LUMUS joins a distinguished group of supporters, including Peter Komorník (former Sli.do), Lucia Pašková, Andrej Kiska, as well as VC funds such as Vision Ventures, Jinej Fond, Startguide, and Zaka, who have previously supported CloseRocket. The recent funding round, led by 19 members of the LUMUS community, will enable CloseRocket to enhance its SaaS platform and prepare for its Series A phase.
This marks a historic milestone in Slovakia, representing the first occasion where women have collectively supported a Slovak female founder’s business through a dedicated angel syndicate. In a landscape where women comprise less than 14% of European angel investors and secure only 2% of venture capital, this initiative exemplifies the power of female collaboration and support.
Founded in 2020 by Lucia Cerchlan, Vladimíra Činčurová, Terézia Jacová and Zuzana Zamborská, LUMUS Investment Collective is one of Europe’s leading communities of female angel supporters. Its mission is to elevate women’s presence within the startup ecosystem by fostering peer education, building close ties between investors and startups, and creating a robust network of women in the entrepreneurial and investment spheres across Central and Eastern Europe.
Today, LUMUS has over 500 members, primarily from Slovakia and the Czech Republic, with 96% being women. The community remains open to men who share its values. Over the past five years, LUMUS members have supported 17 startups with a collective backing of approximately EUR 1 million, including notable companies like Multiplex DX, Macromo, Kardi AI, and HTG Medical. In June 2025, LUMUS, along with Venture to Future Fund, Crowdberry, and Barger Prekop, received the IMPACT DEAL Award from SLOVCA and CVCA for their support of MultiplexDX.
Beyond Central Europe — with active groups in Bratislava, Prague, and Vienna — LUMUS is expanding its reach to London, Zurich, and the USA in 2025. The community champions a conscious approach to backing early-stage startups, driven by a shared desire to foster innovation and generate meaningful impact.
Founded in 2023 by Katarína Šimková, who also serves as CEO, CloseRocket is a Slovak startup that combines an AI-powered sales assistant with a marketplace connecting companies to verified B2B marketers. Its platform enables firms to rapidly boost sales without needing an internal sales team, offering tools for lead generation, calls, performance tracking, and seamless integration with existing processes, all without reliance on traditional CRM systems. Notable users include O2, Kros, and Curaprox.
LUMUS members chose to support CloseRocket for several reasons; The compelling vision paired with proven execution capabilities, Strong traction and significant potential for growth, The leadership of CEO Katarína Šimková, whose extensive experience in B2B sales and entrepreneurship has earned her accolades such as Forbes 30 Under 30 and Top Women in Slovak Business 2025, An experienced team with backgrounds at startups like sli.do and OrderLord, Personal connections, including Zuzana Zamborská’s previous collaboration with Katarína on the international expansion of Staffino, which Katarína founded in 2014 and exited in 2016.
Their shared journey fostered a deep respect for each other’s expertise and passion for B2B sales. “Katka’s approach to sales is exceptional — she combines rational thinking with a profound understanding of customer needs. I trust her as a businesswoman and as someone I’ve known for over a decade. She consistently demonstrates dedication, builds strong teams, and achieves the ambitious changes she envisions. I believe CloseRocket has the potential to transform B2B sales practices across Europe,” said Zuzana Zamborská.
Katarína Šimková, CEO of CloseRocket, expressed her enthusiasm: “We are proud to welcome the LUMUS community as part of our journey. Choosing our supporters was a strategic decision—beyond their expertise, we value the relationships we’ve built. Having a diverse group of women leaders and entrepreneurs among our supporters is especially meaningful. Their understanding, belief, and support help us grow not just as a company but as a community committed to a shared vision.”
