Coordination Council for Investors and Startups

We want Czechia to become a startup nation.

Coordination Council for Investors and Startups was created to help fulfil the so-called "Startup Nations Standard", which Czechia signed in 2021. The declaration sets out eight priority areas for Europe and individual Member States to focus on in order to support the development of the startup environment. 

Imagine Czechia as a country where new innovative companies with global ambitions are emerging, which have access to capital, can value their employees and have no legislative obstacles in their way. 

Doesn't that sound like a dream? Maybe, but if we join forces, we believe we can improve the entrepreneurial environment in Czechia and increase the number of both startups and unicorns. 

I want to join and learn more!

Objectives of the Coordination Council for Investors and Startups (KRIS)

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Coordination of startup topics across ministries and ecosystem

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Sharing information and the startup ecosystem at the board meeting

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Regular reporting on the implementation of standards at national level

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Identification of priority areas from the ESNS

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Establishment of coordination groups for each topic

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Regular discussions on proposals to further improve the Czech startup ecosystem

The initiative was created in cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the CzechInvest agency with the aim of supporting the implementation of the Europe Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA) standards.

The Coordinating Council is part of the broader activities of the forthcoming Digital Transformation Committee, which is an institutional reform of the National Recovery Plan. The Committee will focus on ESNA and the implementation of the Startup Nations Standard in the country. It is planned to be established by the first quarter of 2025. The Committee will also establish a working group on startups and spin-offs to address the ESNA Standards. 

Czech state administration and the startup sector find common ground on the KRIS platform. 

Why the Coordination Council and who is a member? 

Because it is necessary for representatives of the state and the private sector to find common ground. It's not about saying what the state is doing wrong, but to help understand the needs of the startup sector, its benefits for the economy and what the state can do to ensure that innovative companies thrive here and don't go abroad. 

KRIS members include representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, CzechInvest, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Regional Development, National Development Bank, National Development Investment Company, Czech Founders, Czech Startup Association, Czech Angel Investors Association (CBAA), Czech Venture Capital Association (CVCA), Česko.digital and others.

Where does Czechia stand in terms of meeting startup standards?

Currently, Czechia meets 38% of ESNA standards, placing it in the second half of European countries. We score well in areas such as access to finance, innovation procurement and talent attraction, but we have room for improvement in areas such as employee share ownership (ESOPs), rapid company formation, as well as regulation and social diversity. 

 
Download the full Report to see how Czechia is doing, what we can be proud of and where there is room for improvement. 

Download the report (PDF, 2 MB)

Standards

Fast company formation

  • Setting up a company online, in one day with a max cost of 100 Eur

  • Market Access Helpdesk with relevant information needed to set up a company and track down all regulatory and legislative requirements

  • Recognition of documents from abroad for company formation
#1

Attracting and retaining talent

  • Tech-talent (startup) visas and incentives for returning tech-talents from abroad
#2

Option programmes (ESOP)

  • No taxation before the sale of shares
  • Appropriate setup of ESOP programs and introduction of "non-voting rights" in the issuance of employee programs
#3

Innovation and regulation

  • Consistent adherence to the "Think Small First" principle and adjustment of conditions for startups 

  • Regulatory sandboxes that allow startups to experiment with new products and innovate

#4

Innovation in public procurement

  • Removing legal and administrative barriers that put startups and scaleups at a disadvantage

  • Tech Transfer Functional Policy

  • Startups using "open source"

#5

Access to finance

  • Direct support in the form of new venture funding instruments, venture capital support, cooperation with the EIB and institutional investors
  • Indirect support in the form of policies aimed at diversifying risk capital

  • Tax incentives for Business Angels

#6

Social inclusion, diversity and the protection of democratic values

  • Incentives for startups to employ disadvantaged groups

  • Support for startup entrepreneurs from disadvantaged groups

  • Mobilizing startups to address social issues

#7

Digitization

  • Digitisation of processes during the company life cycle

  • Using startups to solve digital challenges

#8

Indexes

30

Gloval Innovation Index (GLL)

2024
68 / 100

eGovernment Benchmark

2024
42%

OECD Talent Attractiveness

2023
22 / 27

DESI Digital Decade

2024
83.8

Digital Public services for business (DESI)

2023
4

No. Of Unicorns

2024

News

Official launch of the Investor and Startup Coordinating Council

Read more

Twenty-one countries in Europe, including Czechia, participated in the Startup Nation Standards Report

Read more

ESNA Forum 2024

Read more

Tensor Ventures will manage the first investment VC fund from the National Recovery Plan of the Czech Republic

Read more

The second meeting of the Coordinating Council of Investors and Startups brought significant progress in supporting the Czech startup ecosystem

Read more

There is enough capital in Czechia. The situation with quality startups is worse, according to DEPO Ventures' research among investors

Read more

Czech innovation ecosystem will become more visible in the world thanks to the new Czechia Dealroom platform

Read more

Specific activities and projects

Key topics to be addressed by the Coordinating Council include improving access to funding, implementing employee stock options (ESOPs) and facilitating the entry of foreign founders and employees into the Czech startup environment. 

  • Coordination Board meeting twice a year (October/April) and evaluation of progress 
  • Establishment of working groups on individual topics (on-going) and their chairs from the public and private sectors
  • Discussions within individual working groups (frequency as required) 
  • Communication with the ESNA team on the implementation of the standards and inspiration from abroad
  • Analysis and data processing 

Working groups

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Fast Startup Creation, Smooth Market Entry

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Attracting and Retaining Talent
 

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Stock Options
 
 

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Innovation in Regulation
 

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Innovation in Procurement
 
 

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Access to Finance
 
 
 

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Social Inclusion, Diversity, and Protecting Democratic Values

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Digital-First
 
 
 

Projects that are already running or what has been achieved

National Recovery Plan

Venture Capital Financing

Startup visa

Online company formation

If you could improve business for innovative startups in Czechia, what would you do?

Want to join us and help us improve the business environment for startups? Whether you are an entrepreneur, an investor or a government representative, we welcome everyone who is not indifferent to the current situation.
I want to join

Want to know more or ask us a question? 

Dosda-Renata

Renata Dosdá

Public affairs and venture investor specialista
renata.dosda@czechinvest.gov.cz

Supporters

Who's with us

  • Jan Michal
    I am pleased with the progress we have already made in the development of the startup ecosystem, but in international comparison we have to move even higher to create better conditions for both the establishment and retention of innovative companies in the Czech economy. 
    Jan Michal
    CEO of CzechInvest (source CzechCrunch)
  • Eliška Vámošová
    The Czech startup scene should cooperate more to be attractive enough for international investors. Putting it on the map of relevant technology countries can significantly strengthen the whole ecosystem. Our conference has long supported cross-border investing, connecting investors with startups from Central and Eastern Europe in Prague every year. And we want to go even further, which is why Czech Startup Week makes sense for us. 
    Eliška Vámošová
    Eliška Vámošová, Director of Engaged Investments and Partner at Depo Ventures (source CzechCrunch)
  • Ivo Denemark
    Until now, we have lacked a unified platform where we could direct foreign investors and innovative companies interested in the Czech market. Czech Startup Week fills this gap and creates space for more effective networking and collaboration across the entire ecosystem. 
    Ivo Denemark
    Director of CzechInvest's Startups and Investment Division (source CzechCrunch)

Documents to download

SNS Declaration

PDF, 2MB

Startup Nations Standards (ESNA)

PDF, 2MB

Draft new ESOP legislation

PDF, 2MB

Summary of EU Startup Nations Standard for 2024 focusing only on Czechia_Czech

PDF, 1MB

EU Startup Nations Standard 2024_full official document_English

PDF, 3MB

Photogallery