Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fund Size | €12 million (~CZK 300 million) |
| Structure | Government-backed Fund of Funds managed by National Development Investments (NRI) |
| Time Horizon | 5 years |
| Capital Mix | ≥ 50 % private co-investment |
| Target Beneficiaries | Start-ups affected by war, primarily Ukrainian founders |
| Czech Value Requirement | ≥ 20 % of each investment must be spent in the Czech Republic |
| Legal Presence | Portfolio companies must establish or maintain a Czech legal entity |
How It Works
-
Call for VC Funds
-
EU-based venture capital managers can now apply to receive commitments as limited partners from the Fund of Funds.
-
-
Investment Mandate
-
VC recipients must deploy capital into start-ups with Ukrainian roots or other war-impacted founders.
-
Each start-up must create measurable economic value in the Czech Republic (jobs, R&D, taxes).
-
-
Support Ecosystem
-
Portfolio companies gain fast-track access to CzechInvest, CzechTrade, innovation hubs, and export-financing tools.
-
Jan Kavalírek, Deputy Minister of Industry & Trade:
“This initiative strengthens our own innovation pipeline while helping Ukrainian entrepreneurs rebuild.”
Strategic Goals
-
Post-War Recovery – Provide Ukrainian founders with stable EU jurisdiction, funding, and infrastructure.
-
Czech Innovation Boost – Attract high-growth ventures to spur local R&D and job creation.
-
Private-Public Leverage – Use government anchor money to crowd-in at least 50 % private capital.
What’s Next?
| Timeline | Action |
|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | Open competition for VC fund managers (EU-wide) |
| Q4 2025 | First LP commitments awarded; fund documentation finalised |
| 2026–2029 | Deployment phase; start-ups onboarded, supported by Czech innovation agencies |
| 2030+ | Exit and recycling of returns into new recovery programs |
How VC Firms Can Apply
-
Eligibility: EU-registered, minimum three-year track record, focus on early- or growth-stage tech.
-
Proposal: Detail investment thesis for Ukrainian or war-impacted founders and Czech value-add.
-
Deadline: To be published on the Ministry of Industry & Trade and NRI portals.
