Prague – The country’s largest insurance company announced the results of the 6th annual SME EnterPRIZE. The competition aims to recognize and highlight sole proprietors, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as startups, that adhere to and promote sustainability principles in their business operations and have a positive impact on our planet. “The record-breaking interest in this year’s SME EnterPRIZE confirms that Czech companies view sustainability as an integral part of their business and future growth. Small and medium-sized enterprises are a key part of the Czech economy, and at Generali Česká pojišťovna, we want to be their partner not only in managing risks but also in developing and building long-term resilience. This year’s finalists have once again demonstrated that Czech companies are capable of combining business success with a responsible approach to society and the environment,” says Roman Juráš, CEO of Generali Česká pojišťovna.
SME WINNERS AND FINALISTS
Over 100 companies and startups from across the Czech Republic entered this year’s competition, striving to impress the expert jury with their sustainable business strategies, innovations, and sustainable business practices.
In the SME category, ten companies advanced from the two preliminary rounds to the finals. After conducting in-person interviews, the jury selected the following final rankings:
1st place: NIL Textile, s.r.o.
2nd place: iEcoHaus CZ, s.r.o.
3rd place: Ing. Karel Horák, Farma Choťovice
The winners received funding to support their businesses, media exposure, and the opportunity to network and grow their businesses. In addition, one of the top three companies will represent Czech sustainable entrepreneurship at the pan-European finals of the competition, which will take place in the spring of 2027 in Brussels, Belgium. An international jury for the SME EnterPRIZE competition will decide which company will participate.
The technology and textile company impressed the expert jury the most NIL Textile, s.r.o. based in Ostrava, which develops and manufactures textiles and clothing made from corn fiber (PLA), recycled cotton, circular polyester, and bacterial cellulose. In addition to manufacturing, the company also offers a textile take-back and recycling system. As a result, it is able to reduce the carbon footprint of its garments by up to 70% and water consumption by up to 98% compared to conventional textile production. The company holds GOTS, GRS, and SMETA certifications, which confirm its adherence to the highest environmental and social standards. Its customers include apparel brands as well as companies that use corporate clothing, such as Feratt, Sonnentor, and Alza. In addition, it supplies its products to more than 20 countries around the world.
“NIL Textile impressed us with the thoroughness, thoughtfulness, and fully realized circularity of its solution. The textile industry places a huge burden on everyone through overproduction, waste of resources, and environmental pollution. This year’s winner uses waste materials as raw materials and produces textiles from them with a minimal water and carbon footprint. It also takes full responsibility for the entire life cycle of garments through take-back and recycling into new material. “This is what the future of environmentally friendly and responsible fashion should look like,” said Helena Továrková, chair of the jury and director of the Veronica Foundation, commenting on the jury’s decision regarding the winner.
Second place went to the company iEcoHaus CZ, s.r.o. that manufactures eco-friendly personal care products. “We were drawn to the strong personal vision and dedication of founder Petra Doubková, who decided to bring transparency, verified data, and true sustainability to the world of laundry and dry cleaning. The flagship product—laundry sheets—eliminates the need for water and, thanks to its low weight, significantly reduces emissions during shipping. According to carbon footprint measurements, they produce only 16.1 g of CO₂ equivalent per employeeí cycle, and approximately 80% of production takes place in the Czech Republic. Within a few years, what began as a student project has grown into a thriving company with strong financial results, one that remains true to its original vision: to offer eco-friendly and simple solutions for everyday households,” Továrková states.
Third place went to Choťovice Farm , owned by Ing. Karel Horák. It is a family farm with a long-standing tradition that integrates agriculture, food production, energy, and gastronomy into a single functional unit. “Food production is essential for society, which is why an agricultural enterprise is once again on the SME EnterPRIZE podium this year. We were impressed by their perfectly realized ‘from pitchfork to fork’ vision—that is, from raising the animals themselves, through slaughter, all the way to serving the finished dish. All of this is complemented by a sophisticated system for converting waste into energy via an on-site biogas plant, which generates electricity and heat for the entire complex as well as part of the village of Choťovice, further strengthening the environmental and economic self-sufficiency of the entire enterprise,” adds Továrková. The agricultural complex also includes a hotel, a guesthouse, a wellness center, and facilities for educational and family events.
The following companies then shared 4th-10th place (in alphabetical order):
ARBYD CZ, s.r.o. – a specialist in interior design, custom furniture manufacturing, and turnkey interior projects.
ASITIS, s.r.o. – uses the UpGreen tool to assess the condition of urban green spaces based on satellite data, without the need for field surveys, sensors, or other hardware.
Besky – a traditional Beskydy-based manufacturer specializing in the production of wool blankets, pillows, and other natural bedding.
Kořenovky, s.r.o. – a company specializing in the design, planning, and implementation of water management solutions.
MHA, s.r.o. – a company that provides comprehensive services in the field of marketing production and sales support.
Morava Wood Products, s.r.o. – a manufacturer of solid wood flooring that uses locally sourced wood from certified and renewable sources.
NAD obal, s.r.o. – a company that specializes in the production and distribution of packaging solutions and the recycling of plastic waste.
CEO AWARD
New this year is the CEO Award, which is selected and presented by the senior management of Generali Česká pojišťovna. This award provides an opportunity to recognize an inspiring entrepreneurial story that deserves special recognition even outside the results of the main categories. This year, the award went to Alf & Bet, s.r.o., which operates the upscale EMA espresso bar and the artisan bakery and roastery Alf & Bet in Prague.
The company focuses on high-quality cuisine based on the careful selection of ingredients, a transparent supply chain, and close collaboration with both local and international producers. In its bakery, the company applies the principles of the circular economy, using unsold baked goods to make new products and regularly donating surplus items to charitable organizations. As of April 2024, it has completely phased out the use of disposable cups, thereby eliminating up to 200,000 pieces of waste annually. “I’m a huge fan of good coffee, and when I learned more about the story behind Alf and Bet, it became clear to me that this is an exceptional company—not only because of what it offers its customers, but mainly because of its approach to business. I appreciate its consistency in reducing waste, its courage to come up with innovative solutions, and its efforts to build fair relationships with employees and suppliers. “Alf a Bet demonstrates that sustainability isn’t a one-time project, but a long-term commitment that is reflected in everyday decisions,” says Roman Juráš, CEO of Generali Česká pojišťovna.
STARTUP WINNERS AND STUDENT AWARD
Since 2023, the SME EnterPRIZE competition has recognized not only the SME segment but also startups with their sustainable projects, and this year’s edition was no exception. From all the entries, the expert jury selected the top four and then chose the winner of this category. First place went to the company Fungi Pack, s.r.o., which develops single-use eco-friendly packaging made from mycelium and biomass.
The key benefit of this product is that it is 100 percent compostable; the packaging can be composted at home after use. Made from a material similar to cardboard or corrugated cardboard, it does not become waste at the end of its life cycle but can naturally return to the cycle as usable compost. “Once again this year, choosing the winner was no easy task, and as always, it came down to a combination of many factors—the business plan, scalability, the founders’ mindset, and the product itself. In the case of Fungi Pack, production was also a key factor. It’s not just a concept or a prototype, but a functioning circular operation that the startup’s founder, Šárka Márová, built from the ground up. “If they manage to scale it up, it could compete with cardboard from major manufacturers,” says Filip Krůta, director of the innovation department at CzechInvest, explaining the jury’s decision.
In the startup category, a so-called “student award” has also been presented for several years, with college students deciding the winner through their votes. This year’s award goes to the company gotenniseu, s.r.o., with its project Dropp tennis, which gives a second life to used tennis balls that would otherwise end up in landfills. The company recycles this difficult-to-process material and transforms it into new products for sports, interior design, and construction. In addition, the company has built its own collection and logistics network encompassing more than 280 tennis clubs, where it has placed collection boxes, and processes approximately 200,000 balls annually— or roughly 10 metric tons of material that would otherwise have ended up as waste.
Other companies that made it onto the list of top startups were (in alphabetical order):
Safe Charging (Mi-Zel Technology s.r.o.) – a startup offering comprehensive fire prevention solutions for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
Marylu Mountain Goods, s.r.o. – an outdoor brand focused on developing functional clothing with an emphasis on sustainability.
INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION
The Czech round of the competition is part of the international SME EnterPRIZE contest, organized by the Generali insurance group. In 2026, in addition to the Czech Republic, ten other European countries are participating (Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Spain).
Participants in each country can compete in three categories of sustainable practices, in which their businesses have a positive impact on the health and well-being of employees (and their families), the environment, and community development.
All information about the international competition is available at: www.sme-enterprize.com
Michal Bernáth – Treasury and Investment Process Management Manager at GČP, jury member in the startup category
Nina Bočková – Research Associate at the University of Economics in Prague, jury member for both SMEs and startups
Lukáš Čechura – Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, jury member
Martin Flajšar – Director of Product Management for Business Insurance at GČP, jury member
Petra Koudelková – Head of the Department of Marketing Communication and PR at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University; jury member
Filip Krůta – Director of the Innovation Department at CzechInvest; jury member in the startup category
Renata Kučerová – Assistant Professor at Mendel University in Brno, jury member for
Vojtěch Malina – CEO of CleverFarm and 2021 competition winner, jury member
Michal Pešta – mathematician and associate professor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, jury member in the startup category
Alena Stiborová – agricultural insurance manager at GČP, jury member
Jindřich Špička – lecturer at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, jury member
Helena Továrková – director of the Veronica Foundation, Chair of the SME and Start-up Jury
Viktor Třebický – Project Manager at CI2 and Co-Founder of CI3, s.r.o., jury member
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