“The mission of Engaged is to foster cross-border startup investments and strengthen the early-stage venture capital ecosystem in Central and Eastern Europe. We’ve been building this platform for years, and every year more international investors join us. Last year we welcomed 400 participants from 20 countries, and this year we expect a third more,” says Eliška Vámošová, Director of Engaged Investments.
Investing in the Future: AI, Deep Tech, and Critical Infrastructure
The first day of the conference will focus on investors and expert discussions around deep tech, defense technologies, artificial intelligence, and other trends reshaping the global venture capital market and the CEE region. “Recent geopolitical and economic shifts have put these areas front and center, and venture capital is naturally opening up to them. Artificial intelligence still dominates the early-stage landscape, with roughly half of all investments in the region going into AI. But we’re also seeing a clear move from applications towards infrastructure, and a surge of interest in deep tech – from quantum technologies and drones to space tech and cybersecurity,” explains Petr Šíma, Partner at DEPO Ventures.
On the second day, 50 of the most promising startups from the CEE region, ranging from angel stage to Series A, will pitch to investors. The day is also open to all founders looking to build new connections. Engaged Investments is part of Czech Startup Week, which will bring a series of tech-focused events to Prague in the penultimate week of October.
Among the confirmed speakers are Jack Wang of Project A, a fund managing €1.2 billion with a strong focus on defense and deep tech, Luis Frach of Left Lane Capital, a €2.5 billion US and London-based fund expanding into CEE, angel investor and Techstars Managing Director Martin Olczyk, and Andreas Sempengel, Vice President for International Markets at Mastercard.
“We have long been active in venture capital on both sides, supporting innovative companies and working with investors who make their growth possible. Our role is to help turn ambitious projects into reality. Partnering with Engaged Investments was a natural step for us, as it connects the worlds of capital and new technologies that are transforming industries,” says Ivan Sagál, Partner at Bird & Bird, one of the conference’s main partners.
Petr Chládek, Director of the South Moravian Innovation Centre (JIC), adds: “At JIC, we’ve been building globally successful companies for over twenty years. Through JIC Ventures, we invest in people and ideas, support founders with know-how, and open doors to further funding. Engaged Investments is a key platform for forging strategic partnerships, and we’re proud to be part of it.”
The conference will also feature leading Czech funds such as Credo Ventures, Rockaway Fund, Soulmate Ventures, Tilia Impact Ventures, and Purple Ventures, alongside international players including Bek Ventures, Karma VC, Baltic Sandbox Ventures, and Warsaw Equity Group. Engaged is further supported by major institutions such as the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) and CzechInvest.
