Czech Republic Has Plenty of Capital, but Quality Startups Remain Elusive
Czech investors were active again in 2024, willing to commit venture capital to startups. However, nearly two-thirds (62.2%) of them flagged the lack of quality startups as the biggest challenge last year, marking an almost 20% increase compared to 2023. These findings come from a survey conducted by the investment group DEPO Ventures.
Business Proposals in Minutes, Not Hours: DEPO Ventures and StartupYard Invest in Ydoca
Automating responses to inquiry forms and generating business proposals—this is what the integrated AI platform developed by the startup Ydoca brings to the market. Their technology seamlessly integrates into every step of the process, leveraging generative AI to boost efficiency by up to 70%. As part of its pre-seed investment round, the startup secured a total of CZK 2.3 million in funding, with DEPO Ventures contributing CZK 1.8 million and StartupYard investing CZK 500,000.
Subscriptions to furniture, fashion or garden technology as a new trend. DEPO invests in Circuly.
German startup Circuly is developing a software solution that allows companies to introduce and scale subscriptions for products such as bikes, cars or furniture. In an investment round led by funds Neoteq and Gateway Ventures, Circuly raised a total of CZK 13,475,000, which it will use to expand its solution into new industry segments and support its expansion into Central and Eastern Europe. Czech DEPO Ventures also participated in the investment round.
Founder, it’s your chance to win $1M! Startup World Cup Regional Finale is coming back to Prague.
Startup founders have an exciting opportunity on the horizon as the world’s largest startup competition, the Startup World Cup, returns to Prague on October 24th.
European startups got less money this year,but the sentiment is improving. Target: AI & climate tech
Petr Šíma: Forget about the United States, Europe has already overtaken it in the number of new startups. Moreover, it is the only region where the volume of capital invested in startups this year will be higher than in 2020, by 18 percent. Let's leave aside 2021 and early 2022, when startup valuations skyrocketed and investors bought whatever they could. That was an anomaly. This year, $45 billion will flow into European startups, according to a fresh analysis by Atomico. This is the third highest figure after the two years mentioned above and confirms that the ecosystem is on a strong footing.
DEPO’s Founders Meetup: A Catalyst for Innovation and Growth
Last October, DEPO Ventures had a great pleasure of organising a Founders Meetup that served as a beacon of innovation, collaboration, and growth. The event was a precursor to the Engaged Investments Conference and was attended by an eclectic mix of DEPO team members, 30 founders of start-ups from over 12 countries, and our valued Limited Partners (LPs). This event marked the first time that all the parties came together, fostering a vibrant ecosystem that thrives on shared knowledge, mutual growth, and a unified vision.
Decoding the DNA of a Successful Startup Founder
,,It's not enough for a startup founder to know his or her field. They must have perfect business instincts and a mature personality" says Michal Ciffra, Partner at DEPO Ventures.
Czech health tech start-up KARDI AI received EUR 1.5 million from investors for further development
The start-up KARDI AI, which aims to promote heart health and optimize patient treatment through long-term ECG monitoring and early detection of possible cardiac arrhythmias using artificial intelligence, has now raised a further EUR 1.5 million from investors, bringing the total amount invested in the company to EUR 1.9 million. The funds will help the company to realize its ambitious plans aimed at dynamically increasing the number of users at an international level. The planned steps include, in particular, the introduction of a new version of the product with a higher level of approval from the regulatory authorities. This will support a faster expansion of the network of cooperating cardiologists, neurologists and general practitioners as well as the development of cooperations with other healthcare providers, retailers and health insurance companies. All this with the aim of simplifying and streamlining cardiac healthcare across Europe as quickly as possible.
Investing Beyond Borders: Where Trust, Cultures, and Networks Collide
The Engaged Investments Conference recently hosted a panel discussion featuring industry experts, each offering unique perspectives on "How to Cross-Borders: Fostering Cooperation and Investment across the CEE Region." The speakers shared valuable insights on the challenges and strategies associated with investing in the Region.
„We live in the current ecosystem, and we shouldn’t hope it will change.”
The Engaged Investments Conference's agenda was brimming with inspiring conversations, and one such panel discussion delved deep into the dynamics of start-up investments in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. With notable industry experts sharing their experience, the panel, titled "Exploring the Pros and Cons: Traditional VC Funds vs. Angel Syndicates and its Place in the CEE Region," provided a comprehensive exploration of the challenges, trends, and opportunities shaping the landscape.