Two years after launching to push startup-friendly reforms at the national level, the Czech Startup Association is turning its attention to Prague, bringing the city’s main political candidates together around a question the ecosystem has been raising for years: how can the Czech capital make better use of its concentration of startups, investors, universities, and tech talent?
Ahead of Prague’s municipal elections, the Association gathered representatives of seven leading political groups for Praha Inovační (Prague Innovates), a pre-election debate focused specifically on the future of startups and innovation in the capital.
The event, held on August 26 at Prague’s Opero business hub, brought together 130 representatives of startups, technology companies, investors, universities, and the wider innovation ecosystem.
Among the areas attracting support were:
- stronger innovation infrastructure,
- greater startup participation in public procurement and city-owned companies,
- closer cooperation with universities and the Central Bohemian Region,
- and faster adoption of digitalization and AI within the city administration.
Prague as a part of the national startup push
When Czech Startup Association was established in 2024, it set out to give Czech founders, investors, and other ecosystem players a stronger collective voice in discussions with the government and political parties.
At the time, the Association identified seven structural obstacles holding back Czech startups:
- inadequate ESOP structures,
- rigid employment rules,
- tax complexity,
- bureaucracy,
- restrictions around startup investment,
- limited access to public data,
- and the absence of a comprehensive national startup strategy.
Two years later, several of the issues the Association has been advocating for have moved onto the national policy agenda.
Speaking at Praha Inovační, Martin Jiránek, Startup Envoy at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, pointed to the Startup Act currently being finalized, planned changes to the country's ESOP framework, preparations for a fund of funds aimed at strengthening access to capital, and the development of regional innovation centers. Jiránek said:
“Importantly, startups, investors, innovation centers, business associations, and industry organizations are working together with the government on these changes. I would therefore very much like to see the City of Prague become a strong and active partner in developing the startup environment as soon as possible."
The Association now wants Prague to catch up
For the Czech Startup Association, Prague represents something of a paradox. The capital is the natural center of the Czech technology ecosystem, concentrating founders, venture capital, universities, research institutions, and talent. Yet the Association argues that municipal-level support and innovation infrastructure have not kept pace with the ecosystem that has developed around them.
Other Czech regions already provide potential models. South Moravia has built an established innovation ecosystem around JIC, which ranked 50th in the Financial Times ranking: Europe’s leading start-up hubs 2026.
Prague, meanwhile, lacks a comparable publicly backed innovation center with a strong international profile. This gap was one of the main reasons behind Praha Inovační.
“Prague is home to the largest number of Czech startups, and these companies account for a significant share of the city’s economy. Yet systematic support from the city is lacking, as is a strong innovation center of the kind found in most European capitals."
-- commented Jiří Vicherek, Chairman of the Czech Startup Association.
According to Vicherek, the debate produced agreement across the political spectrum on several of the ecosystem’s priorities. He singled out three in particular: closer cooperation with universities, a flagship technology event, and a strong innovation center.
What Czech startups want from their capital
The Association brought founders, investors, universities, and innovation organizations into the discussion to formulate concrete expectations for Prague’s next administration.
Founders called for less bureaucracy, a clear one-stop shop for startups, and access to city spaces that could be used for coworking hubs and accelerators.
Investors highlighted the need to build Prague’s international innovation brand, establish a physical startup hub, and develop a major flagship technology event capable of attracting international attention.
University representatives focused on shared infrastructure for technology transfer and better conditions for turning scientific research into companies. The Central Bohemian Innovation Center emphasized another requirement: long-term political continuity and measurable KPIs, rather than innovation policies changing with every election.
The discussion included proposals to make public procurement more accessible to young technology companies and encourage city-owned businesses to work with startups.
The next test will come after the municipal elections: whether the cross-party commitments made at Praha Inovační translate into a stronger innovation center, easier access to the city for startups, and a more coordinated long-term strategy for turning Prague into a European startup hub.
Member discussion