Rolands Mesters, who sold his previous startup Nordigen to GoCardless in 2022, has raised €1.7 million for BirdyChat, a professional messaging app designed to separate work conversations from personal messaging platforms. DIG Ventures led the round, with participation from Change Ventures, Tiny VC, FIRSTPICK, Lumo Capital and others. The Riga-based startup, founded in 2025, uses professional email addresses instead of phone numbers as usernames, preventing users from sharing personal contact details with clients. Leveraging the EU's Digital Markets Act, BirdyChat can connect to WhatsApp's network, allowing users to message WhatsApp contacts from their work identity. A 2025 LinkedIn poll found 72% of respondents feel uncomfortable using personal apps for work, yet most do anyway. The eight-person team will use the funding to build a web app, add AI features and onboard its 50,000-person European waitlist.

Tesonet Foundation partners with Vaikų Linija to strengthen children's safety online. April 10, 2026 - 4 mins read Tesonet Foundation is partnering with Vaikų Linija to help create a safer digital environment for children, supporting the organization's newly granted Trusted Flagger status with a €50,000 contribution. Vaikų Linija has become the first organization in Lithuania to receive Trusted Flagger status dedicated to protecting children. This means that reports submitted by the organization about harmful content affecting children on online platforms will now be prioritized for review and removal. For the Tesonet Foundation, this partnership reflects a broader commitment to building resilience in an increasingly digital world - ensuring that children not only face challenges with greater confidence, but also know where to turn for support. "Technology evolves rapidly, opening possibilities we couldn't imagine even a few years ago. But it also brings new challenges for children's safety. One of the Tesonet Foundation's strategic priorities is building resilience. We believe true resilience is not only the ability to withstand challenges but also the courage and knowledge to seek help when needed. Vaikų Linija provides children with that knowledge and sense of security. We are proud to support their mission in creating a supportive digital space, so every child has a strong safety net and never feels alone," said Simona Laiconaitė, Director at Tesonet Foundation. Turning support into action. According to Vaikų Linija, Trusted Flagger status is more than formal recognition - it is a practical tool that enables faster response to the challenges children face online every day, from public harassment to dangerous digital activities. "Today we see a clear shift - bullying hasn't disappeared; it has simply moved online. And online, it can be even more painful: public, constant, difficult to stop, and sometimes hard to recognize. A child cannot escape it by leaving the classroom - online it reaches them anytime, anywhere. As adults, our responsibility is not just to talk about safety, but to truly be there for the child when they face these situations. When a child reaches out for help, they must be heard. This status allows us not only to listen but to act faster - passing information to platforms so it does not go unnoticed," said Dr. Robertas Povilaitis, Head of Vaikų Linija. What Trusted Flagger status means. Cyberbullying is becoming increasingly complex - it happens 24/7, spreads rapidly, and can reach large audiences, often leaving long-term emotional impact. According to the European Commission, around one in six adolescents has experienced cyberbullying, making it one of the leading reasons children seek help. Trusted Flagger status, granted by the Communications Regulatory Authority, is awarded to organizations with proven expertise in identifying harmful or illegal content and acting in the public interest. It ensures that reports submitted by Vaikų Linija are treated as reliable and reviewed as a priority, rather than being lost among thousands of user submissions. From listening to real impact. With this status, Vaikų Linija can move beyond emotional support to concrete action. When children or their families report harmful experiences, the organization evaluates the situation and, if necessary, escalates it directly to online platforms. Platforms then assess whether the content violates their policies or applicable laws and decide on its removal. "Vaikų Linija's role in this process is not just to pass along information, but to evaluate the context, assess potential harm to the child, and ensure sensitive situations are reported responsibly," said Dr. Povilaitis. Children and adults can report cases involving cyberbullying, public insults or threats, hate speech, content encouraging self-harm or suicide, violence, or dangerous online challenges. A dedicated reporting system for children is currently being developed to make access to help clearer and faster. A shared responsibility. The initiative is supported by partners across the technology sector, reinforcing the idea that online safety is a shared responsibility. "What once happened in the schoolyard has now moved to social networks, where children spend most of their time. Bullying has found a place on platforms that adults often cannot monitor. A safe internet is not just the responsibility of parents or teachers - it is ours as businesses shaping this space. Our partnership with Vaikų Linija and their Trusted Flagger status is critical: it allows children to report harmful content faster and ensures quicker response. Technology should strengthen our connections, not break them. We are doing more every day to make that a reality," said Giedrė Kaminskaitė-Salters, CEO of Telia Lietuva. Vaikų Linija emphasizes that while faster content removal can reduce harm, the most important goal remains ensuring that children are not left alone in emotionally difficult situations. Alongside action, support, understanding, and guidance remain essential.

Tesonet Foundation invests €100K in Vedliai to co-develop AI literacy for teachers. March 20, 2026 - 3 mins read Tesonet Foundation to invest €100,000 to the organization "Vedliai," to co-develop a long-term AI literacy initiative for teachers. The Tesonet Foundation is investing €100,000 in Vedliai to jointly launch a long-term initiative aimed at strengthening teachers' artificial intelligence (AI) literacy in Lithuania. The program seeks to ensure that, over the next few years, an increasing number of teachers acquire foundational AI skills and can confidently integrate these technologies into their teaching. The first phase will begin this autumn with a pilot program reaching 1,000 teachers across various regions of Lithuania. The partnership between Tesonet and Vedliai is not new. Tesonet first invested in the organization in 2020, and this initiative represents a natural continuation of their collaborative work. It also marks the next phase of the Generation AI initiative: in 2025, schools gained access to advanced AI tools, nexos.ai and Hostinger Horizons. The current focus is on equipping teachers to use these tools safely, effectively, and confidently. "The reality is clear: students are already using AI, but many teachers still lack the skills to apply it meaningfully in the classroom," says Simona Laiconaitė, head of Tesonet Foundation. "Simply giving teachers access to AI tools is not enough. To truly support their daily work, teachers need confidence, practical skills, and time to understand where AI adds real value. That's why this program is being co-created with teachers themselves - to meet their real needs, not just theoretical expectations." The need for this program is further underscored by both regional and international research. A 2025 study in Estonia, which closely mirrors the Lithuanian context, found that approximately 53% of teachers already use AI. Research also shows that adoption is driven less by age or experience and more by confidence and practical ability - highlighting the importance of training for all teacher groups. Globally, only about a quarter of teachers have participated in AI-focused training, even though students are increasingly using these tools. By launching this initiative, Lithuania becomes one of the first countries to invest nationally in preparing teachers to apply AI effectively in education. "Teachers don't need another abstract story about AI - they need a clear understanding of how it can support their everyday work," says Monika Katkutė-Gelžinė, founder and director of Vedliai. "If technology is going to truly benefit schools, we must start with teachers - their confidence, practical skills, and the ability to learn at their own pace." The program is designed to be long-term and systemic. Beyond the initial pilot, it aims to develop a continuously improving, nationwide model for AI skills development that remains relevant and practical for teachers throughout Lithuania. About Vedliai. Vedliai is a comprehensive computer science education system for grades 1-10. Its mission is to empower teachers and students to explore, understand, and create technology - from foundational digital literacy skills to advanced artificial intelligence models. Vedliai develops modern, accessible, and structured lessons that cultivate future innovators and problem-solvers, equipping students to become creators of technology, not just consumers.