Eliska is a driving force behind this two-day professional venture capital conference for early-stage investors and their portfolio startups, taking place this year on October 22–23 in the beautiful National House at Vinohrady in Prague. What to expect? Enjoy our conversation.
Hello Eliska, great to see you, and thank you for your time!
Eliska: Hello, and thanks for having me!
What was the original inspiration for founding the ENGAGED Investment Conference?
Eliska: It started six years ago with a simple goal to connect business angels, educate them, and encourage more people to enter the venture capital space.
What were the pivotal moments in evolving ENGAGED up to the current status of one of the leading conferences for Angel investors in Europe?
Eliska: One of the pivotal moments came during COVID, which accelerated remote investing. It quickly became clear that what the CEE region truly needed was a platform to foster cross-border co-investing and collaboration, not just for business angels, but for all early-stage investors, including VCs and LPs.
Each edition has been shaped by direct feedback from investors. That’s why, for example, we added a second day fully dedicated to startups, or chose a venue that allows us to create an intimate atmosphere, etc. We also place strong emphasis on the quality of both attendees and speakers. So maybe that’s why many of them keep coming back.
Based on your opinion, what sets ENGAGED apart from other VC/startup events in Europe?
E: ENGAGED is not for everyone. It’s a professional event with in-depth content, designed to drive deal-making. It’s organized by VC funds that combine what they need as investors with what’s missing in our region. Furthermore, it’s mostly funded by VC funds and relevant ecosystem companies, not large corporations that tend to kill the content. That’s why I like to say it’s truly built by investors, for investors.
What kind of impact has the conference had on the CEE startup ecosystem so far? Do you have any stories of startups finding an investor or investors closing a deal during your Event?
E: I believe the impact reflects the vision we have to support the CEE region. In fact, CEE has grown 15.5 times faster over the past decade compared to other European regions when it comes to venture capital activity.
We do see that startups leave with highly relevant connections, but from there, it’s up to them. One example is the Lithuanian startup Traxlo, which won the startup challenge last year, recently raised €1.6 million, and credited ENGAGED. Thanks to their win, they’re now heading to Silicon Valley for the finals of that competition.
ENGAGED has also helped us at DEPO connect with international investors, many of whom we now co-invest with or share dealflow or cooperate on other levels. We also leverage the network we’ve built through the conference to support our portfolio startups in their follow-on rounds.
This year’s agenda includes a focus on critical infrastructure and strategic innovations. Why are these themes a priority in 2025?
E: We’re putting more emphasis on these themes because they’re shaping the direction of venture capital today. The geopolitical and economic shifts of the past few years have brought deep tech, defense, dual-use technologies, space, and cybersecurity into the spotlight. That said, Engaged remains a broad platform; we’ll also cover themes like longevity or B2B fintech. Another important angle this year is the question of larger capital inflows into VC, for example, from pension funds or private equity players.
What are the most exciting trends you’re seeing in early-stage investing, especially in Central Europe?
E: AI continues to dominate CEE’s early-stage scene. Around half of all investments go into AI, with a noticeable shift from AI tools to AI infrastructure across industries. There’s also growing interest in deep-tech, such as quantum technologies and, of course, in defence and dual-use tech, ranging from drones to cybersecurity or space tech.
Each year, the share of foreign capital in the region rises significantly, as investors from the rest of Europe and the U.S. increasingly turn their attention to the opportunities emerging in CEE.
Is ENGAGED helping to bridge the gap between US and CEE investors/founders? How?
E: It’s not our focus, however, in previous years, we’ve had a handful of US-based investors who are actively investing in the CEE region. This year, we’ll be more proactive in inviting late-stage funds from the US to help founders connect with them.
The reverse pitch format and defence innovation challenge are unique—what inspired those features?
E: The reverse pitch is designed mainly for new or actively fundraising funds. It helps them gain visibility and potentially attract LPs. This year, we’re also introducing the Engaged TOP Startup Selection, showcasing the most promising startups from across the CEE region. It’s not a competition, but a real opportunity to pitch in front of international investors with one goal: to get funded. Startups will be selected across four stages—angel to Series A. Applications are now open here.
You’ve cultivated a close-knit yet international community. What’s your approach to curating the right attendees?
E: Mainly through the network we’ve built at DEPO Ventures and J&T Ventures, as well as through our partners and the broader ecosystem. Word of mouth also plays a big role.
This “kind-of-lame Hr questions” where do you see yourself in 5 years from now – therefore, where do you want ENGAGED to be in 5 years? Could it grow into something like Slush or Web Summit?
E: No. We focus on the quality and relevance of both attendees and content, not on scale. And frankly, this more intimate setup works well for investors. We’re not trying to be the biggest; we want to be the best VC conference in CEE.
That said, we’re part of Czech Startup Week, which does have the ambition to grow into something on the scale of Slush or Web Summit.
Are there plans to take the ENGAGED brand international or build a year-round platform/community?
E: We’re in discussion with several countries in the CEE and even the Middle East about hosting local editions of Engaged. But right now, our focus is on delivering one high-quality event and reaching financial sustainability.
Let’s turn the focus to Eliska Vamosova herself.
Tell us about your personal journey. How did you get into the world of venture capital and tech conferences?
Eliska: Coincidence. I volunteered at some event, after which I was recommended to Petr Šíma, who was looking for a woman in marketing. I went to the meeting out of courtesy, but once Petr started talking, I got intrigued. At the time, I was working in the beauty industry, but I didn’t like the environment. I’ve also always been drawn to building from scratch, and DEPO, along with the entire startup world, I knew nothing about, felt like a challenge worth taking on.
Regarding Engaged, first year, I helped with promoting the event, then got more involved, and eventually took over the entire event. Because it became important for DEPO, and I simply did what was important for our company.
What’s your background before DEPO Ventures and ENGAGED? Did you come from media, marketing, or entrepreneurship?
E: I hold a master’s degree in marketing and business. I worked in the fashion industry at my father’s company. Later, for a Czech beauty company and other smaller projects, where I focused on brand identity, image building, and marketing strategy.
What’s the most rewarding part of leading a major VC conference? And what’s the hardest part no one sees?
E: The hardest part is the blank canvas you face every year. No speakers, no partners, no attendees. The most rewarding part is the positive feedback I receive during and after the conference, when I can feel that what we’re doing matters.
How do you personally define success—for yourself, and for ENGAGED?
E: For me, success means freedom and the ability to make decisions based on what I want in life, not what I have to or am supposed to do. For Engaged, it means putting it on the map as THE conference you can’t miss.
What do you do to stay sharp and creative—books, podcasts, habits?
E: It depends on whether I’m in a high or low work season. Right now, it’s a bit quieter, so I enjoy activities like hiking, running, swimming, yoga, and squash. I also travel, even solo. I read and listen to music every time I can, and I spend a lot of time with family and friends. So basically, everything not related to business or startups, because that’s when my mind resets, and creativity and a sharp mind start flowing again.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you love to be doing instead?
E: Hard to tell. Going back to helping small businesses and startups build their brand, or maybe something completely different, like a nutrition specialist. But now I’m doing this.
Our last and the most favourite question that we ask all our guests; what’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
E: Kuay Teow Reua. A noodle soup with animal blood and offal. It tasted like warm jitrnice in liquid form.
Thank you for joining us, we wish you the best of luck with the upcoming event in October!
E: Thank you! I’m looking forward to seeing you at Engaged.
