The project first run between 2011 and 2014 and in the United States brought startups, apart from Silicon Valley, to Boston, MA. The second edition, running between 2018 – 2020 specifically targeted New York City as a location that topped Silicon Valley in the third quarter of 2017 reaching $4,2 billion when it comes to raising venture capital investment. We plan to accelerate approximately 20 companies over next two years.

CzechInvest’s project provides three months of acceleration for at least two up to five Czech startups with financial support covering most parts of the program (office space, 85% of mentoring costs, or 75% of travel costs). These costs are covered from the Operational Program Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Competitiveness, part of EU’s Regional Development Fund. First accelerated startups are Legito (providing document automation) and Eventee (platform connecting conference organizers with the audience).

The program itself will be run by VentureOut. Well established acceleration company focusing on such international startup programs with track record of programs for Italy, France, Sweden or Germany. Both CzechInvest and Consulate General have previous experience with VentureOut cooperating on first Czech Startup Week NYC aligned with participation at TechCruch Disrupt NYC supported from the CzechDemo program. This year’s second edition follows with participation at ThechDay NY in May, again with a week-long program.

Grand opening of the CzechAccelerator in the Bohemian National Hall drew nearly 200 guest representing some of the best within New York’s tech community giving our startups great chance to start networking just one day after their arrival to the City. Welcome remarks from Jan Chmelik, CzechInvest’s Director of East Coast Operations, Deputy Consul General Karel Smekál, VentureOut Founder Brian Frumberg and Economic Development Director from Mayor’s International Affairs Office Daniel Kadishson, were followed by videomapping showcasing some of the most important Czech innovations throughout the history (from lightning rod, blood types, soft contact lenses to Semtex or cybersecurity by Avast). The impressive show was created by Czech XLAB Realtime which has been successfully penetrating the US market over last one year. Once the program was opened the firs two startups had they firs introductory flash-pitch.

Jan Chmelík,
Director of East Coast Operations, CzechInvest New York

Karel Smékal
Head of Economic Section
Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York