Organized under the umbrella of CzechInvest, Czech Startup Week 2026 will unfold across Prague during the final week of October as a collection of independently run events sharing a common calendar. The week aims to create meeting points between founders, investors, corporate leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs seeking capital, mentorship, and pathways into new markets.
The 2025 edition drew 2,500 attendees. This year's programme spans venture capital, fintech, defense and security, space technology, and cross-border business development. Unlike a single-venue conference, Czech Startup Week operates as a distributed network: each event maintains its own venue, organizers, registration process, and admission rules. Some welcome the broader startup community; others require paid entry or invitation only.
Monday, October 19: Networking, international expansion, and fintech
Scaling Up: Europe, Africa and Beyond
CzechInvest, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and their partners are hosting this event to foster international startup collaboration. The gathering brings together entrepreneurs and ecosystem players from Europe and Africa to explore cross-border partnerships and market entry opportunities.
The Hackathon: Coding the Future of Finance
The FinTechers, working alongside Deloitte and AWS, will run a two-day hackathon bringing together developers, entrepreneurs, and innovators to build solutions for the financial sector.
Tuesday, October 20: Demo days, investment, and founder gatherings
Tech Happy Hours
Entering its third year, Tech Happy Hours is organized by Technology Incubation and Startup Kitchen in partnership with Czech Founders. The agenda covers fintech's future, defense technology, international cooperation, and startup building, and includes the Pitch & Cheers international startup competition.
Wednesday, October 21: Venture capital and investment opportunities
Engaged Investments
DEPO Ventures and J&T Ventures are hosting Engaged Investments on October 21–22, positioning it as a cornerstone event of the week. The gathering will bring together roughly 500 people: approximately 250 venture investors, 150 founders, and more than 40 speakers. The 2026 edition examines the maturity of Central and Eastern Europe's venture capital market and Europe's technological independence.
The opening day targets the investor community, with sessions on venture capital evolution, European defense investment, and cross-border company exits. Speakers will include figures from the European Investment Fund, NATO Innovation Fund, Warsaw Equity Group, and other regional and global investment bodies.
Day two shifts focus to the startup side through the Engaged Startup Showcase, where selected companies present pitches across pre-seed, seed, Series A, fintech, defense, and space tracks. The programme also features dedicated fintech and defense sessions, one-on-one investor meetings, and networking time.
Thursday, October 22: Fintech
UnBundled – Autumn edition
UnBundled explores stablecoins and emerging financial infrastructure, traditional finance stability, and the convergence of fintech with artificial intelligence. The sessions will address digital payment systems, regulatory frameworks, and accountability challenges as AI takes on greater roles in financial services.
Friday, October 23: Defense and resilience
Future Forces Forum 2026
Running October 21–23, the Future Forces Forum serves as a venue for examining security challenges, new technologies, and partnerships between defense agencies and private industry. The event holds particular relevance for startups developing dual-use and defense-focused innovations.
Interested participants can review the full schedule and register for individual events through the official Czech Startup Week programme.
Source: The Recursive — Events tag
