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CzechInvest introduces Tech Happy Hours in cooperation with Startup Kitchen. The event will attract entrepreneurs, investors and representatives of international organisations


24.09.2024
CzechInvest introduces Tech Happy Hours in cooperation with Startup Kitchen. The event will attract entrepreneurs, investors and representatives of international organisations

The purpose of this newly created technology-oriented event is to put Prague on the startup map of Europe. Another aim of Tech Happy Hours is to establish an annual flagship event following the example of SLUSH in Finland and Latitude 59 in Estonia. Four hundred Czech and other European participants from the ranks of startup enthusiasts, venture-capital investors, leading corporations, technical universities and young people keen on big business will come together in one place. Organised by the Startup Kitchen platform together with CzechInvest, Tech Happy Hours will take place in Prague on Tuesday, 22 October, and is part of the newly established Czech Startup Week initiative.

This year, we decided to push the boundaries of our traditional Investment Conference by means of a strategic collaboration with key partners in the ecosystem. The result is the creation of the international Tech Happy Hours event, which retains the proven elements of the original conference, such as expert panel discussions focused on the challenges facing the ecosystem and venture capital. I believe that systematic cooperation within the Czech startup environment will lead to even better results and high-quality events. For the first time this year, we are placing everything under the banner of Czech Startup Week – a new concept in which more than ten events will be held during a single week, with Tech Happy Hours being one of the largest,” says Ivo Denemark, head of the Startups and Venture Investments Division at CzechInvest.

The most significant guests who will visit Prague include Linn Kretzschmar, head of the newly established CERN Venture Connect programme, who will visit Czechia for the first time and present a new initiative for DeepTech startups. Insights of an internationally successful founder will be provided by Jan Rezab, founder of Socialbakers (now Emplifi), one of the most successful Czech startup exits. Other speakers will include Martin Felcman, product leader at the most valuable Czech startup, Productboard, and a representative of the NATO Innovation Fund, which is made up of resources from all 24 NATO member countries and is prepared to invest more than EUR 1 billion in the area of DeepTech. Also appearing will be Israeli businessman Or Haviv, Head of Global Innovation at Arieli Capital, who will not only participate in a panel discussion, but is also organising a workshop for startups.

“The aim of the first edition of Tech Happy Hours is to gather together leading startup entrepreneurs, investors, representatives of international organisations and students in one place in Prague so that they can exchange experience, know-how and proven processes. I am pleased that our invitation has been accepted by speakers from European unicorns, i.e. companies with a value greater than EUR 1 billion, such as Productboard, and from venture-capital funds like Credo Ventures and KARMA VC, as well as a representative of the CERN science and technology centre. We believe that we will thus cover all key issues that startup entrepreneurs may encounter on their journey,” says Nikola Naxerováhead of event production at Startup Kitchen.

DeepTech will be a principal topic of the event. Investor Linda Voeras of Karma Ventures, a leading European DeepTech fund, will give a view of the issue from abroad. Czech investors will be represented by Lukáš Hurych, partner at Credo Ventures, one of the most successful Central European venture-capital funds, which manages EUR 250 million and has contributed to success stories such as UiPath, ElevenLabs, Productboard and Deepnote. Other speakers include Jan Zadák, formerly the corporate world’s high-ranking Czech during his time at Hewlett Packard Global, and influencer and model Jitka Nováčková, who will discuss the issue of everyday sustainability.

Another important aspect of the event is an international startup competition involving representatives of Czech, Central European and Taiwanese startups who are coming to Czechia particularly for Tech Happy Hours. The winner of the competition will receive a wildcard spot in the regional final of the Startup World Cup competition on the following day. Another opportunity for business support will be CzechInvest’s Technology Incubation #demoday, which will present the successes of the Technology Incubation project. Guests from the ranks of investors, potential partners and others interested in innovations can view the presentations of startups supported by this project and hear about the breadth of its activities from its director, Tereza Kubicová, who describes the event thusly: “Demo Day is not just about presentations – it is an opportunity for startups to get feedback, establish important contacts and show that Czechia is a real centre of innovations. Support for the startup community is essential for our economy. These young companies are bringing forth revolutionary ideas and solutions that are transforming the entire sector. They are generating jobs, attracting foreign capital and strengthening our competitiveness. Demo Day is proof that investments in innovative businesses have multiple long-term benefits for society as a whole.” The four startups that make the best pitches will later compete with international firms on the main stage.

The whole event will take place at Paspa Hall at Anděl in Prague. More information is available on the website.

 

Contact for the media:
David Hořínek
PR Manager and Spokesperson
+420 724 591 667
david.horinek@czechinvest.org

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