At first glance, another startup showcase. In reality, it is a barometer of the transformation and ambitions of the Czech creative industry. This is how one could describe the final evening of the national competition of startups from the Creative Tech sector, which took place on 15 April 2026 in Pardubice’s Automatické mlýny.
This year’s competition attracted a record 65 startups and their diverse focus showed how broadly the concept of Creative Tech can be understood today. Alongside virtual and augmented reality, there are product companies, software with a design twist and solutions at the intersection of media, data and user experience.
The NABERIUS TECH startup emerged as the winner from the competition of ten finalists . The company develops technology to create realistic digital environments in which artificial intelligence, robots or autonomous systems can be tested and trained before they are deployed in the real world. The project’s founder, Lukáš Herrmann, has more than twenty years of experience in visual effects, including participation in Hollywood film productions. It was his experience in a digital reality environment that gave him the idea to simplify and automate the process.
“Creating digital environments is extremely complex. We have developed our own engine that greatly simplifies and automates the whole process. The goal is to make virtual reality possible for a much wider range of people than today and to make the creation of virtual worlds more accessible and scalable,” explained Lukáš Herrmann.
The company has developed proprietary IRIS technology that combines accurate geolocation data with advanced rendering. The result is virtual worlds that are not only visually compelling but also spatially accurate. It’s this accuracy that makes a crucial difference to most conventional VR applications.
“NABERIUS TECH and similar projects show well where Czech Creative Tech is moving. We see a stronger emphasis on in-house technology development, clearly defined products and an ambition to scale globally from the start,” said Petra Kneslová, chair of the jury and director of the Creative Hub of the Technology Incubation project of the CzechInvest Agency.
The jury composed of representatives of the startup environment, investors and industry evaluated the projects according to several key parameters. The quality of the product or service, the ability to scale, the strength and readiness of the team and a clearly defined business model were decisive. In other words, it was not just about the creativity itself, but its ability to compete in the marketplace. That is what is absolutely crucial today.
Creative Tech establishes itself as a dynamically growing category
The second place went to the startup FLAE Robotics with its virtual receptionist BE-A. The third place went to QuaternAR, a company that develops technology that allows existing 3D applications to be converted into augmented and virtual reality environments without the need to reprogram them.
The Audience Award went to the Knither project . Its founder Oldřich Voyta is engaged in the design and development of an advanced, personalizable and technologically innovative material fully replacing leather with applications in footwear, furniture and automotive and impressed the audience with his presentation and approach. “I recommend every startup project to participate in similar events. Their value lies not only in the potential winnings, but above all in the contacts, networking and access to investors and other opportunities,” said Oldřich Voyta.
“I was impressed by the preparedness of the competitors and the quality of their presentations and ideas. It was obvious that the best projects really made it to the finals and their overall standard was very high. I think many of the companies have the potential to compete globally and it was clear from their business models that they knew exactly who they wanted to reach.” evaluated Zdeněk Bašta, juror and Country Manager for the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary of Dassault Systèmes, which was the platinum partner of this year’s edition. According to him, the Creative Business Czechia 2026 competition showed that the next generation of successful Czech technology companies is being formed at the border of virtual reality, artificial intelligence and business.
“Creative Business Czechia shows that the connection between technology, creativity and entrepreneurship has huge potential in the Czech Republic. As a platinum partner together with Dassault Systèmes, we see this platform as key to supporting projects that have the ambition to succeed in global markets. This year’s winning project is a great example of how Creative Tech can deliver real value and international competitiveness,” added Kateřina Fojtová, Startup Program Manager at SolidVision, s.r.o.
The winner will be able to enter the international scene
NABERIUS TECH will join the official Czech business mission organized by CzechInvest together with the British Embassy in Prague and the Czech Embassy in London at the beginning of June. CzechInvest’s foreign representation will provide the winner with comprehensive support, including connections to the British startup ecosystem and investors. The mission will culminate in an exclusive networking evening for startup founders at the Czech Embassy in London. Members of the delegation will also travel to London Tech Week, one of the most important events related to technology in Europe.
London is not just a symbolic stop. Its technology ecosystem is one of the strongest in the world and is the place where decisions about investment, partnerships and global growth are made. “London Tech Week is a gateway to global capital and strategic partnerships. It’s an opportunity for Czech startups to significantly accelerate their expansion,” added Petra Kneslová.
The tenth edition of the competition was held thanks to the support of partners Dassault Systèmes, SolidVision, Parádní kraj, Ambit, BrandCloud, CzechStartups, ERA, a .s., Gočár’s Gallery, Netwo, Pardubice Business Incubator P – PINK, Startup Kitchen, SFÉRA Education Centre and VUCH.
The competition is under the auspices of the Pardubice Region and the Statutory City of Pardubice. Thank you.
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