Prague is a great place to build a startup, but most of the early-stage Czech entrepreneurs we speak to are not aware of the local resources that are available to help them.
With applications for the Prague Founder Institute now open, we are excited to release the Prague Startup Ecosystem Canvas, which is currently in Draft v1 below! It was developed by the Prague Founder Institute and local leaders Clare Kennedy, David Costello, and Matt East.
This is just a DRAFT, and while we spent many hours on this research, more input is needed. Please leave your comments on this collaborative Google document to help us complete the list. There are definitely omissions on this current version.
Are you looking to build a startup in the Czech Republic? Then apply to the Prague Founder Institute today!
Text version included below, for ease of searching:
Startup Stages
There is no one right way to build a technology company, but for the sake of simplicity we have outlined a basic, common, sequential framework.
1. Idea Stage
This is where new entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build their team and product.
A. Inspire
- Startup Media: Centralized local information, listings, and news. (i.e. startup blogs/ publications/ lists/ FB groups/ newsletters, Startup Digest)
- Inspirational Events: Open, inclusive, beginner startup events (i.e. Startup Weekend, idea fairs, and inspirational meetups)
B. Educate
- Best Practices: Beginner knowledge-sharing events. (i.e. beginner events that serve to educate more than inspire, like 1 Million Cups, Startup Grind, Startup Founder 101, etc).
- [Pro]Test
- Agilni Open Cafe Praha
- Asociace UX
- Avast Prague C++
- Big Data Prague
- Czech Scala Enthusiasts
- CZpodcast
- ElmPrague
- Firemní Semináře
- FSharping
- Future of Data: Prague
- Hive Talks
- Hyperledger Prague
- Machine Learning Prague 2019
- MySQL, MariaDB and MongoDB talks, CZ
- OpenStack Czech User Group Meetup
- Pipedrive Garage Prague
- Prague .NET Meetup
- Prague Artificial Intelligence & Deep Learning
- Prague Data Driven Enthusiasts
- Prague Data Management Meetup
- Prague Ethereum Meetup
- Prague Mobile Development Meetup
- Prague Python Meetup NaPyVo
- Prague R Meetup Group
- Prague VR & AR Meetup
- Prague.rb
- SEMrush Prague Marketing Meetup
- Startup Founder 101 Prague
- Startup Grind Prague
- Swift Prague
- Vue.js Prague
- Y Soft: Technology Hour Prague
- Training & Feedback: Skill & Idea development. (Ex. bootcamps and comprehensive training programs, like Founder Institute, General Assembly, Lean Startup Machine, code camps, etc)
- Code Camp
- CodeRetreat CZ
- Coding Bootcamp Praha
- CryptoLab Paralelni Polis Meetup
- Czech PASS
- Czech & Slovak Hadoop User Group (CS HUG)
- CzechStarter
- Data4You
- Develop a Successful FinTech Entrepreneur Startup Business Today! - Prague
- Docker Prague
- Founder Institute
- Frontendisti.cz Praha
- GDG ČVUT Prague
- GDG Prague
- Graph Database - Czech Republic
- Lean Startup Machine Prague
- Learn to Code - Data4You & Coding Bootcamp Praha
- Machine Learning Prague
- MSD IT Meet Ups
- prag.ex Elixir & Erlang in Prague
- Prague AWS User Group
- Prague Blockchain Meetup
- Prague Containers Meetup
- Prague DevOps Meetup
- Prague Full-Stack Developers Meetup
- Prague Golang Meetup
- Prague Julia Programming Group
- Prague Lambda Meetup
- Prague PostgreSQL Meetup
- Prague Ruby Meetup
- Prague Startup Consulting
- Prague Startup Idea to IPO
- Prague Startup Lab
- PragueJS
- ProductTank Prague
- PyData Prague
- PyWorking Sessions - Praha
- Reactive Meetups Prague
- Sketch & Design - Prague
- STRV Meetups
- Xamarin Developers Group Czech Meetup
C. Validate
- Team Formation: Resources for teaming up. (i.e. events or other resources that facilitate early-stage recruitment and cofounder matching)
- Agile Kitchen
- CoFoundersLab
- Freelancers & Digital Nomads in Prague
- FounderDating
- Founders Network
- JobsDev.cz Meetup
- NerdDinner CZ
- Prague Developers
- Prague Entrepreneur Fast Track
- Prague Entrepreneurs Meetup
- Prague Innovators
- Prague Scrum Beer
- Startup Milestones Prague
- Startup Prague
- StartupJobs
- Young Makers Build First Product: Hackathons & resources to build. (i.e. hackathons and other builder-focused events and resources)
- ActinSpace Hackathon
- Applifting Meetup
- CocoaHeads Prague
- FutLab
- Hackerspace Prague [brmlab]
- HackPrague
- Hacks/Hackers Prague
- Learning by Doing (Programming)
- MakersLab
- Paralelní Polis
- Prague 3D Printing Meetup
- Prague Game Developers Meetup
- Prague INSPIRE Hack 2018
- Prague Software Craftsmanship
- PrusaLab
- Smart Health Hackathon Prague 2018
- Status Hackathon
- Storyous DEV
- The Cave
- Winding Tree Hackathon
2. Launch Stage
In this stage, entrepreneurs establish and formalize the company, develop the product, get feedback from customers, and prepare for the next step.
A. Start
- Establish: Law firms & banks for startups
- Workspace: Co-working and flexible workspaces (note: “official” office space goes in 3.1.a. Infrastructure)
B. Develop
- Formalize: Accounting, development and HR for early-stage startups.
- Prepare for Seed: Incubators and advanced mentorship. (i.e. advanced knowledge sharing, later stage events and resources for startup TEAMS, Startup Next, etc)
C. Launch
- Seed Accelerators: Seed funding mentor programs (Techstars-style programs that provide funding)
- Pitch & Demo: Show local startups for investment (i.e. demo days for companies seeking seed investment)
- Coding Bootcamp Praha DemoDay
- Czech Demo Pitch Night
- Pitch AI Day 2018
- Pitch Raw Session
- PowerUp! Competition
- Prague Startup Office Hours: Get Business Advice from Experts
- Seedstars World Prague
- Startup Funding EuroTOUR Prague
- Startup Live Prague
- Startup WorldCup & Summit 2019
- StartupYard Batch X Demo Day
- Women Startup Competition
3. Growth Stage
Here, a startup proves their utility, receives recognition, and scales up. This usually requires funding, angels, VCs, and ways to connect them to startups.
A. Recognition
- Investor Networking: Connect professional investors with founders. (i.e. events or groups that facilitate connections with professional investors)
- Major Media: Mainstream local business press. (i.e. major local or regional publications that frequently champion local businesses)
B. Funding
- Angels / Micro-VCs: Seed-stage investors
- Venture Capitalists: Series A and beyond
C. Growth
- Infrastructure: Office space, HR, local business insurance. (i.e. office space/ HR/ insurance providers for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)
- Expansion: Growth accelerators/consultants. (i.e. programs and business consultants for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)
4. Success Stories
Successful homegrown companies that have raised significant institutional funding, employ a large workforce, or have achieved liquidity.
- Avast
- Avocode
- Brand Embassy
- Cognitive Security
- Druidly
- EXPANDO
- GAMEE
- Geewa
- Incomaker
- Invia
- IP Fabric
- Liftago
- NetBrokers Holding
- RiteKit
- Slevomat
- Socialbakers
- Trisbee
- Twisto
Supporters
To facilitate the steps, every ecosystem needs strong supporters.
1. Evangelists
Successful local founders who lead the ecosystem & frequently mentor newbies.
- Adam Dunovsky
- Amour Setter
- Anna Kaderabkova
- Anton Titov
- Carlos Meza
- Cedric Maloux
- Clare Kennedy
- Cyril Klepek
- David Costello
- David Miklas
- David Vrba
- Evgeny Frolov
- Filip Košťál
- Filip Mikschik
- Jan Beránek
- Jan Vohryzek
- Jana Hodbodova
- Lloyd Waldo
- Marketa Havlova
- Matt East
- Michael Fehn
- Michal Andera
- Michal Zalesak
- Nikola Rafaj
- Ondrej Dvoulety
- Osman Salih
- Paolo Lacche
- Pavel Bartoš
- Petr Šrámek
- Petr Vitek
- Petra Hubačová
- Philip Staehelin
- Tomáš Hulle
2. Government
Public organizations that facilitate local economic development (ex. Start with the chamber of commerce, “Invest in XXX”, “Economic Ministry of XXX” , “Innovation”, R&D, etc)
- Amcham Prague
- British Chamber of Commerce
- Czech Business Web Portal
- Czech Chamber of Commerce
- Czech ICT Alliance
- CzechInvest
- International Chamber of Commerce Czech Republic
- Smart Prague
3. Talent
Major local business or tech universities and employers that attract and retain local talent.
- Local Universities (universities with prominent technical or business programs)
- Charles University
- Czech Technical University Prague
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague
- Metropolitan University Prague
- TC Business School
- UMPRUM Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague
- University of New York in Prague
- VŠE University of Economics
- VŠEM University of Economics and Management Prague
- VŠFS University of Finance and Administration
- VŠO Private College of Business Prague
- Local Employers (Major technical employers, like Microsoft or Google or large local companies, with large local offices, “major technology companies in XX”)
Learn more about the Startup Ecosystem Canvas here, and leave us your thoughts on the Prague Canvas on this collaborative Google document (This is just a DRAFT, and more input is needed!)
