INVESTMENT CHALLENGES AND RISKS
Czechia Market entry barriers
Market entry barriers for startups in Czechia: a snapshot of the Venture Capital landscape
Czechia’s startup ecosystem continues to attract attention from venture capitalists (VCs) globally, thanks to its growing tech scene, well-established industries, and thriving innovation hubs. For entrepreneurs seeking to enter the Czech market, understanding the venture capital landscape is crucial to identifying potential funding sources and partners. Below is an overview of notable Czech VC firms, their focus areas, stages of investment, and average ticket sizes, which form a core part of the country’s startup ecosystem.
Credo Ventures: fueling DeepTech and consumer tech innovation
Credo Ventures is one of the leading venture capital firms in Czechia, specialising in deeptech, fintech, SaaS, and health sectors. It specialises in early-stage investments, dedicated to identifying and supporting promising companies. Credo Ventures assists in their growth strategies, including global market expansion, with a focus on high-growth potential enterprises, particularly into the U.S.
Website: credoventures.com
Founding year: 2009
Investment range: €50K – €10M
General partners: Ondřej Bartoš, Guillaume Fournier, Maciej Gnutek, Karolína Mrozková
Stage: Seed to Series B
Sector: IT, Internet, Health
Investment geography: Central Europe
Notable Investments: Productboard (unicorn), UiPath (exit),Oradian, Upheal, Mewery, Better Stack
Contact: info@credoventures.com
Rockaway Capital: diversified investments across multiple sectors
Rockaway Capital has established itself as a flexible investor, with an investment approach that caters to early-stage and growth-stage companies. It has a broad focus across industries including e-commerce, e-travel, media, fintech, and blockchain.
Website: rockawaycapital.com
Founding year: 2013
Investment range: Early to Late
CEO: Jakub Havrlant
Stage: Undisclosed
Sector: e-travel, Media, Fintech, Blockchain, e-commerce
Investment geography: Czech Republic
Notable investments: Productboard (unicorn), BudgetBakers, Lingvist, Vivere, BCB Group, DODO
Contact: investments@rockawaycapital.com
J&T Ventures: supporting fintech, PropTech, and IoT
J&T Ventures is another key player in Czechia’s VC landscape, with a focus on industries like fintech, proptech, retail, IoT/IoE, and Industry 4.0. It is based in Prague and it specialises in European investments with a focus on CEE, Nordics, and Baltics. The firm typically invests between €500K and €2.5M, primarily in Seed and Series A stages.
Website: jtventures.cz
Founding year: 2014
Investment range: €500K – €2.5M
Managing partner: Adam Kočík
Stage: Early Stage, Seed
Sector: Fintech, Proptech & Real Estate, IoT, Industrial
Investment geography: Czech Republic
Notable investments: Davinci Travel System, Daytrip, Neuron Soundware, Locco, OutdoorVisit
Contact: Info@jtventures.cz
Czech Founders VC: early-stage, agnostic investment approach
Czech Founders VC stands out for its agnostic investment strategy, meaning it does not restrict itself to any particular sector. The firm focuses on pre-seed and early-stage investments, with ticket sizes ranging from €50K to €350K. This approach makes Czech Founders VC an attractive option for early-stage entrepreneurs across various industries.
Website: https://czechfounders.vc
Founding year: 2022
Investment range: €50K – 350K
Managing partners: Vít Horký, Václav Pavlečka, Ivan Kristeľ
Stage: Early Stage, Pre-Seed
Sector: Agnostic
Investment geography: CEE region
Notable investments: GitGut.ai, Digital Transformation Systems (DTS)
Contact: hello@czechfounders.vc
KAYA Ventures: broad sector focus with significant follow-on potential
KAYA VC is an active investor across a range of sectors, including fintech, proptech, retail, IoT/IoE, and Industry 4.0. The firm offers flexible ticket sizes between €100K and €3M and engages with startups at various stages of development, from studio projects to Series A rounds.
Website: kaya.vc
Founding year: 2010
Investment range: €100K – 3M
General partners: Pavel Mucha, Tomáš Pacinda, Martin Rajcan, Tomáš Obrtač
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed
Sector: FinTech, PropTech, Retail, IoT/IoE, and Industry 4.0
Investment geography: Central and East Europe
Notable investments: Twisto (exit), Sensible Bio, E2B, CareSend, Healee, Upheel
Contact: hello@kaya.vc
Impulse Ventures: focus on B2B and SaaS startups
Impulse Ventures is dedicated to supporting B2B, SaaS, tech, cybersecurity, and e-commerce startups. It typically invests between €500K and €2M at seed and Series A stages, with a strong emphasis on scalable businesses. Impulse Ventures has become a go-to for tech entrepreneurs seeking venture funding to fuel their growth.
Website: www.impulseventures.com
Founding year: 2020
Investment range: €500K – 2M
Managing partner: Ondřej Tomek
Stage: Seed, Series A
Sector: B2B, SaaS, Tech, Cybersecurity, e-Commerce
Investment geography: CEE region
Notable investments: Kiwi (exit), Mall.cz (exit)
Contact: pitch@impulseventures.com
InveN Capital: large-scale investments in climate tech
Inven Capital is one of the few firms in Czechia focusing on climate tech. With a substantial investment range of €2M to €30M, Inven typically invests at the Series A stage and beyond. It has a significant EUR 500 million fund across two channels. Backed by major entities like ČEZ, a.s. and the European Investment Bank, it focuses on late-stage growth opportunities in the decarbonization sector. The fund supports startups with proven business models and high growth potential, actively assisting companies and founders to create long-term value.
Website: invencapital.cz
Founding year: 2014
Investment range: €2M – €30M
Managing director: Petr Míkovec
Stage: Late
Sector: Transportation, IoT, Climate & Sustainability, Energy
Investment Geography: Czech Republic, Israel
Notable Investments: Zolar, Vulog, Sunfire, Hometree, CyberX
Contact: contact@invencapital.cz
Lighthouse Ventures: flexible investments for early-stage startups
Lighthouse Ventures is known for its early-stage investments across a variety of industries. With ticket sizes of up to €2.3M, the firm invests in startups at the seed stage and helps them scale rapidly. Lighthouse Ventures supports companies from diverse sectors, with a flexible approach that allows it to adapt to emerging market trends.
Website: lhv.vc
Founding Year: 2019
Investment Range: €200K – €2.3M
Managing partner: Michal Zalesak
Stage: Early, Seed
Sector: Fintech, AI & ML, E-Commerce, SaaS, Marketplace, InsurTech
Investment Geography: Europe
Notable Investments: Foxdeli, Job Sider, RESQUANT, Product Fruits, Gitgut.ai
Contact: contact@lhv.vc
Find out more
The Recursive – 20+ Czech Early-Stage VC Funds You Should Know Before Your First Fundraising.
