The organization’s new board of directors, composed of elite personalities from the domestic technology scene, will also contribute to achieving its goals. Thanks to new financing methods, Czech Founders plans to expand its activities in the coming years and involve a wider range of Czech innovative companies.
“Over the past five years, we have managed to build a strong community of over a thousand members among Czech startup entrepreneurs. Thanks to this, we know exactly what emerging technology companies need for their growth. Unfortunately, recent data shows that our country ranks twentieth out of 24 European countries in terms of legislative friendliness towards startups. That is why in 2024 we decided to move our mission further – from a purely community organization, we have grown into a partner of the state. Our dream is to create an environment in the Czech Republic where more startups will emerge and where companies will want to build bases for their global growth,” says Vít Horký, founder of the non-profit organization Czech Founders.
Simplifying legislation and popularizing entrepreneurship
The organization has set three main goals for the coming period. The first is the successful completion of legislation for ESOP, i.e. an employee share system, which will allow startups to reward and motivate their teams more effectively. According to a survey by Czech Founders, this is a key priority for 88% of startup founders. In April last year, the organization also sent an open letter “For a better ESOP” to Prime Minister Petr Fiala, which was signed by 156 signatories from the Czech technology scene. Czech Founders is also cooperating with the Czech Startup Association to push for changes in legislation regarding employee shares, i.e. ESOPs.
“As representatives of Czech startups, we communicate intensively with political representation, especially the Ministry of Finance and other government officials. In connection with the upcoming elections, we are preparing a list of specific legislative recommendations for political parties aimed at supporting start-ups. We will provide this list to the parties before the elections and we will strive to ensure that the support of innovative entrepreneurship becomes part of programs across the political spectrum,” says Barbora Werdmölder, director of Czech Founders, who took over the leadership of the non-profit organization exactly a year ago, when she returned after years spent in Amsterdam. In the Netherlands, Barbora worked for startups and worked for Uber for four years.
The second goal is to increase the availability of capital for start-ups, both by supporting angel investors and developing the capital market through institutional investors. The third is to systematically support entrepreneurship in the Czech Republic through educational programs, workshops and other events. In 2024, Czech Founders also joined the European Startup Nations Alliance and the European Startup Network. Thanks to this, it monitors trends and legislative developments across the European startup ecosystem, while actively representing Czech technology companies at the European level.
“This year, we plan to launch a pilot week-long program for high schools that will educate students in entrepreneurship. Our vision is for the program to gradually become a regular part of school curricula in all high schools, similar to how ski training or outdoor schools are now commonplace. We want to raise a generation here that will not be afraid to do business on a global level. We believe that in this way we will lay the foundations for a new generation of enterprising and self-confident people, and therefore the creation of more startups in the Czech Republic,” describes new board member Vanda Seidelová, founder of Twigsee.
A helping hand from elite Czech startupists
Five years after its inception, the organization is establishing a board of directors. It will include entrepreneurs such as Richard Valtr, founder and CEO of the Czech scaleup Mews, which last year became the third Czech unicorn in history, i.e. a company whose value exceeded the $1 billion mark. The board will also include Markéta Přenosilová, manager, advisor to the CzechInvest agency and long-time popularizer of startups in the Czech Republic, or Jan Čurn, co-founder and CEO of Apify, which this year won the EY Entrepreneur of the Year title in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region.
“I have supported the activities of Czech Founders since the first day of their inception. I consider the most important thing not only that the organization connects founders, but above all that it has become a unified and with a strong voice, representing startups in the media and in negotiations with politicians. Therefore, when the opportunity arose to become more involved in Czech Founders as a member of the board of directors, I did not hesitate for a moment. I am very much looking forward to this cooperation and I believe that together we can create an environment for startups in the Czech Republic in which they will do business better,” says Jan Čurn.
The next members of the board of directors are Vanda Seidelová, who successfully sold her startup Twigsee, Jakub Nešetřil, the architect of Apiary‘s success, founder of the Česko.Digital initiative and Matika Česku, Kristyna Cejnarová, co-founder of the MUMDOO platform, connecting companies with experts in parenting, and Vít Horký, founder of a non-profit organization who previously sold his startup Brand Embassy and is now a venture capital investor.
“Pre-war Czechoslovakia, especially the Czech Republic, was known as an industrial and entrepreneurial country. We need to build on this tradition again. We have strong potential in terms of human resources and education, but we need to ensure that our country supports young innovative companies, not unnecessarily hinders them. Otherwise, Czech entrepreneurs will start companies abroad. I am happy that the number of successful entrepreneurs who feel responsible for our country and help it with their experience and resources is growing. I am honored to be alongside several of them on the board of directors of Czech Founders,” adds Jakub Nešetřil.
2025 marked by the expansion of activities and a new method of financing
The previous activities of Czech Founders have been financed through cooperation with partners or patrons, i.e. personalities active in the local startup scene. Czech Founders is also financed by Czech Founders VC, namely 5% of the fund’s profit. The organization is also introducing a system of membership fees through which it intends to finance its further activities. These will also be supported by patrons, who, in addition to financing, are the main advisory voice in the direction of the organization.
“The Czech Republic has the potential to increase the number of startups tenfold to 12 thousand over the next decade. It is primarily a question of changing the mindset and prioritizing topics of future governments. Our mission is to continue to support the community and educate the next generation of startup founders,” adds Barbora Werdmölder, the new director of Czech Founders.
