What Czech Startup Association does

Czech Startup Association (Česká startupová asociace), legally registered as Czech Tech Association, z. s., is a Prague-based non-profit civic association founded in 2024 that serves as the unified policy voice for the Czech startup and investor ecosystem. It represents approximately 120+ member organizations — spanning early-stage startups, scaling companies, angel and VC investors, and innovation centers such as JIC, Purple Ventures, Presto Ventures, Rockaway Ventures, Miton, and DEPO Ventures — in formal dialogue with the Czech government, Parliament, and ministerial bodies including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the General Financial Directorate.

The association does not develop or sell technology products. Its core deliverables are policy advocacy, legislative analysis, lobbying, sector coordination, network building, PR campaigns, and flagship events such as Czech Startup Week, which drew 2,500 attendees in 2025. Its work product includes analyses and position papers, formal legislative proposals targeting ESOP usability, OSVČ/HPP collaboration reform, angel investor tax incentives modeled on the UK EIS/SEIS regime, pension fund startup investment access, and EU-level coordination via European Startup Embassy board representation on EU Inc. and the new EU Commissioner for Startups mandate.

The revenue model is a three-tier annual subscription membership: Začínáme (€500/year) for early-stage startups, Fungujeme (€1,000/year) for established companies, and Škálujeme (€2,000/year) for scaling firms, complemented by event sponsorship and partnership contributions. The 4-person core team — chaired by Jiří Vicherek with Tomáš Pospíšil, Arben Prenaj, and former chair Martin Jiránek (first Czech Startup Envoy) — operates under a Board of Directors and Supervisory Board drawn from member organizations.

Name

Czech Startup Association

Legal name

Czech Tech Association, z. s.

Website

https://startupczechia.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Czech Startup Association (Česká startupová asociace) is a Prague-based non-profit advocacy organization founded in 2024 that represents 120+ Czech startups, investors, and innovation centers in policy dialogue with the Czech government and Parliament.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

Keywords

• Startup advocacy services
• Policy lobbying
• Ecosystem coordination
• Membership association
• Legislative reform

Headquarters

HQ city

Prague

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees at three levels: €500 for early-stage startups, €1000 for established companies, €2000 for scaling companies. Revenue is subscription-based and recurring, used to fund association operations, advocacy activities, and ecosystem development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Czech Startup Association (Česká startupová asociace) is a non-profit civic membership organization that represents the Czech startup and investor sector in dialogue with the Czech government and Parliament. The association provides advocacy, legislative analysis, sector coordination, networking, PR campaigns, and educational initiatives aimed at improving legal, tax, and systemic frameworks for the Czech startup ecosystem. It sells annual memberships and operates flagship events such as Czech Startup Week.

Product overview

Česká startupová asociace (Czech Startup Association) is a non-profit membership organization (Czech Tech Association, z. s.) that serves as a unified voice for the Czech startup and investor sector. The organization does not offer traditional technology products; instead, it provides advocacy services, legislative analysis, sector coordination, networking opportunities, PR campaigns, and educational initiatives aimed at improving conditions for Czech startups. Membership tiers include Začínáme (€500/year), Fungujeme (€1,000/year), and Škálujeme (€2,000/year). The association has 120+ members including startups, investors, innovation centers, and ecosystem professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Membership Annual membership for Czech startups, investors, innovation centers, and ecosystem professionals. Three tiers based on company maturity: €500/year for early-stage startups (Začínáme), €1,000/year for established companies (Fungujeme), and €2,000/year for larger companies (Škálujeme). Members gain access to policy advocacy representation, networking with 120+ ecosystem participants, and influence on legislation affecting startups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Prague 2025: 2,500 attendees at Czech Startup Week
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Czech GovernmentcoreOthersRegular dialogue and tripartite meetings with Czech government including PM Andrej Babiš and Minister Karel Havlíček. Association represents startups and investors in policy discussions affecting the ecosystem.
• Parliament of the Czech RepubliccoreOthersDirect engagement with Parliament on legislative reforms including ESOP legislation, startup-friendly tax frameworks, and investment incentive programs.
• European Startup EmbassycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVladimíra Činčurová from European Startup Embassy serves on the association's Board of Directors, enabling coordination on EU-level policy initiatives including EU Inc. and the new EU Commissioner for startups.
• Ministerial Bodies (MF, MPO, MVVI, GFŘ)coreOthersActive negotiations with Ministry of Finance (MF), Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO), Ministry of Science and Technology (MVVI), and General Financial Directorate (GFŘ) on tax and legislative reforms.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• France Digitale: France's leading startup and investor association, performing policy advocacy, lobbying, and ecosystem coordination similar to the Czech Startup Association but at a larger national scale. Directly comparable as a national-level unified voice for startups in dialogue with government.
• Startup Slovakia: Slovak startup ecosystem organization advocating for policy reform and ecosystem development. The most direct geographic and structural peer, another small CEE economy with parallel legislative challenges.
• Italian Tech Alliance: Coalition of Italian tech and startup associations representing the ecosystem in policy dialogue. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder advocacy body engaging with national government on legislative reform.
• Techleap.nl: Dutch startup advocacy and ecosystem organization, supporting founders and lobbying government on key issues. Comparable policy advocacy mandate, though operating in a more mature ecosystem.
• AustrianStartups: Austrian startup association that advocates for policy reform, runs community events, and represents the ecosystem in government dialogue. Comparable mission, structure, and addressable market size to Czech Startup Association.
• Startup Hungary: Hungarian startup association focused on policy advocacy and ecosystem development. Strong structural parallel as a CEE peer association working with national government on legislative reform.
• Estonian Startup Network: Estonia's national startup and policy advocacy organization, recognized for driving digital and startup-friendly legislation. Similar mandate of representing a small country's startup sector in policy dialogue, with comparable member-based model.
• Startup Poland: Polish startup association providing advocacy, policy representation, and ecosystem research. Closely comparable in function and Central European context, with a similar focus on lobbying for legislative reform and supporting founders.

Broad incumbents

• Digital Europe: Larger European trade association representing the digital technology industry in policy advocacy. Not a direct competitor but a broader incumbent operating in the same EU-level policy space, including startup-relevant regulation.

Emerging players

• European Startup Embassy: EU-level startup advocacy organization already connected to Czech Startup Association via a board seat. Partial overlap on EU-level policy work but operates at supranational rather than national level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/czech-startup-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Czech Startup Association