ZAKA Expands to North America with New Office in Silicon Valley

[Prague, 29 Jan] – ZAKA VC, a European venture capital fund with a growing international portfolio, has officially expanded into North America, establishing a presence in Silicon Valley. This strategic move is led by Filip Orth, who joins ZAKA as Principal, overseeing operations in the US and Canada.
ZAKA VC has built a strong reputation for investing in pre-seed and seed-stage startups, backing over 60 companies across more than 20 countries. With a focus on healthcare, life sciences, and deep tech, the investment firm has consistently sought out innovative founders with global ambitions. The decision to expand into North America aligns with ZAKA’s long-term vision of supporting European entrepreneurs on their journey to international success.
Jan Kasper, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at ZAKA VC, commented on the expansion:
“We want to support European talent with global ambitions, and this is why we must be present in North America. Without local network, global ambitions cannot be realized.”

The basic difference Jan sees is in the mindset. Prosperous countries monitor the basic components that effectively contribute to their prosperity; and one of these components is the development of innovations and technologies. Every country can invest in this segment. The US has managed to build several business monuments since World War II, such as Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook) and Tesla.
ZAKA is no newcomer when it comes to investment activity in Northern America – one third of their portfolio is currently headquartered in the US or Canada and the fund has invested alongside strong local players like First Round Capital, Pillar Capital, Matrix VC and Y Combinator. Now feels like the right momentum to make this presence official.
With a background in both venture capital and international startup sales, Filip Orth is well-equipped to bridge the gap between European startups and the North American market. His role will focus on deal sourcing, portfolio support, and building relationships within the North America investment landscape, with his foot set firmly in Silicon Valley.
Filip Orth shared his perspective on the move:
“Silicon Valley is the epicenter for startups, which keeps it at the forefront of innovation, hence expansion to this market is a natural progression. I still believe that the Valley is a synonym to what the future holds. Everything that is ideated, created, operated here predicts to a great extent to what the worldwide norm will be for the next 5 to 10 and even perhaps 50 years ahead.”

Reflecting on his new role, Filip added:
“I was familiar with ZAKA.VC being one of the active VC players in Europe with an ever-growing ambition to take on the startup world internationally, which is also proven by the portfolio of startups from over 20 countries. One of the natural steps for growth and expansion to the North American market in particular is intertwined with a permanent presence in Silicon Valley.”
By establishing a permanent presence in the North America, ZAKA VC aims to create an active and functional bridge between the two continents, providing startups with the necessary resources and connections to scale globally.
About ZAKA VC
ZAKA VC is a European venture capital fund investing in early-stage startups, focusing on pre-seed and seed rounds with an average ticket size of €300-350K. With a growing international portfolio, ZAKA backs visionary founders primarily in healthcare, life sciences, and deep tech who have the potential to shape the future.
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