Startup Disrupt

What Startup Disrupt does

Startup Disrupt is a Prague-based, event-driven networking platform that connects startups with corporations, investors, and industry leaders. Founded in 2020 and operating with 11–50 employees from headquarters in Prague 1 (Rybna 716/24), the company has organized more than 250 events featuring over 2,500 speakers across 20 countries, with flagship programming centered on the annual Innovations United conference (held at Prague Castle's Martinic Palace in November 2023) and themed summits including the Female Leaders Summit, Sustainable Future, and E-commerce Stage. Its primary customer segments are early-stage startups seeking corporate access and capital, established corporations pursuing innovation partnerships, public sector organizations, and Fortune 500 enterprises — addressed through a four-vertical segmentation strategy (Startups, Corporations, Public Sector, Fortune 500).

The company's core technology is an event management and community networking platform, with no proprietary AI/ML or software IP disclosed. Beyond the main event business, Startup Disrupt operates three sub-brands that extend its surface area: the Startup Disrupt Foundation (a non-profit established in 2021 focused on youth education and project promotion), Startup Union (formally the Startup Section of the Czech Chamber of Commerce, providing regulatory and policy access for Czech startups, scaleups, investors, and corporates), and a Jobs portal (job.startupdisrupt.com). Supporting infrastructure includes a free digital content channel, a paid newsletter, a corporate partnership tier system (gold/silver/bronze), and a 2023-vintage online store managed by LXVI, s. r. o. The company is GDPR-compliant under EU model contract clauses.

Revenue is generated through three documented streams: (1) event ticket sales, ranging from free digital access to paid in-person ticket deals; (2) corporate sponsorship and partnership packages sold in tiered gold, silver, and bronze structures to Fortune 500 and major regional corporates including Microsoft, Tesco Stores Czech Republic, Allegro, PwC, Cisco CZ, Česká spořitelna, Kiwi.com, CzechInvest, Continental, DLA Piper, Boston Consulting Group, and Rockaway Capital; and (3) online store merchandise sales. Go-to-market is event-driven, with distribution spanning in-person events, a self-serve digital platform, the Startup Union chamber channel, and corporate partnership networks. The company is a privately held Czech s. r. o. (private limited company) with no disclosed institutional investors, no parent company, and no identified M&A or recapitalization activity.

Name

Startup Disrupt

Legal name

Startup Disrupt, s. r. o.

Website

https://startupdisrupt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Prague-based event-driven networking platform connecting startups with corporations, investors, and industry leaders across 20 countries through 250+ conferences, with sub-brands including Startup Union, the Startup Disrupt Foundation, and an online store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Networking Events

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Technology & Innovation Expos Organizers (THAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

Keywords

• Startup networking events
• Corporate innovation conferences
• Entrepreneurship community platform
• Innovation summit organizing
• Startup ecosystem services

Headquarters

HQ city

Prague

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event tickets and attendance: Revenue generated from selling tickets to conferences and summits such as Innovations United, with free digital access options and paid ticket deals.
2. Sponsorship and partnership packages: Fortune 500 and corporate sponsors support events through various partnership tiers (gold, silver, bronze), providing significant revenue streams.
3. Online store sales: The 2023.startupdisrupt.com online store sells products, managed by LXVI, s. r. o.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Startup Disrupt is an event-driven networking community that organizes world-class conferences and summits (e.g., Innovations United, Female Leaders Summit, Sustainable Future) connecting startups with corporations, investors, and industry leaders. It also offers tailored startup acceleration services (mentorship, workshops, funding access) and corporate innovation services (matchmaking, insight sharing) for Fortune 500 and public-sector clients, complemented by a newsletter, online community, and Jobs portal.

Product overview

Startup Disrupt is a global networking community that organizes world-class events connecting startups, corporations, investors, and industry leaders. The core offerings include the flagship Innovations United annual conference with multiple thematic stages (Innovation, Finance Investment, Sustainability, Female Leaders), the Startup Union initiative for Czech ecosystem members, and the non-profit Startup Disrupt Foundation focused on youth education. The platform also provides startup acceleration services (mentoring, workshops, funding access) and corporate innovation services (startup connections, matchmaking). All offerings are delivered through in-person events and digital engagement including newsletters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Startup Union: Initiative uniting Czech startups, scaleups, investors, corporates, and policymakers under the Startup Section at the Czech Chamber of Commerce.
• Startup Disrupt Foundation

Products and services

• Innovations United Flagship annual multi-stage conference and main event for Startup Disrupt, bringing together innovators, startups, corporations, and investors for networking, knowledge sharing, and partnership opportunities.
• Female Leaders Summit Event focused on female leadership, inclusion, and ESG principles, celebrating diversity and empowering women in business.
• Sustainable Future Event Event stage and summit focused on sustainability, environmental innovation, and sustainable development practices.
• Startup Union Membership and ecosystem initiative uniting Czech startups, scaleups, investors, corporates, and policymakers under the Startup Section at the Czech Chamber of Commerce, offering networking, mentorship, investment access, and global missions.
• Startup Disrupt Foundation Non-profit, non-governmental organization focused on education, advice, and promotion of new projects and students through educational and cultural events.
• Startup Services Service offering for startups providing mentoring, expert guidance, networking opportunities, skill development workshops, and access to funding through collaborative partnerships.
• Corporate Innovation Services Service offering for corporations to connect with innovative startups, gain industry insights, foster collaboration, and adopt innovative practices through matchmaking events and mentoring programs.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tesco Stores Czech RepubliccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold partner at multiple Startup Disrupt events including Innovations United and Sustainable Future. CEO Katarína Navrátilová serves as featured speaker.
• AllegrocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold partner at Sustainable Future and Female Leaders events. Marta Mikliszańska, Director of Group Public Affairs & ESG, featured as speaker.
• Start-it CSFcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold partner supporting Startup Disrupt events and initiatives.
• BlisscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold partner at Innovations United, Female Leaders, and Sustainable Future events.
• GoldilockcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold partner across multiple Startup Disrupt conferences.
• Jimmy TechnologiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold partner at Startup Disrupt events.
• PwCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver partner and featured speakers (Ondřej Rybka, Director) at Innovations United 2023 Sustainability stage.
• CzechInvestcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver partner, government startup agency. Ivo Denemark, Director of Startups and Venture Investments Division, featured as keynote speaker.
• DLA PiperminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver partner providing legal expertise at events.
• ContinentalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze partner at Startup Disrupt events.
• CNN Prima NewscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing coverage for Innovations United 2023.
• MicrosoftcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured speaker Violeta Luca (General Manager Czech Republic and Slovakia) at Female Leaders Summit.
• Česká spořitelnaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured speaker Martin Kobza (COO) at Finance Investment stage.
• Rockaway CapitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDušan Zábrodský (Investment Partner) speaks at Finance Investment stage.
• Boston Consulting GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJiří Švejcar (Partner and Associate Director) speaks at Finance Investment stage.
• LeadspickercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner. Leadspicker offers all-in-one Startup Scouting Platform and has raised $2M seed funding from Reflex Capital and J&T Ventures.
• Czech Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup Union is the Startup Section at the Czech Chamber of Commerce, uniting Czech startups, scaleups, investors, corporates, and policymakers.
• Euronova GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCooperation partner with Startup Disrupt Foundation.
• Cisco CZminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMichal Stachník (General Manager) featured as speaker at Innovations United.
• Kiwi.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMartin Ratolístka (VP Product) speaks at Innovations United. Oliver Dlouhý (CEO) quoted as community member.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TechCrunch Disrupt: TechCrunch Disrupt is a flagship global startup conference featuring startup competitions, investor matchmaking, and corporate innovation showcases. It is a direct peer to Startup Disrupt's Innovations United in serving the startup-founder-investor ecosystem.
• Web Summit: Web Summit is the largest technology conference in Europe, hosting tens of thousands of attendees and thousands of startups, media, and investors. It directly competes with Startup Disrupt's Innovations United flagship in the startup-corporate-investor networking category.
• The Next Web (TNW) Conference: TNW Conference is an Amsterdam-based technology festival and media brand targeting startups, corporates, and investors. It directly competes with Startup Disrupt's flagship in the European innovation and startup event space.
• Slush: Slush is a Helsinki-based founder-and-investor conference that has expanded globally, organizing large-scale startup events with corporate sponsors and venture capital participation. It is a direct peer in the startup-focused event business model.
• Pioneers Festival / Pioneers.io: Pioneers is an Austrian-based deep-tech startup event and community connecting founders, investors, and corporates. It is a direct peer in the CEE/DACH-region startup-corporate matchmaking event format.

Emerging players

• Founders Forum: Founders Forum is an invitation-only community of technology founders, CEOs, and investors hosting curated events. It overlaps with Startup Disrupt's premium networking offering but targets a more exclusive, higher-tier audience.

Broad incumbents

• Money 20/20: Money 20/20 is a large global fintech event organized by Informa, connecting financial institutions, startups, and investors. It is a broader incumbent in the finance-investment conference segment where Startup Disrupt runs its Finance Investment stage.
• CES (Consumer Electronics Show): CES is the world's largest technology and innovation trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association. It is a broad incumbent in tech/innovation expos where Startup Disrupt's Innovation stage competes for sponsor and exhibitor dollars.
• GITEX Global: GITEX Global is one of the largest technology and startup exhibitions in the Middle East, organized in Dubai with significant corporate sponsorship. It is a broad incumbent in the tech and innovation expo space, particularly relevant to Startup Disrupt's emerging MENA/Africa ambitions.

Regional players

• Tech in Asia Conference: Tech in Asia is a media and events company focused on the Asian startup ecosystem, organizing major conferences in Singapore, Jakarta, and other Asian hubs. It is a regional peer serving startups and corporates but in a different geography than Startup Disrupt.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/startup_disrupt
• Facebookfacebook.com/startupdisrupt

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Startup Disrupt