Hello Marketa, great to see you, and thank you for your time!
Marketa: Hello, for me and thank you for inviting me.
StartIt by ČSOB is a long-ongoing project, for how long have you been a part of it?
Marketa: I started working at Start it in September 2019, joining the third wave of the acceleration program. So now it´s exactly six years.
What were the pivotal moments in evolving StartiIt ČSOB to the current status of one of the leading startup Accelerators in Czechia?
Marketa: From the very beginning, we were inspired by our older sister Start it @KBC in Belgium — especially when it came to designing the program for startups in the go-to-market phase. What we added was a more individual approach, a deep understanding of each startup’s challenges, and I’d even say a family-like atmosphere.
Based on your opinion, what sets StartIt ČSOB apart from other Accelerators and Incubators in Czechia?
What really sets us apart is that our program isn’t about theoretical lectures — startups work hands-on on their projects and move them forward during workshops, based on concrete advice and feedback.
What kind of impact has the Accelerator had on incubated projects so far? Do you have any stories of startups finding an investor or investors closing a deal during or right after the Acceleration?
I dare say there are plenty of success stories. One of the recent ones is the investment in Robotwin, a startup that went through our accelerator. Another example is Resistant.AI — they first won a tender for the entire KBC Group and later received a significant investment from Google. A well-known name we had the chance to support early on is Vanda Seidlová, who joined us in the early days of her startup Twigsee. She later secured several investments and eventually partnered with Bakaláři. And this year, we had six startups in the TOP 30 of the Nápad roku competition — including Recon Wave, Deep MedChem, Databrush, and others.
What are the most exciting trends you’re seeing in early-stage projects, especially in Czechia?
Fortunately, the trend where startups spent two years developing something without showing it to anyone — especially not to customers 🙂 — is finally fading. On the contrary, I think startups today aren’t afraid to talk about their business even in the early stages and actively look for opportunities to present it. If we talk about trends in specific sectors, it’s still 100% AI — it’s the one area that really resonates with investors. Then there’s also HealthTech and sustainability, including climate-related innovations.
What kind of projects should consider applying? Only FinTech?
On the contrary, our accelerator supports projects across all industries — we don’t specialize only in fintech. That’s why in one wave, you’ll find both B2B and B2C projects, software and hardware, ecology, and deeptech. In one cohort, we had Greenwool, an organic fertilizer made from sheep wool, and also Recon Wave, ethical hackers who monitor the cyberspace of corporations.
Once approved, what should startups expect from your Acceleration program?
At Start it @ČSOB, cooperation with startups is tailored to their needs and focused on starting a business and acquiring customers. Selected startups will undergo a series of hands-on workshops during the acceleration and we connect them to experienced mentors. They also get the opportunity to sit in a bank building for the duration of the accelerator and many valuable connections to other founders and investors.
What’s your approach to considering projects to be successfully applied or denied? What kind of projects are historically more successful?
For us, there are a few key criteria: innovation, team, and business potential. When it comes to innovation, it doesn’t necessarily mean AI in every project. Innovative means improving customers’ lives — doing things faster, better, more simply. Sometimes it’s just a better version of pen and paper 🙂. What matters is that the startup has validated its idea and that the founder isn’t completely alone. Of course, early-stage startups don’t have five paid employees. It’s more about having competent enthusiasts around the founder, so they’re not doing everything solo. That said, we do accelerate solo founders too — it really depends on the founder’s personality. If you’re applying to an accelerator, it means you want to move forward and you’re open to listening to others’ perspectives. Otherwise, it doesn’t make much sense 🙂.
This “kind-of-lame HR questions” where do you see yourself in 5 years from now – therefore, where do you want StartIt ČSOB to be in 5 years?
Looking ahead, I hope that five years from now I’ll still feel passionate about my work and be able to bring value to startups. As for the program itself, it would be amazing if conditions for startups continue to improve — so that more of them are created here and we can expand our capacity. And in the future, we’d love to focus more on later-stage startups as well, since they need a different kind of support than those in the early phase.
What are your brightest and shinest Alumnis? And are they coming back to help you and other projects as Mentors?
One of the shining stars is definitely Resistant.AI, as already mentioned — but there are many more. Since our focus is very broad, we’ve had success stories across various sectors.. And yes, many founders later become mentors in our community, which is something we’re really proud of.
Let’s focus more on Marketa herself now.
Tell us about your personal journey. How did you get into the world of startups and the banking industry?
I started working at the bank more than 15 years ago, in communications, after gaining experience in advertising agencies. After taking time off to be with my children, I was looking for an opportunity with more purpose — and that’s when Start it came along. To be honest, I knew almost nothing about startups at the time 🙂. And that’s actually what I love about my job — I’m constantly learning new things, and we enrich each other through collaboration with startups.
What was your background before StartIt ČSOB? Did you come from media, marketing, or entrepreneurship?
As I already mentioned, I’ve spent my entire professional life on the marketing side — whether working with corporate clients or on the agency side in advertising.
What’s the most rewarding part of leading a Startup Accelerator? And what’s the hardest part no one sees?
The biggest reward for me is, of course, when a startup succeeds 🙂 — but also the fact that I’ve built such friendly relationships with many founders that they still reach out for advice even years later. The hardest part is connecting them with the right people for feedback and convincing the other side to actually listen to what the startup has to say
How do you personally define success—for yourself, and for StartIt ČSOB?
Success for me means that my work has purpose and that I’m helping many young founders get their ideas off the ground. For Start it, success means the same — but it also includes having a strong reputation in the market, where startups recommend us to others who want to move forward.
What do you do to stay sharp and creative—books, podcasts, habits?
I recharge through nature, family, podcasts, and books. But sometimes, what energizes me the most is simply silence and solitude 🙂.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you love to be doing instead?
That’s a good — and tough — question. I don’t have a specific idea, but I know it would have to be something that brings value to the other side as well, and ideally something with a deeper purpose.
What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
At one student startup competition, I was part of the jury — and I had to taste a spread made from insects 🙂. And it was actually delicious!
Thank you for joining us, we wish you the best of luck with the upcoming Batch of Accelerated future Unicorns!
Thank you too.
