This panel will explore the rising significance of dual-use technologies in modern defense and security environments, focusing on how civilian innovations are increasingly shaping the battlefield.
Moderated by Martin Hýža, Acceleration Manager at CzechInvest’s Defence Hub, the discussion will highlight how strategic national initiatives (such as CzechInvest’s Defence Hub) are fostering innovation at the intersection of civilian and military technology.
Panelists will discuss current trends, cross-sector cooperation, and the role of dual-use technologies in strengthening national and allied defense capabilities.
Yemi A.D. is a serial entrepreneur and a multi-disciplinary creative force with more than two decades of experience spanning the entertainment industry, arts & technology, alongside a profound passion for social innovation and youth empowerment. He joined us from Ottawa, Canada, for a FireSide chat with Katerina Novakova.
(Podcast in CZE) What happens when bold vision meets structured public support? Step into the world of high-potential startups that are shaping the future through the Technology Incubation project — a Czech national initiative designed to turn ideas into success. This panel explores how strategic funding, inspirational mentoring, and a thriving innovation ecosystem have helped over 250 startups take off. Among the Speakers are Vojta Rocek, Partner at Presto Tech Horizons, Martin Jiranek from Czech Startup Association, Martin Svolba from Ministry of Industry and Trade, our Tom Cironis, and hosted by Katerina Rundova from CzechInvest. Discover the impact of a project that doesn’t just support startups — it builds community and the foundations of a new Czech economy. But what comes next? When support runs out, can we break through the real barriers to startup growth?
The panel focused on space technologies, startups, and industry players shaping the future of the sector. The discussion will highlight current trends, opportunities, and real-world applications of space innovation hosted by Jan Spratek, and joined by Matej Poliacek, Tomas Rousek, and Martin Tyburec.
Filip, founder of Stories.bi (acquired by Workday), and his M&A lawyer, Jakub Císař of NOVALIA, for a candid discussion moderated by Fergus O’Sullivan. They’ll break down the critical moments of the startup journey, offering a unique dual perspective on the high-stakes negotiations and strategies behind a major tech acquisition.
The European Union is preparing legislative initiatives that could fundamentally reshape the startup landscape – from ESNA standards and the 28th regime to the evolution of the Capital Markets Union. But what will these changes mean for startups in the Czech Republic? What role can Czech stakeholders play in shaping these new rules?
This high-level panel discussion with Vit Horky, Jaroslav Ton, Jan Jendreas, and Ines Magrico, hosted by Marketa Prenosilova, will provide a unique political and business-oriented perspective on upcoming European legislation and policy shifts aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the EU startup ecosystem. Join leading voices from the European Commission, national ministries, and key European startup networks such as ESNA and EU Inc. for a debate that bridges policy and practice.
Megi is a developer of advanced robotics and computer vision technologies took a step into the startup world four years ago and founded RoboTwin with two other graduates of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Czech Technical University.
Her company automates production in factories and teaches robots to imitate human work - without complex programming, but with the help of artificial intelligence. It integrates workers into the automation process, who teach the robot simply by recording their movements. Enjoy the newest episode with Kate Syslova
Meet Eliska Vamosova, Head of the Engaged Investment Conference, an exclusive, professional VC conference that connects up to 500 active investors and ambitious founders, primarily from Central & Eastern Europe and the Baltics. It serves as a go-to platform for cross-border investments and collaboration, attracting not only regional players but also leading investors from Western countries looking to engage with the CEE ecosystem. In an exclusive interview with our Co-Host, Fergus O'Sullivan.
For the third edition of Startup Cinema by Startup Kitchen, we took the startup world to space- metaphorically (and almost literally).
After diving into the stories of Theranos and Wirecard in previous years, this time we focused on crisis management, leadership under pressure, and critical decision-making in moments when failure is not an option – all inspired by the real events of Apollo 13.
Joined by Honza Husták from Hustá, Tomáš Milota from ČS Seed Starter, Matej Poliaček – ISS Columbus Flight Director at German Aerospace Center (DLR), and Martin Repka from Sparring.
Established Western companies are discovering that entering emerging markets can sometimes encounter unexpected obstacles. This was the case, for example, with home appliance manufacturer Bosch, which struggled to launch its washing machines in Bangladesh. The reason? Their cables became easy prey for mice, a common problem in Bangladeshi households. The issue was resolved with plastic protection, which mice could no longer chew through, says Marek Aldorf, Senior Program Manager at the UN. Aldorf was a guest on the podcast Startup Kitchen Talk, hosted by Kateřina Syslová.
William Jalloul is a visionary founder of Flowpay who leverages data and AI to bridge the SME financing gap in Europe. Under his leadership, Flowpay has rapidly scaled, raised significant funding, and is setting its sights on broader European expansion—all while playing an active role in shaping the fintech ecosystem. Enjoy our newest talk hosted by Katerina Syslova, thanks to Soulmates Ventures.
Honza is the Head of Marketing at the Czech startup Dronetag, and he joined us to talk about the origins of the company - back then at the ESA Space Application Hackathon in 2018, building Remote ID devices – digital license plates for drones, expansion into the U.S., Taiwan, Japan, and beyond or Public Program Support e.g. ESA BIC, NATO DIANA, CASSINI, or CzechInvest. Enjoy the newest episode hosted by our co-host, Andrew Gray.
Setkání českého startupového ekosystému se zástupci politických stran v pražském byznys hubu Opero, kterým provedou Martin Jiránek, předseda České startupové asociace, a Kateřina Syslová, kreativní ředitelka Startup Kitchen.Témata debaty:🔹 Jak politici přistupují ke startupovým tématům?🔹 Vnímají důležitost startupů a investorů pro české hospodářství?🔹 A chápou vůbec náš svět?Pozváni byli zástupci všech politických stran, které v době oslovení měly v průzkumech nad 4,5 %. Tématy diskuze budou mimo jiné startupový zákon, pracovněprávní vztahy, incentivy pro investory, posílení kapitálu, 28. režim a celkově hospodářská strategie.Pozvání přijali:🔹 Martin Kupka | ODS 🔹 Karel Havlíček | ANO🔹 Jan Kavalírek | TOP 09🔹 Štěpán Hofman | STAN🔹 Michal Švagerka | Piráti🔹 Benjamin Činčila | KDU-ČSL🔹 Jana Bobošíková | Stačilo!Program:🔹 17:15 | Úvodní slovo🔹 17:25 | Čerstvá data🔹 17:40 | Politická panelovka🔹 18:35 | Coffee break🔹 18:50 | Q&A z publika 🔹 19:55 | Závěr a poděkování Startupovou předvolební debatu pořádají:🔹 Česká startupová asociace🔹 Czech Founders🔹 Startup Kitchen🔹 CzechInvest
Štefan is a law & technology enthusiast with the vision of helping tech companies grow through the unique combination of law & technology. He’s the founder of Eldison, a company that combines legal services with its own products to deliver end-to-end solutions to key legal problems such as ESOP operation or B2B contracting.
Over the years, Štefan has helped the most innovative startups in the region (such as Exponea or Mews) scale to global companies. What does he like so much about rice? Check out in our newest episode hosted by Katerina Syslova!
Meet Yassaman Omidbakhsh, co-founder and co-CEO of Eyerim in the newest episode of Startup Kitchen Talk hosted by Kate Syslova.
Yass' journey started in Southeast Asia, where she dove into the world of e-commerce with Lazada and later helped launch more than eight startups in under a year. That early experience gave her a sharp sense for spotting opportunities—and the courage to act on them.
In 2015, together with her friend Martin, she co-founded eyerim. From the very beginning, Yass has focused on long-term strategy and building a strong foundation. She believed in the potential of digital optics at a time when few did. And she was right. Even before the launch, her pitch helped secure the company’s first major investor. Since then, Eyerim has raised over 5 million euros and grown into a company that’s changing how people shop for eyewear.
Making its debut at COMPUTEX InnoVEX, the Czech Pavilion features eight startups showcasing innovation in AI, smart manufacturing, robotics, space tech, and perception technology. Co-organized by CzechInvest, the Czech Economic and Cultural Office, and Startup Kitchen—with support from Startup Terrace—the exhibitors include Neuron Soundware, CogniVibe, Inovec Technology, KOMPENZO, PalmApp Tech, RoboTwin, Stellar Exploration, and XTEND DESIGN.At InnoVEX Global Demo Day, eight Czech startups stood on the stage introducing their solutions.00:00 Opening01:48 Czech Startups, the best dumplings18:40 CogniVibe20:25 Inovec21:50 KOMPENZO23:22 Neuron Soundware25:38 PalmApp26:42 RoboTwin28:29 Stellar Exploration30:03 XTEND DESIGN31:40 Closing Session
Marketa is the heart and brain behind Start it @ČSOB Accelerator which is an industry agnostic accelerator (Yes, it is named by a well known bank CSOB but still agnostic), and is accepting the applications for its 15th wave of acceleration by 30th of April 2025.
They've helped more than 100 startups druing the 5 months of tailored support in the form of mentoring, coaching, workshops and most importantly more heads thinking about their emerging business with them.
Among the Alumnis are companies like Resinstant AI, Moovin, MotionTrex, Zarathustra, Young link, InvestBay, YEDEM, Gamifit, Mumdoo, ReKrabice, E Cafe Bike, RoboTwin, Mamio, Marter, Twigsee, Spectoda, Pointee, Happenee, Boost.Space, Stavarion, Mebster and many others.
Voluntary Quiz -> How many times does Katerina say a word "start" ?
What happens when a brilliant scientist accidentally discovers her own cancer cells while developing a cancer-detection platform? She doesn’t panic. She builds a revolutionary biotech startup instead.
Meet Kinga Matula, a deep-tech founder who transformed a nightmare diagnosis into a relentless drive to revolutionize drug discovery.
Her startup, Curigen, is now backed by:
- Tim Draper (Draper Associates) – She won him over after surviving Navy SEAL training, pitching while building a boat, and in the end, stole his paddle – all during the Draper University Program.
- Tensor Ventures
- Lighthouse Ventures
From fighting cancer to pitching her vision under extreme conditions, Kinga's journey is the one to listen to.
Enjoy our newest episode with Linn Kretzschmar from CERN Venture Connect, a program that’s mixing up startup players with CERN experts. Our co-host Kateryna Kovalenko asked all the questions about DeepTech you were always curious about but too afraid to ask.
Did you know there the coldest and hottest placesoon Earth are in CERN? No? Then enjoy the newest episode!
Paweł Michalski is a co-founder and CEO of VCLeaders, a platform that helps European VCs build future-proof VC firms, additionally serves as a Venture Partner at World Fund one of Europe's largest Climate VC Funds and seeks visionary founders who can help save the climate!
Also, Pawel is a hobby cook so who else should be the first guest of 2025 in our Startup Kitchen Talks talking about Climate, fundraising, solo GPs, their role in the ecosystem, and much more! Orchestrated by our co-host Andrew Gray.