Lucie Bresova Joins Presto Tech Horizons as New Partner Amid €150M Investment in Tech Startups
The fund announces its first three portfolio companies—Vidar Systems, Bavovna, and Tur.ai—while adding Lucie Bresova, a top executive known for her success at Kiwi.com, as a new partner.
Backed by a unique partnership between the VC firm Presto Ventures and Michal Strnad’s industrial technology group, Czechoslovak Group (CSG), Presto Tech Horizons is set to invest €150 million in the most promising tech projects from NATO countries and their allies.
David Chour, Vice Chairman of the Board and COO of the CSG Group says
For the future of CSG, it’s crucial we remain at the forefront of global technological innovation. Alongside our own R&D, investing in and partnering with startups is a logical step.
Supporting talented tech entrepreneurs is also the best way to ensure the long-term security of the Western world.
The first few months of our partnership with Presto, and the first portfolio companies of the joint fund, confirm that we are on the right path.
Premysl Rubes, Founding Partner of Presto Tech Horizons explains
Since spring, we’ve jointly evaluated over 1,200 startups from 15 countries and met with hundreds of skilled tech entrepreneurs. We’ve selected the 25 best opportunities for further in-depth analysis, and we’re now making our first investments.
Rubes adds
We anticipated strong interest from startups wanting to partner with us, given what we can offer through our collaboration with the CSG Group. However, our experiences in the initial months have far exceeded those expectations.
We’re already supporting the founders of our new portfolio companies as they navigate major challenges on the path to global success.
The business and product synergies within the group make it easier for them to access customers, explore foreign markets, and drive rapid growth.
The First Portfolio Investments
Bavovna | The US-Ukrainian team has developed a hybrid AI-driven navigation system that allows unmanned vehicles (UVs) to operate autonomously, even when remote navigation is disrupted. This applies to drone operations in areas with compromised GPS signals and, in the future, logistics such as last-mile drone delivery.
Vidar Systems | A tech firm specialising in portable AI-driven acoustic locating systems. The technology can be used on the battlefield to detect hostile attacks and enhance the protection of strategic assets and civilian objects. The Ukrainian military has successfully deployed its products to defend against artillery shelling.
Tur.ai | A Dutch startup developing next-generation robotic process automation (RPA) for enterprises. Their AI tools can automate internal business operations and processes involving customers and partners, all in real time. This is particularly useful for financial institutions, telecom operators, and logistics companies.
New Partner: Lucie Bresova
Joining the Presto Tech Horizons team as Partner, Lucie Bresova will be instrumental in shaping the fund’s operations and collaborating with startups.
Lucie Bresova, Partner at Presto Tech Horizons, explains
I’m excited to work with our portfolio companies. Being a founder with a great idea doesn’t automatically mean you’re ready to lead a growing company. My aim is to guide founders through this transformation, helping them develop leadership skills and navigate the challenges associated with scaling.
Presto Tech Horizons also focuses on investments in innovative defence and security technologies—an area of increasing importance today.
Bresova adds
Security studies suggest that in the next five years, we’ll be fortunate if active armed conflict doesn’t spread to our territory. Wishing for peace doesn’t mean turning a blind eye to reality; it requires active participation in preparation and prevention.
Just as we harness nuclear fusion (for now) for energy rather than destruction, I believe our portfolio companies will play a role in keeping our world safe.
Upcoming Investments
The fund is preparing further investments, including applying general AI for industrial robots and an intelligent system for securing railway transportation. Also shortlisted for future investment is a startup developing quantum algorithms to tackle the most complex computational challenges in cryptography, logistics, and drug development.
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