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What’s next for Prague’s innovation ecosystem? As Dealroom.co puts it: „𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑢𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑎 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡.“ The city’s startup enterprise value has grown 𝟴× 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵 to €𝟭𝟵.𝟮𝗕, now representing 𝟴𝟯% 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝘇𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹. That’s a remarkable signal of potential, but also a reminder of what must come next. To build on this momentum, we believe the next step for Prague’s innovation ecosystem lies in three priorities: 1️⃣ Strengthen 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 and 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲-𝘂𝗽 capacity 👉 to help startups grow beyond early success. 2️⃣ Broaden participation 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 👉connecting regional innovators to shared networks and opportunities. 3️⃣ Build global bridges𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 👉cross-border collaboration that helps Czech innovation compete internationally. At BRAIN CONNECT Prague, we’re working to make this transition happen by building a business-driven, open, and globally connected innovation space. Let’s make sure 🅟🅡🅐🅖🅤🅔’s growth story becomes sustainable & that it’s 🅝🅞🅣 🅞🅝🅛🅨 🅟🅡🅐🅖🅤🅔 that grows. ____________________________________ 📢 Follow BRAIN CONNECT Prague for more insights on innovation. 🚀 Join the open-ended game! Let’s shape the future. Together. 🔵 🟦 🔷

🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh City Targets Top 100 Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking by 2030 With a $7.4 billion startup ecosystem, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is cementing its position as Vietnam’s innovation capital, home to half the nation’s startups, 40% of incubators, and nearly 50% of VC investment. Backed by new pro-innovation laws and global tech partnerships, HCMC aims to enter the Top 100 global startup ecosystems by 2030. 🔎 Innovative EcoSystems POV: 🔎 HCMC is the heartbeat of Vietnam’s innovation economy, an emerging model for how local governance, education, and global collaboration can accelerate ecosystem maturity. 🔎 Its dual-strategy approach, scaling strengths in software, fintech, and AI while investing in semiconductors and 5G hardware, reflects deep strategic foresight. 🔎 Initiatives like the HCMC Innovation Hub (SIHUB) show how cities can act as ecosystem orchestrators, connecting startups, universities, corporates, and government under one architecture. 🔎 The inclusion of tax incentives, sandbox policies, and special salaries for tech talent reflects a shift toward talent-centric policy design, a cornerstone of sustainable competitiveness. 💡 Actionable Recommendations: 💡 For Policymakers: Prioritize infrastructure, visa facilitation, and IP protection to sustain international investor confidence. 💡 For Ecosystem Builders: Expand SIHUB’s regional network to attract global accelerators and research partnerships. 💡 For Investors: View HCMC as a Southeast Asian gateway city for digital innovation, particularly in AI, manufacturing, and financial services. 💡 For Startups: Tap into government-backed grants (up to VND 500 million) and global competitions to fast-track commercialization. 🤙 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gDwySA8V 💬 Question for the Community: Can Ho Chi Minh City’s software-led and semiconductor-supported growth strategy become the blueprint for emerging innovation economies balancing global collaboration with domestic capability building? #InnovativeEcoSystems #VietnamInnovation #HCMCTech

I’ve spent a decade working closely with deep tech companies. In these hyper-innovative environments, growth starts with relentless door-knocking and powerful storytelling about your solutions. Initially, you wear many hats - driving your go-to-market strategy and forging key partnerships alone. As you gain traction, industry leaders begin to recognize the value of your solutions, especially in high-tech sectors where the drive for digital transformation and innovation is undeniable. Think your industry is too "traditional" for deep tech? Think again! Europe is at a pivotal crossroads. Deep tech has the potential to unlock $1 trillion in economic growth and create up to 1 million jobs by 2030. European deep-tech startups achieve unicorn status a remarkable 28 months faster than traditional peers, hold nine times more patents, and generate a 12% higher return on investment. They also create 87% more jobs per unit of capital invested. Countries like Sweden and France are leading this charge. Sweden invests pension funds into venture capital at double the European average, with 1.6% of its GDP directed toward deep-tech debt funding - well ahead of the US. Initiatives like La Mission French Tech have propelled French unicorns from 7 in 2015 to 42 in 2024, with both nations channeling up to 65% of their startup capital toward deep tech. This investment enhances Europe’s autonomy in sectors like energy and defense, solidifying its position as a global innovation hub. The share of deep-tech unicorns has doubled since 2021, presenting a unique opportunity to compete with the US and China. Where is your industry heading next? Will you join me at the Digital Tech Summit this week? Let’s connect to explore diverse perspectives within deep tech and discover how to accelerate digitalization in your company. “I love how everything is so vibrant. There are a lot of people, I can see people talking to each other, exchanging knowledge, and attending a lot of really good events in different rooms about an array of subjects in the field of digitalization.“ Laura Klitgaard, President, IDA Check out the DTS program: https://lnkd.in/dEmiAfwT or gain deeper insights from the full deep tech report in the comments. The authors of the report: Hannes Erntell, Markus Berger-de León, Max Floetotto, Stéphane Bout, Tobias Henz, and Tunde Olanrewaju, with Ceren Safak Musai. #DeepTech #DigitalTransformation #DigitalTechSummit

What makes a startup become a breakthrough — and a nation become a hub of innovation? Is it the idea itself, or the system that helps it grow? Across Korea, a quiet transformation is taking place — one where technology meets imagination, and policy meets possibility. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) has been driving this change, building an ecosystem where AI, deep-tech, and venture innovation turn ambition into achievement. In recent years, Korea's startup ecosystem has gained global recognition for its rapid growth and innovation capacity — with Seoul standing out as the 8th strongest city globally in the 2025 Startup Genome Global Startup Ecosystem Report. This reflects not only the strength of its capital, but also the collective progress of a nationwide network of innovators, research institutions and entrepreneurs transforming ideas into impact. Building on this momentum, Korea's progress is not driven by a single initiative, but by a movement unfolding on many fronts: • The NEXT UNICORN Project is backing deep-tech startups in ten strategic sectors from AI to robotics. • Startup-launch programs at universities are turning cutting-edge research into new ventures. • Global collaboration platforms are connecting Korean entrepreneurs with tech giants like NVIDIA, Google, and LG. MSS is also building the foundation beneath the innovation — from expanding venture funds to attract public and private investment, to redesigning policies so that top talent chooses startups over convention. And as Korean startups reach further into the world — through Global TIPS, the APEC Startup Alliance, and shared innovation platforms — one vision is becoming clear: 'A Korea where bold ideas aren't just born, but built to last, scaling from local labs to global markets.' The story of Korean innovation is still being written — and its next chapter is just beginning. #MSSKorea #KStartup #DeepTech #AI #Innovation #GlobalStartups

Startup Pulse Malaysia -for the week of 6th Oct 2025 1- Singapore's Supabase, a database platform favored by over 4 million developers, raised $100 million in a Series E funding round led by Accel and Peak XV, bringing their total funding to over $500 million. The funding will accelerate development of an enterprise-scale platform version called “Multigres” targeting large, data-intensive applications. Supabase’s growth underlines the rising importance of open source and AI-driven development tools in the region. 2- Malaysia is hosting the National Innovation and Commercialisation Expo (NICE 2025) at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur from October 6 to 9. The event aims to connect startups, researchers, corporations, and innovators to form partnerships and inspire the country’s innovation ecosystem. MOSTI Minister Chang Lih Kang emphasized that innovation requires a whole-of-society approach and highlighted government efforts to bridge gaps in funding and scaling. 3- Regional startup funding: Despite some contraction in Southeast Asia’s overall funding levels year-on-year, Singapore-based tech firms continue to dominate funding rounds, underscoring the city-state’s leading role in the ecosystem. The Philippine market remains a bright spot for growth compared to others in the region.

🔴5 Years of Building DeepTech in Africa with Science-preneurs At BRAIN, it’s never just about acceleration, it’s about walking the journey with founders building science-based solutions solving fundamental challenges for Africa and the world and supported by strong partners who share the passion for African Deeptech potential. Over the past 5 years, we’ve supported 40+ DeepTech startups across 12 countries, turning research into real impactful companies. Along the way, we’ve learned, iterated, and refined our approach to better serve our entrepreneurs, building a supportive ecosystem around them with the trust of committed partners that helped to accelerate their market and investment readiness. 🔴The BRAIN Journey in Numbers: 🔷 +40 DeepTech startups supported and 25 accelerated  🔷 17 among the 25 accelerated startups secured funding post-program. 🔷 50% in HealthTech | 40% in ClimateTech | 10% in Frontier Sectors 🔷 17 female-led startups Among the 17 accelerated:  🔷$7M+ total raised collectively 🔷$4M+ total revenue generated collectively 🔷 3+ startups raised individually over $1M USD. 🔷80+ Clients & partnerships deals signed collectively 🔷8+ startups expanded beyond their local markets. 🔷20+ international awards won collectively. And the journey continues. Applications are now open for the next BRAIN cohort, built on 5 years of continuous learning for the scientists, engineers, and builders shaping Africa’s DeepTech future in health and climate sectors. 🌍 Be part of this story. Apply before the 7th of November 👉https://lnkd.in/eBM7NUzd 📌 Disclaimer: Startups selected as finalists will be asked to allocate a symbolic 1% equity to Open Startup (OST) to support the long-term sustainability and growth of the program across Africa. 🌍 Made possible by Open Startup's organizational partners: AfricaGrow, AfricInvest Group, and Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF), Bpifrance, and The Dot. And program partners: Stellenbosch University, CERI - Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Steve Madden, MIT-Africa, MIT Executive MBA Program, and our local partner: LaunchLab.

✨ Europe’s digital future starts in Lisbon! On 16–17 October, European startup and innovation leaders gather for the The S9+ Coalition Summit - Digital Startup Leadership in Europe, hosted by Startup Portugal. The Summit will open with a joint session between the #S9+ and #B9+ — co-hosted with CIP - Confederação Empresarial de Portugal — before the S9+ Summit resumes its dedicated agenda. Throughout the day, Portugal’s Secretaries of State for Digitalisation, Bernardo Correia, and for the Economy, João Rui Ferreira, will join different sessions, setting the tone for closer collaboration between #founders, #investors, policymakers, and #innovation networks driving Europe’s digital agenda. Across key panels and discussions, speakers from the European Commission, Remote, ANI | Agência Nacional de Inovação , Microsoft, Europe Startup Nations Alliance, Defined.ai, Allied For Startups, SISP - Swedish Incubators & Science Parks, Bairro, GovHorizon, Vulcan Consulting, Coverflex, Czech Startup Association, Cachet, Center for European Policy Analysis, and the Center for Responsible AI will explore Europe’s #startup competitiveness, #AI leadership, and cross-border cooperation. S9+: 🇵🇹 Startup Portugal 🇪🇺 Allied For Startups 🇪🇸 Adigital & #EsTech 🇧🇪 Scale-Ups.eu & Startup SuperNova 🇳🇱 Dutch Startup Association 🇵🇱 Startup Poland 🇪🇪 Estonian Founders Society 🇸🇪 SISP - Swedish Incubators & Science Parks 🇩🇰 Danske Iværksættere - Danish Entrepreneurs 🇫🇮 Finnish Startup Community (FSC) / Suomen Startup-yhteisö 🇨🇿 Czech Startup Association 📍 Lisbon, 16–17 October | Check the full agenda here: https://lnkd.in/dnrRMvV9

🚨 Swiss Startup Investments Decline in 2024, but AI Sector Thrives 🚨 The Swiss startup ecosystem faced challenges in 2024, with total funding rounds decreasing by 6.7% and investment volumes dropping 15% compared to the previous year EY . However, amidst this downturn, the AI sector emerged as a beacon of growth. 📈 AI's Surge in Switzerland AI-focused startups secured over 22% of all funding rounds in 2024, doubling their share from the previous year EY . This surge highlights the increasing confidence investors have in AI's transformative potential across industries. 💡 Key Takeaways Despite an overall decline in startup investments, AI startups demonstrated resilience and growth. The Swiss startup ecosystem remains dynamic, with sectors like AI attracting significant attention. Investors are recognizing the long-term value and innovation potential within the AI domain. 🔗 For a deeper dive into the trends shaping Switzerland's startup landscape, read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g38NcZpd #BusinessAnalytics #AI #Consultancy #Fintech #Innovation #Fintechbits #datamanagement #Switzerland #DigitalFinance #TechGrowth #PowerBI

📌 Valencia strengthens its position as Europe’s leading hub for innovation. Organised by Startup Valencia, #VDS2025 showcased how collaboration, purpose, and technology can drive positive impact across industries and borders 🌇 This year’s summit set a new milestone for international participation, with 45% of attendees coming from abroad, a 41% increase compared to 2024. More than 3,000 startups, 1,500 corporations, and 800 investors managing over €300 billion in assets joined a program that featured 600 speakers across seven themed stages. From DeepTech and AI to sustainability, health, and space innovation, the sessions explored how Europe can lead the next decade of technological progress. 🏅 Innovation and collaboration took centre stage at the VDS international startup competition, where Spacebackend from Luxembourg and Zibra AI from Ukraine were named winners in the Early and Growth Stage categories. Read more at Tech.eu 📂 https://lnkd.in/eNbZVXx2

++ Presight Partners with Dubai World Trade Centre to Expand AI-Startup Accelerator Globally ++ Presight, a leading global AI and big data analytics company, has signed a partnership with Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the organizer of GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star, to become an official partner of the Presight AI-Startup Accelerator Program. Through this collaboration, Presight and DWTC will work together via GITEX’s events and global reach to expand the footprint of the Presight AI-Startup Accelerator, which gives AI founders access to world-class infrastructure, mentorship, and commercial opportunities. By leveraging DWTC’s international platform, Presight aims to strengthen its role in shaping the global AI startup ecosystem and empower founders developing applied intelligence solutions that drive measurable, real-world impact. Launched at Expand North Star 2024, the Presight AI-Startup Accelerator is the UAE’s first dedicated AI acceleration program. It was created to help AI startups scale faster by providing access to Presight’s technical expertise, enterprise partnerships, and customer ecosystem. The program’s inaugural cohort, showcased at Expand North Star 2025, featured 10 high-potential startups from around the world developing AI solutions with real-world impact. “DWTC’s portfolio of events and global reach makes them one of the world’s most powerful platforms for technology and startup engagement through GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star. This partnership brings an exceptional opportunity to strengthen the Presight AI-Startup Accelerator’s international footprint and connect visionary founders with the global innovation ecosystem. Together, we are helping to shape a future where AI startups have the resources, visibility, and networks to turn transformative ideas into reality.” –Thomas Pramotedham, CEO, Presight “At GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star, we have always believed that collaboration is the true propulsion of AI economies. We are delighted with the opportunity to partner with Presight and this visionary outcome-driven AI-Startup Accelerator programme, which exemplifies our shared commitment to empowering tech entrepreneurs with access to global investment and growth opportunities without boundaries, leveraging GITEX’s expansive network of investors and industry leaders across continents.” –Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre, Global Organiser of GITEX 🔗 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dTBfm6_g #TechAfricaNews #Presight #DubaiWorldTradeCentre #AI #Innovation #AIStartupAccelerator #GlobalExpansion #Startups #DigitalGrowth