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Vit Horky

Failing Forward as a Founder & Investor

Professional Background

Vit Horky is a seasoned entrepreneur and thought leader in the Czech Republic who has made remarkable contributions to the startup ecosystem. With a wealth of experience in founding and scaling businesses, he is known for his innovative approach to challenges and his dedication to empowering new generations of entrepreneurs. Vit is a proud founder of four companies, two of which he successfully exited, while also experiencing the learning that comes from a failure. His journey highlights the importance of resilience and adaptability in the ever-evolving business landscape.

Vit's professional trajectory includes prominent roles at some of the most exciting startups and ventures in the industry. He has served as the Founder and General Partner at Czech Founders VC, which is instrumental in fostering innovative startups in the region. Through his investment and advisory work, he has provided invaluable support to many disruptive founders, enabling their ideas to take flight.

Education and Achievements

Vit’s robust educational background laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. He earned a Bachelor of Arts with First Honors in International Business from Teesside University, equipping him with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of global markets. His thirst for knowledge did not stop there; Vit further honed his expertise by enrolling in specialized programs, including Management of SME, Financial Planning, and Presentation skills through a personal coaching program. His academic journey began with an HND in Business Marketing from Prague City University, where he cultivated an understanding of business fundamentals that would play an essential role in his career.

In addition to his educational accomplishments, Vit is the author of a published book that delves into the future of customer experience (CX) in a transhuman age. This work reflects his forward-thinking mindset and a deep understanding of the shifting landscape of customer interactions in a tech-driven world. Furthermore, he played a pivotal role in helping a market-leading CX tech firm evolve into a global digital leader, reinforcing his position as a thought leader in customer experience.

Contributions to the Startup Ecosystem

Vit is an ardent advocate for the development of the Czech startup ecosystem. He believes in the potential of youth-driven, purpose-oriented entrepreneurialism, and actively contributes to this mission through various initiatives. As a former Elected Advisory Board Member at the European Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA), he worked collaboratively to advance the interests of startups across Europe.

Moreover, his influence extends to various boards and committees where he has shared his expertise. As a non-executive board member at the Open Society Foundation (Nadace OSF), he provided strategic oversight and guidance to nonprofit initiatives. His experience as a board member and investor at Základní škola FLOW underscores his commitment to nurturing young talent and fostering a supportive environment for future entrepreneurs.

Vit has also been deeply involved with several collaborative platforms, such as serving as a co-founder and board member at the Moonshot platform, which aims to empower innovators and facilitate networking among startups. His tenacity to support and uplift others is evident in his various roles, including serving on the Investment Committee at J&T Ventures and the Supervisory Board of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Czech Republic foundation.

Notable Ventures

Throughout his career, Vit has held various leadership positions in notable firms. He founded and served as the CEO of Brand Embassy, a groundbreaking startup that focused on enhancing customer service experiences through innovative technology. This venture gained traction and was acquired by NICE, a testament to the impact Vit had in transforming digital customer interactions. His earlier venture, Inspiro, achieved acquisition by Publicis, showcasing his ability to create value in competitive markets. On the other hand, his experience with Inspiro Creative, while not leading to the desired outcome, provided him with vital insights that inform his current approach to entrepreneurship.

Philosophy on Entrepreneurship and Personal Development

Vit Horky's philosophy centers on the belief that failures are stepping stones to success. He emphasizes the idea of 'failing forward,' which resonates with many entrepreneurs facing the inherent risks of starting a business. By sharing his experiences—including the millions of mistakes made along the way—he inspires aspiring founders to view setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning.

His focus on supporting the Czech startup ecosystem and mentoring young entrepreneurs exemplifies his commitment to giving back. By sharing knowledge and experience, he aims to unleash the full potential of the next generation of inno

Highlights

Jun 25 · linkedin

🇨🇿 STARTUPS IN 2023

Friends, fellow founders, and startup supporters,

The year 2023 has prompted us at Czech Founders to reflect on our purpose and future direction. When David and I started five years ago, we aimed to build a community where startup founders could support and grow alongside each other. Today, I’m proud to say that we’ve become the leading voice for the startup community in #Czechia, growing from the ground up to include 6️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ founders and over 3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ supporters in our vibrant network.

2023 marked a pivotal moment for us. We recognized the need to extend our influence, articulate, shape, and amplify the needs of founders to a wider circle of stakeholders to effect systemic changes. In global innovation rankings, Czechia is either average or lagging behind. Regions like the 🇺🇸 American Silicon Valley, 🇳🇱 Brainport in the Netherlands, 🇬🇧 London for fintech, and 🇪🇪Estonia have thrived due to the mutual cooperation between the business community, government, and educational institutions.

❓ In Czechia, why can’t we have an ambition to become one of Europe’s leading startup ecosystem hubs? ❓

🌍 We have an excellent location in the heart of Europe; 🕊️ Czechia ranks 12th as one of the most peaceful countries and 🛬 13th as the most popular destination among people working abroad.

According to the 2023 European Commission’s Innovation Scorecard, Czechia has become one of the fastest innovators in the past 8 years yet still reaching only a moderate innovator ranks with below-average job mobility in science and technology indicators.

The engineering talent graduating from universities is global, yet we seem to undervalue ourselves, and our ambitions are modest.

At Czech Founders, we want to see the number of startups quintuple to 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ in the next 1️⃣0️⃣ years because, as our and other national data shows, we have the potential. At Czech Founders, we empower future and present entrepreneurs to unlock and grow their potential through the power of community. With small yet crucial public policy tweaks, Czechia can become a strong player on the startup map of Europe. Czech Founders is dedicated to helping to make it happen.

Thank you, our patrons, partners, fellow founders, investors, and startup supporters for your continuous support of Czech Founders! And huge kudos to our amazing team Barbora Werdmölder and Jiřina Dunková, as well as continuous support from the team at Czech Founders VC.

📥 DOWNLOAD the Impact Report, now. Link in the comment.

Feb 8 · linkedin

How did 🇪🇪 Estonia become a startup leader in Europe?

When Skype was sold to eBay in 2005, the key engineers received over 💰 €120M 💰 through stock options.

They re-invested most of it to other Estonian startups and co-founded other unicorn companies, such as Bolt and Wise.

Initially, they wanted to invest one startup per week, but there wasn’t enough startups.

So they created Estonian Founders Society to network, share their experiences and inspire more people to become entrepreneurs.

They helped to create new accelerators and donated money to education programs.

To this date, they made 300+ angel investments, set-up leading VC funds (such as €430M Plural VC and engaged with the Estonian government, who capitalized on the economic potential of startups.

The government was one of the first in the world to enable:

1️⃣ setting up a company online within a day, 2️⃣ VC investments through online notary signatures, 3️⃣ tax free employee stock options, 4️⃣ pension funds investing into VC firms, 5️⃣ foreign IT experts inflow via Startup Visa programs and many more.

What’s the result?

🦸🏻‍♀️ 1500 startups in a country of 1.4M citizens (Czechia 🇨🇿 ~1000 startups and 10M citizens)

📈 10% GDP share (ICT+startups) on track to reach 25-30% GDP share by 2030 (!)

🌍 15.000 startup employees with cca 25% being expats (Thanks to Startup Visa programs).

🇪🇪 A country with more resilient economy, independent and innovative.

Thank you to the inspiring individuals I got chance to meet and learn from today:

Martin Villig 🇪🇪 (Bolt), Liina Laas (The Better Fund), Rando Rannus (Sienna Secondary Fund), Alexandra Balkova (Startup Wise Guys), Allan Martinson (Estonian Founders Socienty), Harri Tallinn (EstBA)!

Czech Founders ~ Czech Founders VC ~ ESNA - Europe Startup Nations Alliance ~ 2. ekonomická transformace

Related Questions

How did Vit Horky develop his expertise in nurturing the startup ecosystem in the Czech Republic?
What key insights did Vit Horky gain from founding and exiting multiple startups?
In what ways has Vit Horky contributed to the growth of youth entrepreneurship in his community?
How has Vit Horky's educational background shaped his approach to business and entrepreneurship?
What strategies did Vit Horky implement to help a leading CX tech firm become a global leader?
Vit Horky
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Location

Prague Metropolitan Area