Eastern Europe’s tech scene is booming, driven by defense innovation and rising venture capital hubs. At Ukraine’s Invest in Bravery event, investors shared how regional conflicts are reshaping tech funding, with Romania emerging as a VC hotspot and the Czech Presto Tech Horizons fund investing in NATO-aligned projects. Macedonian IT firms also reveal the highs and hurdles of M&A, while diverse funding sources are fueling a new wave of startups poised for growth across the region.
Defense always drives innovation – from radar to the internet, many technologies we use today began as defense projects. During the Invest in Bravery event in Ukraine, IT Logs caught up with several European venture capital funds to discuss how the war in Ukraine is reshaping the defense tech landscape in Eastern Europe. Read more
Romania is steadily gaining attention as a venture capital hub in Eastern Europe, thanks to a growing tech sector and increasing interest from investors. Startups in fields like fintech and software development are drawing support, and the capital, Bucharest, is gradually becoming a key spot for innovation in the region. Read more.
The Czech Presto Tech Horizons investment fund has welcomed its first portfolio companies in the fields of portable acoustic locators, AI for autonomous drone navigation and enterprise process automation. Formed by Presto Ventures and Czechoslovak Group, the fund is set to invest 150 million euros in top tech projects from NATO countries and allies. Read more.
Nowadays, becoming part of a larger company via acquisition is a dream-come-true to most founders. But this kind of story does not always end up being a fairy tale, with winners left and right. Sometimes, when entering this process, businesses get sucked into a labyrinth with no exit in sight. For Macedonian IT company Dox Team, the process proved to be rollercoaster of a ride. Read more.
Startup funding sources span both domestic and international options, drawing from state, private, and mixed funds, along with angel investors and accelerator programs. Once presentations, negotiations, and other steps are complete, securing investment hinges on proper documentation and a solid legal framework to protect both founders and investors. Read more
