TLDR:
- Prague-based ZAKA launches a new €15M VC fund to support early-stage startups in the US and EU.
- The fund will focus on B2B software, AI applications in B2B, and biotech and health tech.
Prague-based venture capital firm, ZAKA, has announced the launch of a regular VC fund at €15M to back early-stage startups in the US and EU. The fund, founded by Jan Kasper and Peter Zalesak in 2020, initially operated as a family office investing private money in pre-seed and seed startups. Over time, ZAKA has expanded its presence to the UK and the US, with a portfolio of more than 55 invested companies worldwide.
With a strong focus on B2B software, cross-sectional application of AI in B2B, and biotech and health tech, ZAKA plans to act as a co-investor and co-lead in its investments. The US market remains a key interest for the firm, citing the highly competent and motivated founders in the region. ZAKA’s investment strategy involves exploring and funding the European diaspora in the US, US-based teams, or CEE-based teams aiming to scale in the US.
ZAKA’s first VC fund, sized at €15M, has experienced a first closing of €10.5M in June 2024, with a minimum LP ticket of €130k. The firm’s Head of Investment Committee, Andrej Petrus, highlights the increasing demand for early-stage funding globally and the exciting prospects in the AI space. With advancements in AI creating new business opportunities, ZAKA aims to identify and support potential future decacorns in this domain.
Overall, ZAKA’s new VC fund signifies a strategic move to further expand its investment portfolio, tapping into the potential of early-stage startups in both Europe and the US, particularly focusing on sectors like B2B software, AI, and health tech.
