From the dynamic startup hubs of Prague and London, ZAKA VC has announced its first fund of €15 million to support early-stage startups across Europe and the US. Founded in 2020 by entrepreneurs Jan Kasper and Peter Zalesak, ZAKA VC initially operated as a family office, investing private capital into pre-seed and seed-stage startups. Now, with a robust team of six and a portfolio of over 55 companies, ZAKA VC has invested more than €11 million to date.
ZAKA VC’s portfolio boasts investments in companies such as ExcepGen, Sensible Biotechnologies, Miros.ai, Supliful, Lime Therapeutics, and Webel. Initially focused on the Central and Eastern European (CEE) market, ZAKA VC has expanded its reach to the UK and the US. Unlike most CEE-based funds, ZAKA VC is dedicated to funding not only European startups but also the European diaspora in the US and US-based teams with ambitions to scale globally.
To meet growing demand from external investors, ZAKA VC launched its first venture capital fund. The €15 million ZAKA VC Fund I began with a €10.5 million first closing in June 2024, with a minimum investment of €130,000 per limited partner.
ZAKA VC’s roots can be traced back to the family businesses of its founders. Jan Kasper and Peter Zalesak have built and co-own over 60 companies, with a combined turnover exceeding €1.4 billion across various sectors including retail, media, mobility, energy, and hospitality. ZAKA VC was conceived to extend their entrepreneurial legacy into the venture capital arena, aligning with the evolving economy’s forefront.
Jan Kasper shares, “The trigger to create ZAKA was my daughter Valentina, who introduced me to the startup ecosystem. I saw it as an exciting way to invest the capital from our family businesses. I suggested this idea to my friend Peter, a tech and innovation enthusiast.”
Peter Zalesak adds, “Before founding ZAKA, I invested in and helped startups. Realizing it was a full-time commitment, Jan and I decided to professionalize our approach, hire the right team, and establish solid processes for selecting and managing emerging companies.”
Andrej Petrus, Head of the Investment Committee at ZAKA VC, explains their strategy: “Two factors led us to double down on early-stage investing. Firstly, there is a global imbalance between the demand and supply of early-stage funding. Capital is scarce, but new founders are increasing. Secondly, advancements in AI are creating new business opportunities. Similar to the mobile and cloud era, we believe current years will produce future decacorns in the AI space.”
ZAKA VC targets pre-seed and seed-stage startups across Europe (primarily Central Europe, the Baltics, the UK, and DACH) and the US. The fund acts as a co-investor with the capability to co-lead investments. Its main focus is on B2B software, along with AI applications in B2B, biotech, and health tech.
Co-Founder and Managing Partner Jan Kasper emphasizes the importance of the US market: “The US remains a key focus for us. It produces highly competent founders and offers a vast market. Despite higher valuations compared to the CEE region, the investment returns are extremely compelling.”
With the launch of its €15 million fund, ZAKA VC is poised to make a significant impact on the early-stage startup scene in Europe and the US. By leveraging their entrepreneurial background and focusing on high-potential sectors like AI and biotech, ZAKA VC aims to identify and support the next generation of groundbreaking startups.
