Prague has cemented its status as the financial engine of Central and Eastern Europe. The local investment landscape is unique because former operators, rather than career bankers, dominate it. The founders who built the first wave of Czech internet giants, like Mall.cz and AVG, have recycled their exits into powerful venture funds.
This creates an ecosystem where capital comes with deep operational expertise. These investors do not just look at spreadsheets. They understand the specific challenges of scaling a CEE startup into a global contender. From pre-seed accelerators to growth-stage private equity, here are the 10 investment firms defining the Prague market in 2026.
Credo Ventures
Ondrej Bartos and Jan Habermann built Credo Ventures into the gold standard for venture capital in the region. They are most famous for writing the first institutional check into UiPath, which became one of the largest AI automation companies in history. Credo operates under a high-conviction thesis: the best technical talent is in Central Europe, but the market is in the US. They focus on seed and Series A rounds for B2B software and deep tech companies. Their involvement acts as a signal of quality to global investors like Sequoia and Accel.
Miton
Miton operates less like a traditional fund and more like a co-founding factory. Since 2000, they have built and exited some of the country’s most successful digital platforms, including Glami, Bonami, and Rohlík. Partners like David Šiška and Tomáš Matějček invest their own capital and work hands-on with founders to build companies from scratch. They have recently pivoted aggressively towards AI, crypto, and mental health tech. Their model appeals to founders who need deep operational support in product and marketing alongside cash.
Rockaway Capital
Jakub Havrlant founded Rockaway Capital to bridge the digital and physical worlds. The firm manages a portfolio that includes significant travel, e-commerce, and media assets across Europe. They are unique for their dual focus on private equity-style buyouts and early-stage venture investments via their RockawayX blockchain fund. Rockaway provides founders with a direct line to massive commercial partners and infrastructure. They are the ideal partner for startups looking to disrupt legacy industries like retail and logistics.
Presto Ventures
Přemysl Rubeš created Presto Ventures to fill the funding gap for early-stage B2B startups. They are known for their speed and willingness to back unproven founders with global ambition. Having supported over 60 companies, including CloudTalk and IP Fabric, they have built a reputation as the hustlers of the ecosystem. Presto brings a Silicon Valley energy to Prague, often leading pre-seed rounds that give technical founders the runway to find product-market fit. Their network of sales experts helps portfolio companies rapidly break into Western markets.
Reflex Capital
Ondřej Fryc founded Reflex Capital after selling his e-commerce giant Mall.cz for hundreds of millions. He runs the fund with an entrepreneurial mindset rather than a financial manager’s. Reflex is known for its “no bullshit” approach and quick decision-making. They invest across all stages but have a sweet spot for founders who demonstrate extreme grit and unusual business models. Their portfolio is diverse, ranging from hardware makers to SaaS platforms. They bet on the person first and the spreadsheet second.
KAYA
Formerly known as Enern, KAYA has evolved into a major player in the CEE scale-up market. Partners like Tomáš Obrtka focus on backing category-defining leaders like Docplanner and Rohlík. They write larger checks than most local funds, supporting companies from seed to IPO. KAYA emphasises long-term partnership and sustainability. They look for founders who are building generational companies that can dominate entire sectors across Europe. Their deep pockets make them a critical stabiliser for startups facing growth pains.
Pale Fire Capital
Jan Barta and Dušan Šenkypl established Pale Fire Capital to invest in undervalued companies and turn them around. They made headlines with their significant stake in Groupon and their focus on technology projects with social impact. Unlike passive investors, they often take an active role in restructuring and accelerating growth. They look for businesses with strong fundamentals that are underperforming due to poor execution. Their private equity mindset brings rigorous financial discipline to the startups they back.
ZAKA VC
Jan Kasper and Peter Zálešák founded ZAKA VC as a family office that morphed into a professional venture fund. They operate across Prague and Bratislava, targeting pre-seed and seed stage startups in B2B software and biotech. ZAKA has gained traction for its ability to co-invest with top-tier US funds. They focus on identifying deep-tech solutions with clear commercial applications. Their founders-first approach provides startups with a supportive environment to experiment and iterate before scaling.
Nation 1
Marek Moravec leads Nation 1, serving as the first institutional check for Czech founders. They focus exclusively on the pre-seed and seed stages, often investing in university spin-outs and first-time entrepreneurs. The fund combines capital with a structured acceleration program that covers legal, HR, and finance basics. Nation 1 acts as a feeder system for the larger funds, preparing raw startups for the rigours of Series A fundraising. They are the primary entry point for young talent entering the Prague startup scene.
Tilia Impact Ventures
Silke Horáková co-founded Tilia Impact Ventures to prove that profit and purpose can coexist. It is the first significant social impact fund in the Czech Republic. They invest in startups tackling climate change, education, and social inclusion. Tilia brings rigorous impact measurement standards to the table, ensuring that portfolio companies deliver tangible societal benefits alongside financial returns. They attract founders who want to build businesses that solve systemic problems. Their backing signals to the market that a company is ethically sound and sustainable.