The longest lasting start-up competition in the Czech Republic has welcomed more than 2,500 projects to date and has facilitated investments totaling nearly 16 million Euros. Over the past 17 years, Idea of the Year has been helping innovative Czech companies on their path to success. Many of our participants now boast of clients around the globe as well as of partnerships with some of the world’s leading brands. Just a few of these successful startups are Apify, Cloudtalk, Daytrip, Kiwi.com, Monitora, Carebot, Kardi AI, Sense Arena, Skinners, and SprayVision. The deadline to submit applications at www.napadroku.cz is the 10th May.
“Idea of the Year has come of age. It has been maturing alongside the Czech start-up ecosystem. This environment now employs over 160,000 people, pays well above-average salaries, and influences the building of the Czech Republic’s global reputation. The Idea of the Year always impressed me with the interesting ideas and people it attracts. This talent present in this year’s competition should be just as impressive.” says Martin Kešner, founder of the competition.
Small teams, big waves
Czech start-ups now employ twice as many people as the entire financial sector (including banks and insurers) according to the Smart Market Report 2025 – as compiled by Idea of the Year together with career portal StartupJobs and J&T Banka. In 2023 alone, Czech startups paid out over 5% of all salaries in the national economy – equivalent to about CZK 130 billion. Between 2018 and 2023, the number of start-ups rose by 50% to 4,200 while their workforce grew by 40%. Their average monthly salary was nearly CZK 30,000 above the national median.
Angel investor Kamil Vacek, CEO of TCCM, described the competition this way: “Taking part in Idea of the Year means keeping my finger on the pulse and getting a real feel for the latest trends across a whole range of industries. It’s hands down the most prestigious competition for young innovators and up-and-coming entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic.” As head of TCCM, Vacek knows what he’s talking about. TCCM represents the successful creative brand Nothing in the CEE region. Nothing is making waves in the world of phones and earphones thanks to its playful, minimalist design and has become the competition’s newest main partner.
Backed by big names
Every team entering Idea of the Year has a shot at securing investment of up to CZK 50 million, no matter where they place. The top 30 projects will get direct feedback from seasoned entrepreneurs and investors during face-to-face pitches, while the final ten can receive mentoring from any of dozens of experts across marketing, business, and law. The best of the bunch will then take the public spotlight at a gala evening on 16 September. Alongside the overall winners, a number of category awards will also be handed out, courtesy of the competition’s partners.
“Innovation is the engine behind every industry, and Czech start-ups have the power to make daily life better for all of us. That’s why Kooperativa is once again recognising the best preventative start-up projects with our Green Light for Safety category. After all, the easiest loss to manage is the one that never occurs,” says Jindřich Skrip, Director of Marketing and Communications at the insurance company Kooperativa.
Škoda Auto will again assist in testing selected ideas’ concepts through a collaborative pilot project, offering invaluable experience and professional feedback. Microsoft will provide free consultations on business partnerships, credits for services, including Azure AI, worth up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and a special prize: lunch with Michal Stachník, CEO of Microsoft Czech Republic. The new community partner is GreenTable, a sustainable multi-functional space that combines a vegetarian bistro with a design event venue focused on sustainability.
The main partners are Kooperativa, J&T Banka, and Nothing, while other partners include FTMO, Microsoft, and Peterka & Partners. The key media partners are the daily newspaper Hospodářské noviny, the weekly periodical Ekonom, and CzechCrunch. The competition is further supported by CzechInvest, Vienna Business Agency, Prague Innovation Institute, Škoda Auto, and Czech Founders.
