Fundraising
We actively build relationships and make warm intros to Series A investors in order to help our portfolio companies take the next step.
Our story
Backing ideas for the future with years of experience
There’s one thing among start-up founders that definitely doesn’t come in short supply. Ambition. But to successfully launch and grow your business you need more than that. The startup founders in portfolio of ZAKA VC have the unique opportunity to get business advice backed by years of experience and a rich network of experts and business partners. That’s what our founders Jan and Peter bring to the table.
Jan Kasper
Jan has been a serial entrepreneur since 1988. He owns and co-owns more than 50 companies, active in 9 industries, with revenues of more than €700M. He is experienced in the fields of communication, energy, car dealership, leisure & hospitality, real estate & development. Jan also co-founded the Bratislava Jazz Days festival, used to be a hobby marathon runner and is a huge fan of NBA and the Champions League. He knows a lot about fine red wine.
Peter Zálešák
In 1991, Peter co-founded Nay, a company which became the largest major retail company with more than 75 stores in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Peter’s family holding exceeds revenues of over €500M and has also other activities in organic farming, development and management of retail real estate (shopping centers), wine trade, finance and others. In 2008, he was named Entrepreneur of the Year by EY – Slovakia.
Support at every stage
As a family office founded by experienced entrepreneurs, our team members have rich experience from every stage of business – from its founding, through the growth stage to its successful exit. ZAKA is here not only to help promising talents with financing, but also to actively support them during their entrepreneurial journey.
Business development
Our founding investors are shareholders in 60+ companies across multiple segments which creates a wide portfolio of industry experts that our portfolio founders can turn to.
Active support
Deal captains in our team are responsible for active help in every possible aspect – like latest market research, advisors, service providers, know-how and operational issues.
Public relations
We actively help founders make a mark in the media. We help the founders write their stories and distribute them to relevant media channels.
Testimonials
“Zaka VC is one of our early backers, they believed in our vision and has continuously supported us on our journey to revolutionize the CPG industry.”
“Ambitious founders require ambitious funders. My past exit to Rakuten showed just how important this is. Zaka's energy, expertise, and investment, propel us towards building the next unicorn!”
“ZAKA VC has been an ideal early-stage investor. Excellent communication, very thorough diligence questions, a friendly demeanor throughout the investment process, and a 'right touch' investor approach which perfectly balances an entrepreneur's limited time with providing the kind of support (beyond just a check) that a startup needs to reach its milestones. I highly recommend ZAKA VC to all of my early-stage life science (and all sectors) colleagues!”
“ZAKA VC supported Sensible Bio early on its mission to enable the next generation of live-saving mRNA medicines by turning living cells into mRNA factories. Working with Jan, Natalia, Andrej, and the whole team at ZAKA VC has been fantastic – they are always generous with their time and advice. I recommend them as partners and investors to every mission-driven startup and founders who want to build something big that matters.”
“I only have good words for Zaka. From day 1, they made their stance clear (initially it was a no) and the reason behind it, being completely transparent and with a reasoning that I have rarely seen. When they saw that we were more aligned, we moved forward very quickly, always with super close communication. Working with Zaka is an absolute pleasure.”
“Being one of our very first believers, ZAKA has played a crucial role in guiding our progress and growth. Their team's dynamic and forward-thinking approach truly sets them apart, providing us not just with the funding, but also with invaluable insights and support.”