CEE Tech Founders

Do You Have The Right Stuff?

Apply Now and Take Off

Join the ranks of those who dared to dream big

100+

Startups

€105m

Raised

1,000s

Jobs Created

26

Countries

At StartupYard, we believe great founders are more than just successful entrepreneurs. They’re pioneers, explorers of the technological frontier, driven by an obsession to solve real problems and create technologies that will shape the future. But it takes more than just a great idea to reach orbit. It takes vision, resilience, and the right crew.

They Had the Right Stuff

and many more…

Investors in our Alumni Include

Building a company from nothing is a great undertaking in life. And I am so glad now that we didn’t choose to do it alone. StartupYard has become a vital part of our DNA, and has been with us 100% along the way.

Mergim CahaniCEO, Gjirafa

It’s been a life-changing experience. Rossum would not be where it is today if it was not for all the work we did during our time with StartupYard.

Petr BaudisCTO, Rossum

I knew that StartupYard’s network is extensive, but it actually exceeded my expectations. Virtually everyone relevant for any business in this region is in the +1 network of StartupYard.

Petr BorosCEO, Retino

It is awesome! One thing StartupYard helped me understand was that network is a very important part of building a successful business. Before StartupYard, we were always more like a lone pack of wolves, thinking we can fight our way through all the obstacles, but now we have a lot of awesome connections to people with very bright minds and amazing ideas which helped us a lot during the program.

Kirill ShamaninCEO, DishBoard

At StartupYard, we met some extremely inspiring people who helped us how to do business, build a financial plan, discussed revenue opportunities, and advised us on healthcare. We wouldn’t be where we are now without them.

Daniel KvakCEO, Carebot

It’s not about dreams, it’s about vision. StartupYard helped us to find a path, a way to make our vision a reality.

Pavel KonecnyCEO, Neuron Soundware

3 months at StartupYard is like 3 years in normal time. We transformed as a company in a way I didn’t expect.

Jan MullerCEO, BudgetBakers

StartupYard has played a major role in our change of strategy. The structure of the program is also very well designed. No more cramming mentoring sessions in one or two weeks. Just opt-in meeting with mentors that are eager to help. The network is also tremendous, too – a lot of VC connections and warm introductions have been made and we’re super happy about that!

Duke VuCEO, Fungies

I appreciate StartupYard positive attitude and active involvement in searching for potential investors. I have experience with many programs like that, both from mentor and mentee side, and this is one of the best.

Daniel RajnochCEO, InvestBay

StartupYard has delivered exactly what was promised. I also appreciate the fact that people at StartupYard genuinely care about us. We don’t feel alone on our journey.

Matúš ČongrádyCEO, StackTape

Applying for StartupYard was a well-thought-out decision and we knew what we should expect – the main expected outcome for us was to start transforming our startup into a company, to formulate our ideas in strategy. We have received very important experience in the project and we already have a much more clear view forward for the future.

Eralp HatipogluCEO, CityPay

StartupYard was a super important turning point in the journey of TeskaLabs and in my life. Simply put, there would be no TeskaLabs without StartupYard.

Ales TeskaCEO, TeskaLabs

Why StartupYard?

Elite Mentorship

Our ‘Top Guns’ help you navigate the turbulent skies of the startup world, providing tailored, hands-on guidance.

Top guns

Our team is made up of veteran tech founders who have faced the same challenges you’re tackling today.

Alliance Mindset

We are an extension of your startup team, giving you support so that you can focus on doing what you do best.

Founder Centric

Your journey is unique. Our program is personalized to help you hone your ‘right stuff’ and reach new heights.

Curated Excellence

We select only the most promising startups, ensuring you’re in a cohort that pushes you to your limits and beyond.

Expert Insights

We continually adapt to meet the unique challenges of startups, transforming industry expertise into your competitive edge.

Backed by Top VCs

We are privately funded by Credo Ventures, Rockaway Capital Partners and experienced business angels.

Investor Reach

Connect with an elite network of investors who understand and value deep-tech innovation and can fuel your growth.

Ubiquitous

Our fully remote program offers you access to world-class mentors and resources from anywhere, without the need to relocate.

Backed By

Your Journey to Success

The Call to Adventure

Do you have the right stuff? Apply now and see if you’ve got what it takes to join an elite group of founders.

Selection Process

Testing your mettle. Only the best make it through to our highly selective program. We accept less than 3% of applicants.

Mentorship

Our Top Gun’ mentors and management team guide you through the rigorous journey of building and scaling your startup.

Launch

Get ready for takeoff. With our support, you’ll be prepared to go to market and soar. Already launched? We will propel you and take you to orbit.

Fuel for Growth

Secure the capital you need to accelerate your journey. Leverage our deep investor networks to connect with top-tier investors who are ready to back your vision and propel your startup to new heights.

Apply Now and Take Off

Do You Have The Right Stuff?

You’re a fit for StartupYard if:

You’re building an advanced tech-driven business, and you’re committed to making a big impact on the universe.
You want more than just funding and fuel for your rocket; you want a dedicated mission control to challenge and support you.
You’re ready to push past the boundaries of the known, take calculated risks, and accelerate faster than you ever imagined.

Proven Success

Rossum’s three founders entered the StartupYard program with a machine learning algorithm designed to “read structured data” but lacked a clear business application. During the program, they quickly honed in on the challenge of reading invoices—a notoriously difficult task due to the lack of standardization, which has historically led to high error rates in invoice processing platforms. By the end of the program, the team secured their first investor, Miton, and launched a fully commercial product just nine months after graduating from StartupYard. Today, Rossum is a global leader in cloud-native intelligent document processing, with hundreds of employees worldwide and a customer base ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 enterprises. Rossum is widely regarded as one of the next Czech unicorns.

The Georgian founders of CityPay.io came to StartupYard with a vision to expand their local crypto-to-fiat payment gateway across Eastern Europe. In 2023, they secured over €2 million in seed funding from prominent investors including Tether and Presto Ventures. This funding has enabled them to complete their payment licenses in Turkey, Georgia, and Uzbekistan, paving the way for further expansion. Today, CityPay.io offers a suite of merchant solutions and has processed millions of transactions on its platform. The company is rapidly scaling its operations, with plans to establish over 500,000 crypto payment points and launch pioneering e-wallet and card solutions, aiming to serve a user base exceeding 400,000. Their platform is already trusted by over 700 businesses, including major brands like Radisson Hotels and Wendy’s Georgia, making CityPay.io a leading player in the region’s fintech landscape.

Mergim Cahani, the CEO of Gjirafam had tried to launch an Albanian language search platform previously but failed. He was accepted into StartupYard in 2014. During our program we helped him focus his efforts on developing a full-text web search engine and a news aggregator specialized in the Albanian language, while adding in the digitalization of the fragmented, offline-only bus schedules throughout Kosovo (as a simple “hook” to drive traffic). StartupYard connected Mergim to many investors – first a batch of angels that were convinced in his vision and ability to deliver, and then to Rockaway who saw an opportunity to grow their footprint into the Balkans. After leaving StartupYard, Mergim launched the portal gaining immediate traction, becoming a catalyst to get Kosovo online. As Gjirafa matured, it moved into other verticals (online electronics retailing, content streaming, content creation), eventually totally dominating each vertical. Today Gjirafa is the biggest and fastest growing internet player in the Balkans, with the real possibility of becoming the first Balkan unicorn.

The two co-founders of Carebot joined StartupYard with a powerful vision: to empower doctors in their life-saving mission through the use of AI. During their time in the program, they were still refining their machine learning algorithm. Post-acceleration, they achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Czech AI startup to receive MDR IIa certification for a medical device. Today, Carebot’s systems simplify the diagnosis process for doctors by analyzing various imaging tests, helping them manage the growing number of images they must evaluate each year while maintaining consistent quality of care. Carebot is quickly becoming a trusted ally for physicians during day and night shifts, both in small and large hospitals across the Czech Republic, with plans to expand throughout Europe and globally. In 2021, Carebot was recognized as a Technology FAST 50 company in Central Europe and received the Idea of the Year award in the Czech Republic.

The Ukrainian founders of Datrics joined StartupYard with an innovative drag-and-drop intelligent automation platform. This platform leveraged machine learning to automate the handling of large datasets, enabling users to quickly, collaboratively, and visually uncover hidden patterns and gain new insights. During their time at StartupYard, they were accepted into the prestigious YCombinator accelerator, where they successfully raised over $1 million in seed funding. Today, Datrics offers an AI Analyst that understands your data and delivers precise, verified answers. It’s designed to empower both technical and business users with the insights they need to rapidly address finance, sales, operations, and other critical business questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of startups do you accept?

We focus on deep-tech startups such as AI, cybersecurity, IoT, or another cutting-edge field with a strong potential for growth. You need to have at least a working prototype and be on track to launch commercially within the next 6 months, or you have just launched. Your business must operate on a transactional model. We do not accept eCommerce or advertising/sponsorship-based business models.

What is the duration of the program?

The remote program lasts for 3 months, during which you will undergo intense mentorship, personalized workshops, and growth opportunities.

What can I expect if I’m accepted?

Expect a challenging, transformative experience that will push you and your startup to new heights.

Who are your mentors?

You can meet some of our mentors here.

I have more questions!

Read our full FAQ here.