The program is designed for early-stage startups and ambitious founders looking to transform promising ideas into scalable businesses. Rather than providing direct investment, BIC Plzeň offers extensive practical support that helps founders overcome the challenges typically faced during the earliest stages of company building.
Selected startups can receive up to CZK 1 million in funding for professional services, alongside 100 hours of tailored mentoring and expert consultations. Participants also gain access to experienced advisors, business development support, networking opportunities, educational activities, and increased visibility within the Czech innovation ecosystem.
“Our goal is to help founders validate their ideas faster, avoid common startup mistakes, and prepare them for sustainable growth,” the incubation program aims to achieve through a combination of expert guidance and access to specialized services.
Supporting innovation in western Czechia
BIC Plzeň, aka Business and Innovation Centre Plzeň, has been one of the key organizations supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in the Pilsen region for many years. Working closely with startups, SMEs, universities, research institutions, and public partners, the organization helps bridge the gap between research, technology, and commercial success.
Its incubation activities have become an important part of the regional innovation infrastructure, providing founders with access to experienced mentors, industry experts, and a broader network of investors, corporate partners, and innovation stakeholders.
Unlike many startup programs focused solely on Prague or Brno, BIC Plzeň demonstrates that high-potential innovation is emerging across the Czech Republic, with western Bohemia becoming an increasingly attractive location for technology-driven companies.
Pilsen’s startup ecosystem continues to mature
While Prague remains the country’s largest startup hub, Pilsen has steadily built a reputation in advanced manufacturing, engineering, industrial technologies, healthcare innovation, and deep tech. The city benefits from its strong industrial heritage, proximity to Germany, and the presence of the University of West Bohemia, which regularly contributes technical talent and research expertise to the regional innovation ecosystem.
Organizations such as BIC Plzeň have played an important role in nurturing local entrepreneurship by helping founders access knowledge, funding opportunities, and strategic partnerships that might otherwise be concentrated in larger innovation centres.
Czech startups increasingly emerge from regional ecosystems rather than only the capital, as you could learn already in one of our previous articles. Incubation programs like this help diversify the country’s innovation landscape and create new opportunities for founders across different industries; one example of all could be the Drone SIT department, or contributions by local leaders like Luděk Šantora.
What selected startups receive
Companies accepted into the Autumn 2026 Incubation Program will receive:
- Funding of up to CZK 1 million for professional services
- 100 hours of individual consultations with experts and mentors
- Tailored feedback from experienced startup professionals
- Opportunities for education, networking, and increased visibility
- Access to new partnerships and growth opportunities
Applications for the Autumn 2026 cohort are open until 14 August 2026. Founders interested in joining the program can find additional information and submit their applications through BIC Plzeň’s official incubation program website.
