Czechia lags behind in startup support, EU report finds

Czechia ranks near the bottom in supporting its startup ecosystem, placing 21st out of 24 countries in the latest report by the European Startup Alliance. Despite a slight year-on-year improvement, the country fulfills only 38% of EU-defined standards. Experts say the main issue is the lack of a coordinated national strategy—support is fragmented across ministries, regions, and agencies. France, Spain, and Lithuania lead the rankings. “Lithuania succeeded by setting clear goals and focusing on fintech. We could learn from that,” said Czech Startup Association head Martin Jiránek. Better use of EU funds and targeted investment could help turn the tide.