Investor Profile: Kaya VC — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

Kaya VC funding has quietly backed two of Central and Eastern Europe's biggest startup successes. This guide explains how to get funding from Kaya VC and what the Prague-based firm wants from founders. Note: this is the Czech firm Kaya VC, not the Philippines firm Kaya Founders. Kaya VC is a generalist early-stage firm: it backs founders from the CEE region wherever in the world they build.

Thesis and investment focus

Kaya VC invests mainly in early-stage technology companies in Central and Eastern Europe, and in companies founded abroad by entrepreneurs from the region. The firm calls itself generalist, not specialist: as partner Martin Rajčan puts it, the team understands what it is like to build from CEE and backs founders no matter where they land. Since 2018 it has built its own data intelligence platform to monitor startups globally.

Sectors, stages and cheque size

Kaya VC focuses on pre-seed and seed investments, with its fifth fund also reaching into Series A. Initial investments from its fifth fund were between €1 million and €3 million, and the firm says it can put up to €20 million behind one company through follow-ons and syndicates. Sectors are deliberately broad, from software and fintech to healthcare and climate.

Fund size and track record

Kaya VC grew out of Enern, a regional investment group formed in Prague in 2010 that began in renewable energy before moving into technology. In March 2021, Enern's venture business became independent under the KAYA brand, with a fourth fund of about €72 million and around €250 million under management. In June 2025 it announced a first close of nearly €70 million for its fifth fund. It reports a portfolio value above €350 million across more than 45 companies.

Notable portfolio

Kaya VC and its predecessor backed two unicorns: Rohlik, the Czech online grocer that reached a €1 billion valuation in July 2021, the first Czech startup unicorn, and DocPlanner, the Polish healthcare booking platform reported at about $1 billion in September 2021. Booksy, the appointment-booking company, is cited as a third breakout with €100 million in annual recurring revenue. The portfolio also includes Better Stack, Sensible Biotechnologies and Upheal.

Partners and programmes

Kaya VC is led by general partners Tomáš Obrtáč, Tomáš Pačinda, Martin Rajčan and Karel Zheng. Its expert network includes Rohlik founder Tomáš Čupr, AI scientist Michal Valko, who helped build Meta's Llama 3, and Deepnote founder Jakub Jurovych. No accelerator programme run by the firm could be verified from the sources read.

How to apply for funding from Kaya VC

No open application form or pitch portal for Kaya VC could be verified from the sources read, so founders should approach through its website, kaya.vc, and warm introductions from its network. What lands a pitch is a CEE connection, genuine global ambition rather than a local-only plan, and evidence the team can build at world level. Come with a clear story on why your market can return a fund.