Kristaps Krafte

INSPIRED BY RESILIENT DEDICATION. ristaps Krafte’s journey as an entrepreneur is deeply rooted in the lessons he learned from his mother. Raised in Latvia, Kristaps grew up watching his mother balance multiple jobs while raising four children. Despite her demanding schedule, she always made time for her family, driving her children to various activities and serving as a pillar of support. “She was such a hard worker, and she always found time for us,” Kristaps recalls. This unwavering dedication and resilience became the foundation of Kristaps’ work ethic, ultimately inspiring him to launch Vigo Health in 2018.

Vigo Health is a digital therapeutics company aimed at helping stroke survivors recover faster and more effectively through digitally accessible therapies. The platform addresses a critical gap in stroke care: the lack of accessible, high-quality rehabilitation for millions of survivors worldwide. Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability, yet 90% of those affected do not receive adequate rehabilitation. Vigo Health provides a solution by offering these therapies in the comfort of patients’ homes, enabling them to reach their full rehabilitation potential.

Kristaps’ entrepreneurial spirit showed itself early in his life. Growing up gay in a small Latvian town wasn’t easy, but his outgoing personality and semi-professional singing career helped him navigate the challenges of bullying. “Being on stage made it easier,” he explains. “People knew me as the guy who sang at weddings and events, and that gave me a bit of protection.”

Eager to broaden his horizons, Kristaps moved to Copenhagen to study at the Copenhagen Business School, where he pursued a degree in International Business. During a transformative year living in Beijing, he discovered a newfound freedom and clarity about who he wanted to be. “In China, nobody knew me, and I could be whoever I wanted. It was a liberating experience,” he reflects.

Returning to Copenhagen with renewed vigor, Kristaps completed a master’s degree in Innovation inand Healthcare, which fueled his passion for improving stroke care. His research, conducted in hospitals in both Copenhagen and Latvia, revealed the enormous challenges faced by stroke survivors and their families. “I realized that rehabilitation was the key differentiator. Those who had access to it got better, while those who didn’t often never fully recovered,” he says.

Determined to make a difference, Kristaps spent a year developing the prototype for Vigo Health, securing initial investment from Latvian angel investors. Despite the challenges of working with the government—it took over three and a half years to secure a contract—Vigo Health became the first digital health company in Latvia to achieve government reimbursement. The company has since been recognized as the Medical Innovation of the Year and has won numerous awards across Europe.

AUTHENTIC INCLUSIVITY. Kristaps credits his LGBTQIA+ identity with helping him build an inclusive company culture. “I think we, as gay people, can usually read the room pretty well,” he observes. Leading with inclusivity, his teams boast diversity in gender and backgrounds, fostering environments where authenticity thrives.

As Vigo Health continues to grow, Kristaps is also exploring new ventures in the AI healthcare space, with two startups focused on optimizing administrative work for general practitioners and improving financial efficiency in large healthcare institutions. “The lessons I’ve learned from Vigo have been invaluable, and I’m applying them to these new projects,” he says.

Through all his successes and challenges, Kristaps has reminded himself to “Be yourself.” This simple yet powerful mantra has carried him through investor meetings, pitch competitions, and presentations. “When you try to pretend to be someone else, you waste energy,” he says. “But when you’re yourself, you’re more genuine, more likable, and you perform better. It’s about being true to who you are, and that makes all the difference.”