Prague’s National House Vinohrady will host one of Central Europe’s largest startup and investment gatherings this autumn.

The Engaged Investments Conference 2025, organized by DEPO Ventures and J&T Ventures, will take place on October 22–23 and bring together hundreds of investors, founders, and innovation leaders from across the continent.

The event is part of Czech Startup Week and will focus on critical infrastructure, deep tech, and the future of artificial intelligence.

“The mission of Engaged is to foster cross-border startup investments and strengthen the early-stage venture capital ecosystem in Central and Eastern Europe. Last year, we welcomed 400 participants from 20 countries. This year we expect a third more,” said Eliška Vámošová, Director of Engaged Investments.

AI, Deep Tech, and Critical Infrastructure

The opening day will feature panel discussions on deep tech, defense technologies, AI, and other fields that are reshaping the global venture capital market.

On the second day, 50 startups from Central and Eastern Europe, from early angel stage to Series A, will pitch their projects to investors. The day will also be open to all founders eager to connect with potential partners.

International and Local Voices

Speakers will include Jack Wang of Project A (a €1.2 billion fund focusing on defense and deep tech), Luis Frach of Left Lane Capital (a €2.5 billion US- and London-based fund now expanding into CEE), Martin Olczyk, angel investor and Managing Director at Techstars, and Andreas Sempengel, Vice President for International Markets at Mastercard.

The lineup also features major Czech players such as Credo Ventures, Rockaway Fund, Soulmate Ventures, Tilia Impact Ventures, and Purple Ventures, alongside international investors including Bek Ventures, Karma VC, Baltic Sandbox Ventures, and Warsaw Equity Group.

The conference is also supported by EUSPA (EU Agency for the Space Programme) and CzechInvest, underlining its role as a bridge between startups, investors, and institutions shaping Europe’s innovation landscape.

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