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The Czech Republic’s second-largest city, Brno, is rapidly gaining recognition as a burgeoning technology hub in Europe. Known for its strong academic institutions and research focus, Brno is fostering a vibrant ecosystem for startups and innovation.

At the heart of this change is the regional innovation agency, led by director Petr Chládek. This organization, established over two decades ago through the collaboration of local municipalities and universities, plays a crucial role in nurturing and accelerating the growth of tech companies in the region.

Chládek, a biologist and geographer, has been at the helm since 2017. He stated, “With the right balance of government support, academic excellence, and private investment, we’re helping scale world-class tech companies.” He emphasizes the importance of strong partnerships with academic institutions in enabling startups from Brno and the Czechia to target global markets.

The recent Start-up Money conference held on May 29th showcased the tangible outcomes of efforts to integrate local companies into the international tech landscape, facilitating partnerships within the EU, the US, and Asia. The event connected promising startups with venture capital firms specializing in early-stage technology investments. As with similar events globally, artificial intelligence was a prominent theme.

Innovative Startups emerge from Brno’s Tech Scene

Several companies presented their groundbreaking technologies at the conference, highlighting the diverse range of innovation coming out of Brno.

“With the right balance of government support, academic excellence, and private investment, we’re helping scale world-class tech companies.”

• VisionCraft is revolutionizing physical rehabilitation through computer vision. CEO David Tuč explained that their VisioTherapy platform uses motion tracking to provide real-time feedback during at-home exercises, enhancing patient accountability and sharing progress with clinicians. The company is currently seeking funding to expand its reach into the U.S. and Middle east markets.

• Maia Labs, recognized as Europe’s Best HealthTech Startup, developed ColoMaia, an AI-powered tool that enhances colonoscopy procedures by detecting polyps that might be missed by clinicians. ColoMaia has demonstrated a 43% increase in polyp detection rates and reduces physicians’ reporting time by 50%. Currently running pilot programs across Central and Eastern Europe, Maia labs has also initiated a trial with the Mayo Clinic in the US.
• Get Moments has created an app that uses AI to transform fan-shot videos from live events into personalized,shareable highlight reels. The AI editing engine automatically curates footage into branded videos within minutes. Tested at events like the Sziget Festival (where attendees submitted over 30,000 videos) and a Ben Cristovao concert (resulting in nearly 2,000 unique videos with a 48% share rate), Get moments secured €500,000 from Purple Ventures in September to further develop its AI platform.The potential for scaling this technology to various live events, including sports, remains to be seen.

• Kapnetix streamlines motion capture post-processing for game development and visual effects. Originating from a 2021 project with 2K Games,Kapnetix developed AI tools that automate motion capture cleanup,reducing animation production time considerably. These tools can reduce cleanup time from hours to minutes, enabling smaller studios to achieve AAA production quality and helping larger studios maintain schedules and budgets. The company’s AI solutions have garnered interest from major animation studios worldwide,including Disney.
• Seams, a space-tech startup based in Brno, utilizes onboard AI to process satellite imagery in real time, minimizing the need to download large amounts of data. partnering with organizations like the European Space Agency (ESA),Seams participates in missions such as Biomission 19 on the International Space Station. By filtering out irrelevant data like cloud cover before transmission, Seams reduces communication costs by up to 98 percent. The company recently raised €1.7 million to expand into the US market.

• Vrgineers, the creator of the XTAL mixed-reality headset, is expanding its collaboration with Lockheed Martin. Their systems combine high-end graphics with AI to create realistic cockpit experiences. The company’s Mixed Reality training systems are used by the U.S. Air Force, NASA, and Airbus Defense.

Brno’s Promising Future

Over the past four years, startups in the Brno region have attracted $340 million in venture funding, resulting in $2.5 billion in VC exits. This influx of capital and accomplished exits signals a clear message to investors, technologists, and founders: Brno is a significant and growing player in the European tech landscape.