Investor Profile: Presto Ventures - Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

Presto Ventures is a Prague-based venture capital firm founded in 2016 by Přemysl Rubeš that backs fast-growing technology companies across Central and Eastern Europe. It calls itself a co-builder rather than just an investor, and it has grown into one of the region's most active early-stage funds, with more than 60 startups in over 20 countries.

Thesis

Presto Ventures invests in ambitious founders building globally scalable technology companies from the CEE region, linking the flourishing CEE tech ecosystem to major Western markets. Speed is central to its identity — the name is the mission — and it prides itself on backing entrepreneurs solving complex industrial and security challenges with technology that has outstanding commercial application, not just technical novelty.

Sectors & Stages

Presto Ventures invests at pre-seed and seed stage, primarily in B2B SaaS, enterprise software and marketplaces, preferring companies that are post-minimum-viable-product with early revenue. Through its newer Presto Tech Horizons fund it has added a focus on defence, security, aerospace and dual-use technologies from NATO countries and allied nations, backing frontier technologies for a safer, more resilient future.

Fund & Cheque Size

Presto Ventures' second fund, Fund II, launched in 2022 at €30 million to invest in more than 40 B2B startups from Central and Eastern Europe, including the Baltics, the Balkans and Ukraine. Tickets run up to €3 million, with a typical range of €200,000 to €1.5 million and a commitment to follow-on rounds. In 2024 it launched Presto Tech Horizons with industrial group CSG (Czechoslovak Group), targeting €150 million for dual-use and defence technologies. Its funds are backed exclusively by private money, including family offices and exited founders.

Notable Portfolio

Presto Ventures' portfolio includes customer communication platform CloudTalk, data integration platform Keboola, network automation company IP Fabric, cash-flow management platform Finmap, logistics platform GoRamp, freight company OMOFOX, avatar platform Ready Player Me, venue platform Sharry, AI company Zypl.ai, marketplace Choice and betting technology company Oddin.gg. Portfolio companies have gone on to raise more than $300 million in follow-on funding from Western venture firms.

Partners & Programs

Presto Ventures was founded by Přemysl Rubeš, and its partners include Milan Lupac, with Lucie Bresova a partner on Presto Tech Horizons. Its defining programme is the Presto Tech Horizons alliance with CSG, which pairs venture investing with industrial-technological expertise in defence and dual-use technology. Portfolio support comes from the firm's own team and a mentor network of experienced entrepreneurs, many of them Presto investors, who help with sales, hiring and next-round fundraising. No published credits or perks programme for founders was found.

How to apply for funding

Founders can contact Presto Ventures through its website or at its published contact address. The firm looks for CEE-based founders with a B2B technology product, preferably post-MVP with early revenue, and total round sizes typically between €200,000 and €2 million. Founders in defence, security or dual-use technology should pitch through the Presto Tech Horizons route, where industrial expertise is part of the offer.