The Academy begins with a Founders Breakfast, where participants meet the cohort, mentors, and organizers, and get an introduction to the program structure and expectations.
Over the course of 6 practical workshops, participants gain the skills, confidence, and investor-ready mindset to:
Build a strong pitch deck that opens doors
Understand the startup legal basics (incorporation, SHA, IP, ESOP)
Prepare a realistic business plan and define key KPIs
Validate their product and develop a go-to-market strategy
Learn how startup investments work and how to negotiate the first deal
Prepare their company for growth and international expansion
The program also includes online sessions focused on international expansion, covering topics such as entering the DACH market, cross-border operations, and fundraising in the United States.
Participants will also meet investors and mentors during a dedicated speed-dating session designed for direct feedback and connections.
The program concludes with a Demo Day, where startups present their projects and receive feedback from investors and the startup ecosystem.
This is a selective program. Applications will be reviewed by Startup Kitchen and the Prague Innovation Institute.
The participation fee is 4 990 CZK per startup + VAT (6 037.90 CZK in total) and includes access to all 6 workshops, materials, expert mentoring, and the final investor feedback session.
Spaces are limited – apply now and secure your spot in this selective program.
| Date | Workshop | Mentors |
|---|---|---|
| April 28, 2026 morning PRAGUE | FOUNDERS BREAKFAST: KICKOFF, PROGRAM OVERVIEW & COHORT CONNECTION | tba |
| May 6, 2026 3PM-6PM PRAGUE | FUNDRAISING READINESS: VC LOGIC, INVESTOR EXPECTATIONS & STARTUP NARRATIVE | |
| May 12, 2026 3PM-6PM PRAGUE | THE INVESTOR PITCH: BUILDING A DECK THAT GETS REPLIES | |
| May 19, 2026 3PM-6PM PRAGUE | METRICS & BUSINESS MODEL: KPIs, PRICING & FINANCIAL PLANNING | |
| May 26, 2026 3PM-6PM PRAGUE | GO-TO-MARKET & SALES: FINDING YOUR FIRST REPEATABLE GROWTH CHANNEL | |
| June 2, 2026 3PM-5PM PRAGUE | INVESTMENT MECHANICS: TERM SHEETS, CONVERTIBLES & DATA ROOM | |
| June 9, 2026 3PM-5PM PRAGUE | PITCH DELIVERY: STORYTELLING, PRESENCE & INVESTOR Q&A | |
| June 16, 2026 6PM-8PM PRAGUE | DEMO DAY LITE: INVESTOR FEEDBACK & FOUNDER READINESS | |
| April - June online | GOING GLOBAL: EXPANSION, OPERATIONS & FUNDRAISING |
The workshops build on each other in terms of content and knowledge. To gain comprehensive know-how, active participation in all sessions is required.
The Academy begins with a Founders Breakfast, an informal kickoff session where participants meet the cohort and get to know the other founders taking part in the program. The goal is to create early connections, build a supportive atmosphere, and start the Academy with an open founder-to-founder exchange.
The session also features a short inspirational talk by an experienced founder, sharing practical lessons and reflections from building and scaling a startup.
Agenda
Kickoff and cohort introduction
• Welcome and informal introduction of the cohort
• Founder inspirational talk and Q&A
• Sharing what each founder is building
• Founder-to-founder discussion and exchange of experiences
• Informal networking over breakfast
The Academy begins with a Founders Breakfast, an informal kickoff session where participants meet the cohort and get to know the other founders taking part in the program. The goal is to create early connections, build a supportive atmosphere, and start the Academy with an open founder-to-founder exchange.
The session also features a short inspirational talk by an experienced founder, sharing practical lessons and reflections from building and scaling a startup.
Agenda
Kickoff and cohort introduction
• Welcome and informal introduction of the cohort
• Founder inspirational talk and Q&A
• Sharing what each founder is building
• Founder-to-founder discussion and exchange of experiences
• Informal networking over breakfast
Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital
Mentor: Ondřej Lipold (Tensor Ventures)
The goal of this workshop is to introduce founders to how venture capital investors evaluate startups and how the fundraising process actually works in practice. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of investor expectations and learn how to position their startup in a way that resonates with investors.
The session focuses on building a strong fundraising narrative and understanding the key factors that influence investment decisions.
Agenda
Introduction to venture capital and investor thinking
• How venture capital funds evaluate startups
• What investors look for in early-stage companies
• How the decision-making process works inside a VC fund
• Understanding the importance of timing, traction and market opportunity
• Building a clear fundraising narrative for your startup
• Creating an initial investor target list and outreach strategy
Business Planning & Financial Strategy
Mentor: Jan Krahulík (Depo Ventures)
IP Protection: How to Protect Your Ideas and Innovation
Partner of the workshop: Plus inovace
Mentor: Petra Stupková (Legitas)
How to Draft a Shareholders’ Agreement (SHA)
Mentor: Jaroslav Baier (HAVEL & PARTNERS)
This workshop focuses on one of the most critical tools in startup fundraising – the pitch deck. Participants will learn how investors actually read startup presentations and how to structure a pitch deck that captures attention and communicates the core value of the startup clearly.
Agenda
Building a strong and investor-ready pitch deck
• Structure of a compelling pitch deck
• What information investors expect to see
• How to present traction, insights and market opportunity
• Common mistakes founders make when building a deck
• How investors evaluate a pitch deck in the first minutes
• Practical feedback and examples from real startup decks
ESOPs and Team Incentives
Mentor: Josef Bouchal (HAVEL & PARTNERS)
Founder Pitching & Self-Presentation
Mentor: Kateřina Syslová (Startup Kitchen)
The goal of this workshop is to help founders understand the key metrics and financial logic behind successful startups. Participants will learn how to design a realistic business model and define the KPIs that investors expect to see.
Agenda
Understanding startup metrics and financial planning
• Key metrics used in early-stage startups
• Defining meaningful KPIs for your business model
• Pricing strategies and experimentation
• Building a simple financial model and runway planning
• Aligning milestones with future fundraising rounds
• Avoiding unrealistic projections and common financial mistakes
Getting First Customers & Product Marketing
Mentor: Lucie Krulichova (Motionshift)
B2B Sales, How to sell to Corporates
Mentor: Tomáš Blažek (Raiffeisenbank), Michal Plzák (Raiffeisenbank)
AI & Productivity
Mentor: Alan Pátek Fabik (Asistenti.online)
The goal of this workshop is to help founders understand the mechanics behind startup investment deals and reduce uncertainty around legal and financial terms.
Agenda
Understanding startup investment structures
• Overview of funding instruments (equity, convertibles, SAFEs)
• Key elements of a term sheet
• Common red flags in investment agreements
• Understanding dilution and ownership structures
• What investors expect in a startup data room
• Preparing documents before approaching investors
Startup Funding Options
Mentor: Ivo Denemark (CzechInvest)
First Investment, Convertible Notes
Mentor: Jan Davídek (Purple Ventures)
Large Equity Investment – How to Prepare and Negotiate
Mentor: Matej Luhový (Presto Tech Horizons | Presto Ventures)
This workshop focuses on how startups acquire their first customers and develop a repeatable go-to-market strategy. Participants will learn how to define their ideal customer profile and design experiments to validate sales and distribution channels.
Agenda
Building a go-to-market strategy and early sales process
• Defining the ideal customer profile (ICP)
• Positioning and value proposition
• Outbound and inbound acquisition strategies
• Building a simple sales pipeline
• Testing and validating acquisition channels
• Designing short-term growth experiments
Growth Strategies for Startups
Mentor: Jan Čurn (Apify)
Expanding into the DACH Region
Mentor: Zuzana Doležalová (Vienna Business Agency)
Legal & Regulatory Aspects of Expanding to the U.S.
Mentor: Štefan Šurina (Eldison)
The final workshop focuses on presentation skills and preparing founders for pitching their startup in front of investors. Participants will learn how to communicate their story clearly, present with confidence, and handle investor questions.
Agenda
Delivering a strong and confident startup pitch
• Storytelling frameworks for founders
• Structuring a clear and compelling pitch
• Voice, pacing and presentation style
• Handling investor questions and objections
• Practicing short-form startup pitches
• Preparing for the final Demo Day presentation
The Academy concludes with a Demo Day, where participating startups present their projects and the progress they made during the program.
This final session brings together founders, investors, and members of the startup ecosystem. The goal is to give startups the opportunity to showcase their work, receive constructive feedback, and build connections with potential investors and partners.
Agenda
Final presentations and investor feedback
• Startup pitches by participating teams
• Feedback and questions from investors and ecosystem experts
• Informal networking with investors and founders
• Closing of the Academy and next steps for participating startups
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Alongside the in-person workshops, the Academy includes a series of online sessions focused on international expansion. These sessions bring practical insights from founders, investors, and operators who have experience building and scaling companies across different markets.
The goal is to help founders better understand what it takes to expand beyond the local ecosystem and prepare for international growth and fundraising.
Agenda
Practical insights on international startup expansion
• Entering the DACH market and understanding local investor expectations
• Cross-border operations and company setup in Estonia
• Legal and operational considerations for international startups
• Fundraising in the United States as a CEE founder
• Lessons learned from founders building companies across multiple markets
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