Presto Ventures
Presto Ventures is a Prague-based venture capital firm investing Seed-to-Series A tickets of €500k–€5M into Central and Eastern European tech startups, operating a €150M Presto Tech Horizons sub-fund focused on NATO-aligned defense and dual-use technology.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersPrague, Czechia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Presto Ventures does
Presto Ventures is a Central and Eastern European venture capital firm headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, founded in 2016 by Přemysl Rubeš. The firm invests Seed-to-Series A tickets of €500k to €5M into mostly post-revenue technology companies raising €800k to €8M rounds, with a portfolio of 60+ companies spanning cybersecurity, AI, fintech, HR tech, e-commerce, logistics, gaming, and dual-use defense. Since inception, Presto has deployed €40M across two prior funds and, in June 2024, co-launched Presto Tech Horizons — a €150M fund with Czechoslovak Group (CSG) positioned as Europe's largest defense and security vehicle, targeting dual-use technologies across NATO countries, allies, and Israel.
The firm generates revenue through standard venture capital mechanics: management fees on committed capital plus carried interest on successful exits. Its go-to-market is relationship-driven rather than productized — the team spends 300+ days per year across 20 countries, reviews 5,000+ startups annually, and converts roughly 3,000 into founder meetings. Co-building support (sales advisory, hiring, next-round fundraising) is positioned as a differentiator from pure financial investors, and the firm is 100% privately backed by exited founders, family offices, and institutional investors. Portfolio companies have collectively attracted €300M in follow-on funding from Western VCs including Andreessen Horowitz and Point Nine, and high-profile holdings include Cloudtalk (Slovakia, on a unicorn trajectory), Ready Player Me, Secfense, Oddin.gg, and Woltair.
The firm's recent strategic posture has shifted from CEE generalist toward a hybrid model: the core fund retains a broad Seed-to-Series A CEE mandate, while Presto Tech Horizons represents a focused, defense-tech-aligned vertical fund backed by a major European defense industrial. Notable 2025–2026 investments include Firehawk Aerospace ($60M Series C, only European investor alongside 1789 Capital), SatVu (£30M alongside NATO Innovation Fund and British Business Bank), Choice ($7.1M for AI restaurant-tech), and Era ($1.4M pre-seed for agentic commerce). A leadership event of note: founder Přemysl Rubeš formally separated from the Tech Horizons fund in September 2025, with CSG continuing to drive the vehicle independently.
Presto Ventures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Presto Ventures
- Legal name
- Presto Ventures II a.s.
- Website
- https://prestoventures.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Presto Ventures is a Prague-based venture capital firm investing Seed-to-Series A tickets of €500k–€5M into Central and Eastern European tech startups, operating a €150M Presto Tech Horizons sub-fund focused on NATO-aligned defense and dual-use technology.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Presto Ventures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Late-Stage Venture Capital (Series C+) (FSANAAAC), Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
Keywords
Where Presto Ventures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Prague
- HQ country
- Czechia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Presto Ventures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Management Fees: VC firms typically charge management fees on committed capital to cover fund operations. Presto operates from invested capital in portfolio companies.
- Carried Interest (Carry): Performance-based incentive where fund managers receive a share of profits from successful portfolio exits, typically 20% of returns above a preferred return threshold.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Seed to Series A investments |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Presto Ventures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Presto Ventures is a Prague-based venture capital firm that invests €500k to €5M in early-stage technology startups (Seed to Series A), with a focus on security, defense, aerospace, and dual-use technologies. The firm provides co-building support including sales advisory, hiring recommendations, and connections to follow-on investors in Western Europe and the US, managing €40M+ across two prior funds plus a new €150M Presto Tech Horizons defense-tech fund.
Product overview
Presto Ventures operates as a Central and Eastern European venture capital firm offering two main investment funds: Fund II (€40M+ invested since 2016, targeting €500k-€5M tickets in post-revenue seed to Series A companies) and Presto Tech Horizons (€150M defense-tech fund focused on dual-use technologies for NATO and allied markets). The firm has backed 60+ startups and generated €300M in follow-on funding for its portfolio companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Presto Tech Horizons: A €150M defense-tech VC fund launched in partnership with Czechoslovak Group (CSG), focusing on security, defense, and aerospace technology with dual-use applications. The fund invests across NATO countries, allies, and Israel.
Products and services
- Presto Tech Horizons A €150M defense, security, and aerospace technology fund co-launched in partnership with Czechoslovak Group (CSG), focusing on dual-use technologies with foundations or significant operational focus in NATO countries, allies, and Israel. Targets cutting-edge and dual-use solutions, both software and hardware.
- Presto Ventures Fund II Presto Ventures' second fund (Presto Ventures II a.s.) focused on early-stage tech investments, primarily post-revenue companies raising €800k to €8M financing rounds, with tickets ranging from €500k to €5M. Invests across AI, cybersecurity, fintech, HR tech, e-commerce, logistics, and other tech sectors.
Quantifiable outcome
- Portfolio companies attracted €300M in next-round funding including from Andreessen Horowitz and Point Nine
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Presto Ventures
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Presto Ventures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Presto Ventures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Alchemist AcceleratorminorPresto Ventures provides mentoring at the Alchemist Accelerator in San Francisco, supporting startup ecosystem development.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Presto Ventures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Seedcamp: London-based European seed VC with broad sector coverage and very early-stage orientation. Comparable by stage focus, though it operates across wider Europe with larger fund vintages.
- Earlybird: Berlin-based European early- and growth-stage VC. Comparable in stage and CEE reach, but with substantially larger fund vintages and broader sector mandate.
- Speedinvest: Larger Vienna-based European early-stage VC with multiple sector funds. Comparable by stage and target geography (CEE/DACH), but a broader incumbent with deeper AUM and more institutional infrastructure.
- Point Nine: Berlin-based seed-stage VC investing across Europe with strong CEE footprint. Comparable by stage and as a known co-investor in Presto's portfolio follow-ons, though materially larger AUM and broader remit.
Direct peers
- Shield Capital: US defense-and-dual-use-focused early-stage VC. Closest thematic peer to Presto Tech Horizons' defense/dual-use strategy, though operating from a different geography with a US LP base.
- Credo Ventures: Prague-based early-stage VC investing in CEE tech startups at similar stages and ticket sizes. Direct peer given overlapping geography (Czechia), stage focus, and Central European tech mandate.
- Rockaway Capital: Czech private investment firm where Presto founder Přemysl Rubeš previously worked. Direct peer operating out of Prague with tech and venture exposure across the CEE region.
- J&T Ventures: Central European VC investing in early-stage tech, frequently co-investing alongside Presto (e.g., Choice round). Direct peer by stage, geography, and sector overlap.
- Reflex Capital: Czech early-stage venture firm focused on CEE tech founders. Direct peer given shared geography, similar ticket sizes, and stage focus; has co-invested alongside Presto in rounds such as Choice.
- Day One Capital: Budapest-based early-stage VC focused on CEE/CEE founders. Direct peer in early-stage regional tech investing with similar portfolio profile and ticket range.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Presto Ventures social profiles
Digital presencePresto Ventures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Presto Ventures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Presto Ventures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Presto Ventures M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments88 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Presto Ventures
What does Presto Ventures do?
Presto Ventures is a Prague-based venture capital firm that invests €500k to €5M in early-stage technology startups (Seed to Series A), with a focus on security, defense, aerospace, and dual-use technologies. The firm provides co-building support including sales advisory, hiring recommendations, and connections to follow-on investors in Western Europe and the US, managing €40M+ across two prior funds plus a new €150M Presto Tech Horizons defense-tech fund.
Is Presto Ventures a public or private company?
Presto Ventures is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Presto Ventures founded?
Presto Ventures was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Presto Ventures based?
Presto Ventures is headquartered in Prague, Czechia, in the Europe region.
How does Presto Ventures make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are carried Interest (Carry).
Who are Presto Ventures's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Seedcamp, Earlybird, Speedinvest and Point Nine. Direct peers are Shield Capital, Credo Ventures, Rockaway Capital, J&T Ventures, Reflex Capital and Day One Capital.
Does Presto Ventures have an API?
No public API is recorded for Presto Ventures.
What industry is Presto Ventures in?
Presto Ventures's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAB, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B), with a secondary code of FSANAAAC, Late-Stage Venture Capital (Series C+). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.