, the demand for real-time visibility, insights, and safety compliance solutions like GREÏ’s is surging.
How Other Startups Can Succeed Like GREÏ
Breaking through in the startups space might seem daunting, but tools like PlayPal, the AI friend by Fe/male Switch, can help you. PlayPal acts as a mentor and sounding board, offering guidance for startups to refine business ideas, explore funding opportunities, and validate their operational shortcomings.
PlayPal Features for Entrepreneurs:
Idea Validation: Know whether your business idea is viable.
Strategic Guidance: Get feedback tailored to your startup challenges.
Connection to Tools: PlayPal remembers your past hurdles and tailors advice specifically for you.
Another must-have tool is F/MS’s AI Grant Finder and Application Writer. Quickly find EU grants perfect for your startup, and let AI draft the funding application to save time. Whether you're building AI tech like GREÏ or scaling retail innovation, this tool simplifies a traditionally mind-bending process.
4 Steps to Setting Up Your AI-Powered Startup in 2025
Validate Your Idea Early: Use platforms like SANDBOX by Fe/male Switch to nail down market feasibility.
Leverage Existing Infrastructure: Focus on solutions that optimize existing tools (cameras, sensors, etc.) instead of introducing costly replacements.
Engage with Strategic VCs: Find industry-aligned backers, like how GREÏ captured FIRSTPICK.
Invest in Global-Ready Products: Plan for scalability, ensure your solutions meet both local and international compliance standards (e.g., Europe’s AI regulations).
Mistakes Early Startups Should Avoid
To follow GREÏ’s success and plan your strategy, avoid these common pitfalls:
Skipping Grants: Many startups overlook the vast funding opportunities available, such as EU-level non-dilutive grants discussed above.
Poor Market Positioning: Always ensure your tech solves a real-world problem (e.g., GREÏ addresses downtime and safety inefficiencies).
Underestimating Operational Complexity: Tailor your innovation to industries like manufacturing and logistics where complexity is the norm.
Lack of Legal Insight: Failing to navigate legalities of funding rounds may result in signing harmful agreements. Try AI Startup Lawyer, designed for entrepreneurs needing quick advice on legal documents.
Meet GREÏ’s Co-Founders and Learnings for You
GREÏ’s co-founder Saulius Tvarijonas attributes their edge to years of experience building scalable tech at companies like CUJO AI. Saulius highlights:
"Never underestimate the power of combining real operational insights with AI. It’s the simplicity of making day-to-day operations safer and faster that counts, not just fancy algorithms."
If you're a startup looking up to GREÏ for inspiration, remember that tools like SANDBOX, PlayPal, and AI Startup Lawyer can enhance your journey.
Conclusion: GREÏ’s Success is Just the Start for AI in 2025
GREÏ is perfectly poised to become the AI glue for closing operational gaps in industrial and retail settings. With EURO 650k secured and expansion plans underway, the spotlight is firmly on how this DeepTech powerhouse reshapes productivity standards across Europe.
Aspiring entrepreneurs can follow GREÏ’s path by combining industry-aligned innovation, early idea validation tools, and smart grant discovery like F/MS’s Grant Finder while benefitting from mentors like PlayPal, your AI co-founder.
The startup ecosystem in 2025 continues to serve as fertile ground for bold ideas. How will your next venture be part of it?
FAQ
1. What is GREÏ, and what does it do?
GREÏ is a Lithuanian DeepTech startup offering an AI-powered operational intelligence platform. The platform integrates with existing infrastructure like cameras and sensors to provide real-time monitoring, detect risks, and improve efficiency in industrial and retail settings. Visit GREÏ's website
2. How much did GREÏ raise in its pre-Seed funding round?
GREÏ raised €650,000 in its pre-Seed funding round. This investment will fund team expansion, product innovation, and the platform's market rollout across Europe. Read the full article on EU-Startups
3. Who led the funding round for GREÏ?
The pre-Seed funding round was led by FIRSTPICK, a venture capital fund focused on early-stage startups in the Baltic region. Learn more about FIRSTPICK
4. What unique problems does GREÏ address?
GREÏ solves operational inefficiencies, safety issues, and downtime in industrial and retail environments by offering a unified AI platform that provides actionable insights from existing cameras and sensors. Explore funding impact on Startuphub.ai
5. How does GREÏ’s platform improve operational efficiency?
The platform helps identify workplace rule violations, improperly sorted waste, and real-time risks, enabling faster response and reducing downtime.
6. How will GREÏ use its funding?
The funding will support team growth, product enhancements, and large-scale European market entry by 2026. Read about GREÏ’s plans on BEEZ EU
7. Who are the founders of GREÏ?
GREÏ was co-founded by Saulius Tvarijonas and Giedrė Rajuncė. They bring years of experience in scalable tech and operational intelligence to the table.
8. What sectors is GREÏ targeting?
GREÏ focuses on large-scale industrial sites such as factories, warehouses, and retail chains, aiming to optimize safety and productivity.
9. What trends in Europe make GREÏ’s technology relevant?
With industries facing labor shortages and operational challenges, there is growing demand for AI-driven solutions that provide real-time insights without infrastructure overhauls. Dive deeper into market trends on Startuphub.ai
10. What are GREÏ’s future plans?
GREÏ plans to expand its platform’s market reach in Europe, enhance product scalability, and secure further funding for international growth. Check GREÏ’s roadmap on Bebeez EU
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch. The Fe/male Switch team is located in several countries, including the Netherlands and Malta.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
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