Applications for the 19th edition of Napad Roku are open until May 9, 2026, via napadroku.cz. The Czech Republic’s longest-running startup competition has supported 2,652 projects to date and facilitated investments totaling CZK 476 million. Additional multi-million investments are already under negotiation, driven by last year’s finalist projects.
“We secured an investment from a top angel investor who had heard about us even before Napad Roku, but reached out right after the first round. It’s been an incredible support, and we’re extremely grateful. The VC that invested in us also discovered us through the competition.”
Monika shared her journey and the goal with us last year. Beyond funding, promising projects gain access to experienced mentors, media exposure, and valuable services and in-kind prizes worth millions of Czech crowns. “I see the competition as a true accelerator of opportunities. It opens doors to people you would otherwise reach much more slowly and offers honest feedback from those who have already been down this path,” adds Jitka Paterová from the startup Eterny.
Successful founders supporting growth
A new main partner of Napad Roku is JSK Investments, founded by Czech entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist Simona Kijonková and her husband Jaromír.
“From our own experience, we know how difficult it is to build something significant and how many areas founders must quickly navigate. We want to discover new entrepreneurial talent and help them move to the next stage by sharing know-how, contacts, and resources,”
Nearly 10,000 participants have taken part in Napad Roku’s educational and networking events, gaining valuable feedback, expert advice, and connections.
“For us, winning was a major business validation. In deep tech, you often invest millions of euros and work for years before knowing whether your idea will become a functional product. Napad Roku helped us refine our positioning and taught us how to sell a complete story, not just great technology,” explains Jan Pleskač from Tropic Square, with whom we published an interview recently.
Czech companies with global ambitions
Napad Roku has helped many innovative Czech companies on their path to success. Today, they serve customers worldwide and collaborate with leading global brands — including Apify, CloudTalk, Daytrip, Kiwi.com, Monitora, Carebot, Kardi AI, Sense Arena, Skinners, and SprayVision.
“Young Czech startups today have more experienced teams, grow faster, and aim to scale. Ten years ago, around half of the applicants were under 30; today, it’s only a quarter. We also see a growing number of projects that already have major paying customers within their first year — some are even profitable and expanding. Only about one-fifth of applicants state they are not interested in investment,”
Jiří Růžička from another finalist project, DeepMedChem, confirms that participation opens both eyes and doors: “Finishing fourth in Napad Roku brought a major breakthrough. Thanks to the competition and follow-up events like the Engaged Investment Conference, we connected with investors for our current funding round. At the same time, it confirmed that what we’re building has a significant impact. The acceleration with experts from various industries during the finals preparation gave us new perspectives and fresh energy for the journey ahead.”
Backed by major brands
Napad Roku also serves as a gateway to strong partners supporting the competition. For 2026, new partners include Seed Starter by Česká spořitelna, a CVC focused on early-stage startups in the Czech Republic, CEE, and selected global markets. Its goal is to identify and support innovations and new technologies with strategic value — not only through capital, but also via potential collaboration with the bank’s group. Also joining is Cookielab, a software studio specializing in mobile app development and Internet of Things solutions.
“Innovation drives every industry, and Czech startups have the potential to improve everyday life. That’s also what Kooperativa aims to do as an insurance company, which is why we will once again award the best preventive startup projects in the ‘Safety Goes Green’ category. Because the best claim is the one that never happens,” explains Jindřich Skrip, Marketing and Communications Director at Kooperativa, a main partner of the competition.
Škoda Auto will enable selected startups to test their concepts in practice through pilot projects, gaining real-world experience and professional feedback. Microsoft will provide free business consultations, credits for services including Azure AI worth up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and a special prize — a lunch with Michal Stachník, CEO of Microsoft Czech Republic. The community partner is the sustainable multifunctional space GreenTable.
Main partners include Kooperativa, JSK Investments, and Nothing. Other partners include Microsoft, Seed Starter Česká spořitelna, Cookielab, and Peterka Partners. Main media partners are Hospodářské noviny and Týdeník Ekonom. Additional supporters include Vienna Business Agency, Škoda Auto, Prague Innovation Institute, Czech Founders, Startup Kitchen, and GreenTable.
