Startup Kitchen Talks

Hosted by Startup Kitchen

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Feb 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Startup Kitchen Talk podcasts, where we serve up a monthly dish of education and entertainment, seasoned with insights and soPHỞsticated taste. Hosted by our Katerina Syslova, cooked for all startup apprentices aspiring to become Master Chefs. Join us for a flavorful blend of advice, anecdotes, and expert interviews, all crafted to help you navigate the startup world with finesse. Bon appétit!

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60 recent

February 24, 2026Episode 6338 min

#63: ICT Technology Transfer Days; From Pitch to Partnership: What Start-ups Should Know About Engaging Investors, Panel Discussion

This recording is a part of the ICT Technology Transfer Days: For a Greener and more Digital Danube Region, co-organised by Startup Kitchen. Two days of startup pitches, investor insights, and networking with 25+ DDAccelerator startups building the future of digital innovation at FIT CTU Prague. The panel discussion was joined by Ondrej Lipold, Partner at Tensor Ventures, Megi Mejdrechova, Co-Founder & CTO of a hardware startup RoboTwin, Miroslav Kriz, Partner at Momenta VC, and hosted by Tom Cironis.

February 24, 2026Episode 6241 min

#62: ICT Technology Transfer Days; Inside the Investor’s Mind, Emerging Trends and Decision Drivers by Vojta Roček from Presto Ventures

This recording is a part of the ICT Technology Transfer Days: For a Greener and more Digital Danube Region, co-organised by Startup Kitchen. Two days of startup pitches, investor insights, and networking with 25+ DDAccelerator startups building the future of digital innovation at FIT CTU Prague. Keynote Speech delivered by Vojta Rocek, Partner at Presto Ventures.

February 10, 2026Episode 611 hr 22 min

#61: Richard Valtr from MEWS on being the most Valuable Czech Startup, Pep Guardiola or Film producing

Mews, a hospitality technology company with Czech roots, has recently secured a record-breaking $300 million in fresh investment, pushing its valuation to $2.5 billion. Our Andrew Gray sat down with Richard Valtr, the mastermind behind this business journey, to discuss what it means to be the most Valuable Czech Startup, what Pep Guardiola, the Football Manager and Coach of Manchester City, is inspiring in, or how Richard compares entrepreneurship to movie producing. Enjoy!

December 15, 2025Episode 601 hr 10 min

#60: Andrew Peirson from iO Partners about Corner Offices, living in Prague or the evolution of city development

iO Partners is a Real Estate service provider focused on the CEE region, and now even for startups! Has Prague evolved? And if so, how much in comparison to Berlin and other metropolises? Does Andrew have a corner office? This and much more in our latest episode hosted by Katerina Syslova.

December 8, 2025Episode 5957 min

#59: Simon McDermott from TalentPilot about Hunting (like Job Hunting), Ireland and Prague

As Head of International Sales at Talentpilot, Simon focuses on advancing AI-powered recruiting technology in the EU and the USA. With expertise in GTM strategy and demand generation, he has contributed to pipeline growth, securing multiple key deals, including Talentpilot's first US and UK projects. And he's Irish, as well as our today's host, Fergus O'Sullivan. Enjoy!

November 11, 2025Episode 581 hr 5 min

#58: Josef Starychfojtu from MEWS about tech people, being cocky and pleasing people

CPTO of one of the Czech Unicorns, MEWS, Forbes 30u30, and managing hundreds of people - before even being 30 years old. That's Josef Starychfojtu, a passionate engineering leader with a focus on people, learning, and continuous improvement. Previously (and still in the spirit), a passionate functional programmer. And probably a future coffee-place owner, in the newest episode hosted by Katerina Syslova.This episode of Startup Kitchen Talks is co-financed by the European Union through the National Recovery Plan and the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic within the Creative Vouchers III call.

October 30, 2025Episode 5641 min

#57: TECHHAPPYHOURS & Today's Importance of Dual Use Technologies on Battlefield

This panel will explore the rising significance of dual-use technologies in modern defense and security environments, focusing on how civilian innovations are increasingly shaping the battlefield.Moderated by Martin Hýža, Acceleration Manager at CzechInvest’s Defence Hub, the discussion will highlight how strategic national initiatives (such as CzechInvest’s Defence Hub) are fostering innovation at the intersection of civilian and military technology.Panelists will discuss current trends, cross-sector cooperation, and the role of dual-use technologies in strengthening national and allied defense capabilities.

October 29, 2025Episode 5629 min

#56: TECHHAPPYHOURS & YEMI A.D. to the Moon!

Yemi A.D. is a serial entrepreneur and a multi-disciplinary creative force with more than two decades of experience spanning the entertainment industry, arts & technology, alongside a profound passion for social innovation and youth empowerment. He joined us from Ottawa, Canada, for a FireSide chat with Katerina Novakova.

October 29, 2025Episode 5538 min

#55: TECHHAPPYHOURS & are 250 Startups enough to save the Czech Economy? (in CZE)

(Podcast in CZE) What happens when bold vision meets structured public support? Step into the world of high-potential startups that are shaping the future through the Technology Incubation project — a Czech national initiative designed to turn ideas into success. This panel explores how strategic funding, inspirational mentoring, and a thriving innovation ecosystem have helped over 250 startups take off. Among the Speakers are Vojta Rocek, Partner at Presto Tech Horizons, Martin Jiranek from the Czech Startup Association, Martin Svolba from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, our Tom Cironis, and hosted by Katerina Rundova from CzechInvest. Discover the impact of a project that doesn’t just support startups — it builds community and the foundations of a new Czech economy. But what comes next? When support runs out, can we break through the real barriers to startup growth?

October 29, 2025Episode 5429 min

#54: TECHHAPPYHOURS & Space for Innovation

The panel focused on space technologies, startups, and industry players shaping the future of the sector. The discussion will highlight current trends, opportunities, and real-world applications of space innovation hosted by Jan Spratek, and joined by Matej Poliacek, Tomas Rousek, and Martin Tyburec in Planetarium Praha.