Communities are the backbone of entrepreneurship. As a founder of Fe/male Switch, I’ve realized how much easier the journey becomes when you’re surrounded by other driven individuals. Vít Horký, co-founder of Czech Founders, has been instrumental in creating such networks, and his vision for scaling startup ecosystems through community building gives an actionable map for other regions, especially within the EU.
Here’s why his insights struck a chord with me and what every entrepreneur, particularly female founders, can learn from it.
What Makes Startup Ecosystems Scale?
When Vít Horký highlighted the three pillars, community building, entrepreneurship education, and public policy, I saw a perfect formula for creating sustainable growth in startups. Having built my own startups, bootstrapped them from scratch, and worked with teams spread across continents, I know firsthand how these pillars serve as stepping stones for success.
Let’s break down what these pillars mean for entrepreneurs driving innovation in Europe.
1. Community Is Bigger Than Capital
Horký emphasizes a start-from-home approach where founders learn directly from one another. For many entrepreneurs, isolation leads to mistakes that could have been easily avoided by networking. In my own experience using platforms and early-stage incubators, the single most valuable feature was founder-to-founder connections.
Communities foster trust. They create a space where honest conversations can happen, about missed milestones, hiring nightmares, or scaling globally. Czech Founders embodies this concept. Founders support newcomers not just financially but by sharing lessons learned the hard way. For example, the United Founders fund combines founders’ expertise with pragmatic investment strategies.
2. Public Policies That Work for Founders
The legal landscape in Europe often complicates entrepreneurship, forcing founders to either spend on legal experts or give up before even entering the market. Horký’s nonprofit advocacy for implementing practical policies stands out as a true game-changer. The Czech Republic's new employee stock option law, which takes effect in January 2026, sets a critical precedent.
Here’s why you should care: stock options are one of the best ways to retain talent, but outdated policies make such tools nearly impossible to use in certain EU regions. For female founders like me, with bootstrapped startups and tight budgets, this reform provides hope. What if entrepreneurship-focused laws emerged across all member states? That would mean easier collaboration across national borders, which is essential for scaling businesses.
3. Education From Day One
Horký’s initiative to introduce entrepreneurship in high schools resonates deeply with me as an individual passionate about education and sciences. Women are underrepresented in STEM fields, and early exposure to entrepreneurial activities can make a difference. When I built CADChain, I saw how equipped younger teams can be if their creativity is nurtured early.
Education doesn’t just mean technical know-how. It means teaching the ‘how’ of asking bold questions, learning from setbacks, and taking calculated risks. Without programs like the F/MS Startup Game, a lot of first-time founders I mentor wouldn’t get this exposure. Watching them evolve is proof that entrepreneurial thinking should be part of every high school curriculum.
Mistakes Entrepreneurs Should Avoid
From my years of doing things wrong before understanding what works, here’s a quick list to steer clear of:
- Neglecting Community Resources: Not tapping into existing founder groups or tools like Czech Founders VC can leave you reinventing the wheel. Use what’s available.
- Waiting Too Long to Test Ideas: A weak MVP wastes time. Talk to users yesterday, not tomorrow.
- Ignoring Policy Benefits: If ESOP laws exist, research their implications extensively. Anyone telling you it’s “too early” doesn’t see your scaling potential.
Steps to Build Your Startup with Active Support
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Find Peer Groups Early: Communities like what Czech Founders developed are stronger and cheaper networks than a consultancy firm.
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Map the Policies in Europe: Look into frameworks supporting scaleups, such as proposals for the pan-European "28th Regime" business entity, which promises smoother international operations.
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Mentor the Next Generation: Whether through outreach programs or accessible games like Fe/male Switch, every established founder has the chance to become a stepping stone for someone new.
Insights European Women in Business Can Learn
Female representation matters in all three pillars. Taking up space within founder communities helps amplify our voice. I’ve watched how ecosystems like startup accelerators focus on helping women succeed, but this can expand further if mentorship programs (like Vít Horký and Czech Founders VC) consciously prioritize female innovators.
When advocating for policy changes, sharing challenges unique to us as female-founded businesses can push governments toward more inclusive reforms. Horký’s work gives me hope that perseverance pays off. Imagine advocating for an EU-wide childcare subsidy for entrepreneurs or government-funded training, these ideas emerge when female leaders join policy discussions.
Conclusion
Europe needs bold ideas, practical scalability, and entrepreneurs who raise new standards. Learning from experts like Vít Horký reminds us how much structural support matters in overcoming barriers. As someone advocating better representation of women in STEM and business, these insights have strengthened the way I approach ecosystem building for Fe/male Switch users.
We can’t wait for ecosystems to evolve in our favor; we must actively reshape them. By leaning into community, reforming policies, and opening gates to entrepreneurship from school age, we lay the groundwork for something extraordinary.
For those starting out or scaling up, dive into networks like Czech Founders or explore tools available through platforms similar to United Founders. Let these principles guide you, and let’s grow the kind of ecosystem that inspires bold moves and big successes.
FAQ
1. What are the three pillars for scaling startup ecosystems, as noted by Vít Horký?
The three pillars identified by Vít Horký are community building, public policy, and entrepreneurial education. These pillars aim to support founder collaboration, streamline legislation, and nurture entrepreneurial talent from early stages. Learn more about Vít Horký’s startup ecosystem insights
2. How does community building benefit startup ecosystems?
Community building fosters a culture of peer-to-peer learning, where founders share practical knowledge and experiences. Organizations like Czech Founders focus on creating networks for founders to learn and collaborate. Read more about Czech Founders
3. Why are public policies crucial for entrepreneurs?
Supportive policies like employee stock option reforms are essential for attracting and retaining talent in startups. Vít Horký’s advocacy led to the Czech Republic adopting a founder-friendly stock option law starting January 2026. Check out the impact of the stock option law
4. How does entrepreneurial education factor into building ecosystems?
Introducing entrepreneurship in schools equips young individuals with frameworks for ideation, risk management, and resilience. This encourages innovation from an early age. Learn more about the value of entrepreneurial education
5. What inspired Vít Horký to focus on startup ecosystems in the Czech Republic?
After exiting his startup, Brand Embassy, Horký returned to the Czech Republic to create a supportive ecosystem for local entrepreneurs, emphasizing global scalability and networking. Read about Vít Horký’s journey
6. How does Czech Founders VC support early-stage startups?
Czech Founders VC not only provides funding but also fosters mentorship by involving successful Czech entrepreneurs as active contributors to help startups scale globally. Explore Czech Founders VC’s approach
7. What is the “28th Regime” or “EU Inc.” initiative?
The "28th Regime" aims to create a pan-European business entity, simplifying legal frameworks and enabling startups to operate seamlessly across the EU. This legal innovation could level the playing field for European startups. Learn more about the 28th Regime idea
8. Why is female representation important in startup ecosystems?
Increased female representation amplifies diverse perspectives in entrepreneurship, leading to more inclusive reforms and tailored support for underrepresented founders. Platforms like Fe/male Switch advocate for such changes. Check out Fe/male Switch initiatives
9. What industries are thriving in the Czech Republic’s startup ecosystem?
The ecosystem excels in sectors like B2B SaaS, enterprise AI, space tech, and university spin-offs, driven by robust technical expertise and emerging vertical opportunities.
10. What are some mistakes entrepreneurs should avoid?
Entrepreneurs should avoid neglecting community resources, delaying MVP testing, and ignoring policy tools like stock options that could streamline their scaling efforts. Read more about avoiding entrepreneurial pitfalls
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
