Soutěž & Podnikej

What Soutěž & Podnikej does

Soutěž & Podnikej, operating under the brand BeNextOne, is a Czech non-profit civic association (Institut pro podnikavost, inovace a vzdělávání, z. s., IČO 21925755) that runs an annual entrepreneurship education program and competition for high school students aged 13–21 across the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Its core product is the BeNextOne competition, structured as a roughly six-month cycle: an 8-workshop educational phase, a competitive phase in which 20 selected projects receive up to 10 hours of one-on-one mentorship each, and an in-person Grand Finale held at Česká spořitelna's Prague headquarters where 11 finalist teams pitch to a jury and vie for cash prizes of 30,000, 20,000, and 10,000 CZK. The 10th edition culminated at the Grand Finale on 14 April 2026, with WorkFinder named overall winner, JesHoney second, and lAIght third. A second product line, Econverse V4, extends the organization internationally to Visegrád Four countries with national finals in Prague in autumn 2026 and international finals in Łódź in spring 2027.

The underlying technology stack is lightweight and operationally appropriate for a small non-profit: a Framer-hosted marketing and information website (naucsepodnikat.cz), Google Forms for participant registration and data capture, WhatsApp for coordinator-led follow-up, and online delivery of the workshop and mentorship phases. The organization has no proprietary software, no mobile app, no public API or SDK, and no disclosed AI/ML capability of its own. Distribution is community- and event-led: participants are reached through school networks, teacher referrals, and partner organizations (JIC, InovaceOK, CzechFounders, Prague Student Summit, DOFE, and others), while the annual Grand Finale functions as the principal in-person touchpoint.

The business model is sponsorship- and grant-funded rather than fee-based: student participants join free of charge, and operating costs are covered by contributions from corporate partners (Česká spořitelna as flagship venue and prize sponsor, Erste Private Banking, ČSOB's Startit program, Apify, Microsoft), foundations (Nadace České spořitelny), and civic and education partners. The organization is led by CEO Vanda Seidelová (ex-Twigsee) with a four-person core team (Project Manager, Head of Growth/Partnerships & Fundraising, Project Coordinator) within an 11-employee headcount, and operates from a registered address in Křižovatka while running events in Prague.

Name

Soutěž & Podnikej

Legal name

Institut pro podnikavost, inovace a vzdělávání, z. s.

Website

https://naucsepodnikat.cz

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BeNextOne (formerly Soutěž & Podnikej) is a Czech non-profit association that runs an annual entrepreneurship education program and competition for high school students aged 13–21 across the Czech Republic and Slovakia, combining workshops, mentorship, and a Grand Finale pitch event in Prague.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Křižovatka

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship and Grants: The organization operates as a non-profit association (Institut pro podnikavost, inovace a vzdělávání, z. s.) funded through sponsorships, grants, and partner contributions. Prize money for competition winners (30,000 Kč, 20,000 Kč, 10,000 Kč for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place) is funded through sponsors and partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Soutěž & Podnikej (now branded BeNextOne) runs a free, six-month student entrepreneurship program for high school students aged 13–21 in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The program combines eight online workshops, one-on-one mentorship (up to 10 hours per project) for 20 selected teams, and a competitive pitch finale awarding cash prizes of 30,000 / 20,000 / 10,000 Kč. The initiative is operated by the non-profit association Institut pro podnikavost, inovace a vzdělávání, z. s., and is funded through sponsorships and grants.

Product overview

BeNextOne (formerly Soutěž & Podnikej) is a Czech educational and acceleration program for high school students that combines online workshops, mentorship, and a competitive startup competition. The core offering is the BeNextOne program, which guides students through an 8-workshop educational phase followed by a competitive phase with mentor support for 20 selected teams. The program culminates in a Grand Finale where students pitch their business ideas. Additionally, BeNextOne organizes the international Econverse V4 competition for V4 countries. Both programs are open to students aged 13-21 from the Czech and Slovak Republics, with winners receiving cash prizes (up to 30,000 CZK) and certificates. All graduates automatically join the BeNextOne Alumni Club for continued community access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BeNextOne (formerly Soutěž & Podnikej) Six-month educational and acceleration program for high school students (ages 13–21) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, combining eight online workshops, one-on-one mentorship for 20 selected teams, and a competitive pitch finale with cash prizes and jury evaluation. Intended for student aspiring entrepreneurs.
• Econverse V4 International economics and business competition for V4-region high school students, organized in partnership with Econverse, with national finals in Prague and international finals in Łódź. Intended for V4 high school students in economics and business tracks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6-month acceleration program with 20 mentor-supported projects per season
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Česká spořitelnaflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 April 2026Česká spořitelna serves as the venue partner for the Grand Finale event held at their headquarters (Rytířská 29, Prague) and provides prize sponsorship for the competition. The partnership enables the annual awards ceremony and networking event.
• Erste Private BankingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner of the Grand Finale event, providing support for the competition awards ceremony and participant prizes.
• Nadace České spořitelny (Česká spořitelna Foundation)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation partner supporting the competition, with representative Dana Brandenburg participating in the Firechat panel at the Grand Finale.
• ApifycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology company partner of the 10th round, supporting the student entrepreneurship competition with prize sponsorship.
• Startit (ČSOB)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerČSOB's startup acceleration program Startit is a partner of the competition, providing support for student entrepreneurs.
• CzechFounderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCzechFounders supports diversity and inclusion in tech and entrepreneurship. Director Barbora Werdmölder serves as a jury member. Partnership brings expertise and network access.
• MicrosoftminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo appears in sponsor section; provides support for the competition program.
• Pražský studentský summit (Prague Student Summit)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudent organization partner, contributing to the ecosystem of student development programs.
• ICUKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInnovation center partner supporting student entrepreneurship in the regional ecosystem.
• GamechangersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting innovation and entrepreneurship development.
• AIFirstminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAI-focused organization partner supporting the competition.
• Na vlastní triko (Akademie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntrepreneurship academy partner, with representative Dana Tržila participating in the Firechat panel at Grand Finale. Deep partnership in entrepreneurship education.
• InovaceOKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInnovation-focused organization partner supporting the 10th round of the competition.
• Inion (Inovační centrum)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerInnovation center partner providing regional entrepreneurship support.
• JIC (Jihomoravské inovační centrum)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSouth Moravian Innovation Centre supporting regional startup ecosystem and the competition.
• AMO (Asociace pro mezinárodní otázky)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociation for International Affairs partner, contributing to international perspective in the program.
• Můžeš podnikatminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEntrepreneurship support organization partner.
• DOFE (The Duke of Edinburgh's Award)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational youth development program partner.
• LIPO.INKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInnovation and startup support partner.
• ARR NisaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional partner organization.
• Lyžák JinakminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation innovator partner, with representative Alena Barnová participating in the Firechat panel.
• SpectodaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStartup founded by alumni Anna Veselá; product showcase partner in the competition ecosystem.
• NekrachniminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEntrepreneurship support organization partner.
• Podnikavé Česko (Asociace podnikavé Česko)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociation promoting entrepreneurship in Czech Republic.
• KVIKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting the competition.
• MakeMoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization for the 10th round.
• MarterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization for the 10th round.
• EconversecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational competition for V4 countries that partners with BeNextOne. National finals in Prague (autumn 2026) and international finals in Łódź (spring 2027). Provides pathway for top performers to international competition.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Junior Achievement Worldwide: The global parent of the JA network, operating in 100+ countries. Provides the most established benchmark for youth entrepreneurship education infrastructure, programs, and sponsor relationships at a much larger scale than BeNextOne.
• Junior Achievement Europe: JA Europe is the regional umbrella for 40+ JA national members including CZ and SK. It runs pan-European entrepreneurship student competitions (e.g., JA Europe Enterprise Challenge) that overlap with BeNextOne's pitch-competition format and target the same school ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE): NFTE is a US-rooted non-profit delivering entrepreneurship curricula and pitch competitions to high-school students from underserved backgrounds. Closely comparable mission, audience, and competition-based pedagogical model to BeNextOne.
• Junior Achievement Czech Republic: JA Czech is the most direct peer: a non-profit delivering entrepreneurship and financial literacy programs to Czech students of similar age. Competes for school partnerships, sponsor mindshare, and participant attention in the same Czech high-school market BeNextOne targets.
• Junior Achievement Slovakia: JA Slovakia mirrors JA Czech on the other side of BeNextOne's territory, offering entrepreneurship programs and student company competitions to Slovak high-schoolers. Directly competes for the Slovak participant pool BeNextOne serves.

Emerging players

• Czech Founders (CzechFounders): CzechFounders is a Czech VC-backed founder community supporting early-stage startups with diversity/inclusion focus. Comparable to BeNextOne on the ecosystem side — director Barbora Werdmölder sits on BeNextOne's jury — and overlaps on mentorship and talent-pipeline functions.
• InovaceOK: A Czech innovation-education organization supporting student entrepreneurship and school-based innovation programs. Directly comparable in targeting Czech high-schoolers with entrepreneurship exposure, and already a BeNextOne partner.
• Startit (ČSOB): ČSOB's startup acceleration program targeting early-stage founders across the CEE region, including student founders. Overlaps with BeNextOne on mentorship, pitch training, and CEE student-founder pipeline; already a BeNextOne partner which signals direct comparability.
• Akademie Na vlastní triko: A Czech entrepreneurship academy running experiential entrepreneurship education for young people, with founder Dan Tržil appearing on BeNextOne's Grand Finale panel. Comparable mission of practical entrepreneurship education for Czech youth; potential partner or competitor for student mindshare.

Regional players

• JIC (Jihomoravské inovační centrum): JIC is the South Moravian Innovation Centre running regional startup support, student programs, and entrepreneurship events in Brno. Comparable to BeNextOne on student-founder pipeline and ecosystem building in a specific Czech region, with deeper corporate backing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sout%C4%9B%C5%BE-a-podnikej

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Soutěž & Podnikej