Brno is no longer just a university town. It’s quietly becoming one of Europe’s most exciting hubs for AI and emerging tech, with a wave of startups now catching global attention — and funding.
Not long ago, the Czech Republic’s second-largest city was seen as a modest academic enclave. But over the last few years, Brno has transformed into a serious player in Europe’s tech circuit. What’s driving the change? A potent mix of institutional backing, deep research roots, and founders solving real problems — often with AI at the core.
From Lab Coats to Launchpads: How Brno’s Ecosystem Took Off
This shift isn’t accidental. It’s the result of a 20-year-long build-up, led by institutions like JIC (South Moravian Innovation Centre), which has helped shepherd university-born projects into scalable businesses. JIC director Petr Chládek, a scientist by training, has quietly become a central figure in this evolution.
In a chat last month, Chládek was candid. “We’re not trying to copy Silicon Valley,” he said. “We’re building something more grounded. Local solutions, international ambition.”
And it’s working.
Startups nurtured in Brno are now piloting products in the U.S., testing AI in space, and redefining patient care — all while keeping one foot firmly planted in Czech soil.
Maia Labs Is Changing Cancer Detection — With Computer Vision
Of all the names buzzing around Brno right now, Maia Labs might be the loudest. Their breakthrough product, ColoMaia, adds real-time computer vision to colonoscopies — catching what human eyes miss.
The stats are wild. In trials, it increased polyp detection by 43%. And it’s not just about accuracy — it’s also making life easier for doctors. ColoMaia slashes post-procedure reporting time in half.
Maia Labs is already running pilots across Europe and, impressively, the Mayo Clinic in the U.S. has come on board.
One sentence here.
That kind of traction is rare for early-stage HealthTech. It’s even rarer from a city many investors couldn’t point to on a map five years ago.
Get Moments Turns Crowd Clips Into Viral Gold
Now let’s talk about concerts, festivals, and sports — or more specifically, Get Moments, a startup that’s gamifying fan-shot video.
Their platform collects audience videos and instantly generates slick, shareable highlight reels using AI. That’s right — instead of a messy Dropbox of blurry clips, fans walk away with branded, polished footage of the events they just attended.
It’s already worked at scale. At Hungary’s Sziget Festival, over 30,000 videos were submitted, resulting in nearly 2,000 unique AI-edited reels. And guess what? Half of those were shared online.
Here’s why people care:
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Fans get cool videos without editing
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Event organizers get free marketing
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Brands get visibility in moments people care about
The team closed a €500,000 seed round in September. Smart money’s betting on their tech expanding well beyond music.
Kapnetix Helps Animators Stop Wasting Time
Animation studios — big and small — know the pain of motion capture cleanup. It’s tedious, repetitive, and expensive. Enter Kapnetix, a Brno-based startup that’s built AI to do the cleanup in minutes.
Back in 2021, they started with a prototype in collaboration with 2K Games. Today, their tools are being tested by big names like Disney.
What’s the real impact? See the table below.
| Task | Before Kapnetix | With Kapnetix |
|---|---|---|
| Mocap Cleanup (avg/scene) | 5-7 hours | 10-20 minutes |
| Number of animators | 3-5 per session | 1 technician |
| Post-process error margin | ~12% | <2% |
Kapnetix’s tools are helping small studios punch above their weight, while streamlining workflows for the industry’s giants. That’s a rare duality.
One-sentence paragraph to break the pattern.
AI might not be replacing artists, but it’s certainly cutting the grunt work.
VisionCraft Is Taking Physical Therapy Into the Living Room
You’ve been injured. You’re supposed to do rehab at home. But let’s be real — most people skip it. VisionCraft gets it, and their VisioTherapy platform is aiming to fix it.
The system uses motion tracking and AI to guide you through at-home exercises, giving real-time feedback and accountability. Better yet, that data goes back to your clinician.
CEO David Tuč says adoption is rising fast, especially with remote-care models on the rise post-COVID. VisionCraft is currently fundraising to expand into the U.S. and Middle East.
One sentence for rhythm.
Because no one should be guessing if they’re doing their therapy right.
Zaira’s Satellite AI Is Cutting Costs by 98%
Space startups aren’t just coming from California and Cape Canaveral anymore. Meet Zaira, a Brno-based venture doing AI image processing — on satellites.
Instead of downloading massive files, Zaira’s system processes data onboard and only sends what’s useful. Cloudy images? Junk data? Filtered before transmission. The result: a 98% drop in communication costs.
They’re already working with the European Space Agency, and recently raised €1.7 million to push into U.S. markets.
One-sentence paragraph here.
Processing in orbit isn’t just cool — it’s practical.
The Bigger Picture: VC Floods Into Brno
Let’s talk money. According to regional VC data, Brno-area startups have raised over $340 million in venture funding over the last four years.
And the exits? Over $2.5 billion.
JIC’s Start-up Money conference this May drew investors from across Europe and beyond. XR-focused companies, deeptech founders, and big-name VCs rubbed elbows in what looked — and felt — like a mini CES.
Vrgineers, one of the Czech Republic’s most advanced mixed-reality companies, even used the platform to announce new deals with Lockheed Martin and Airbus.
One-sentence paragraph again.
From medical imaging to motion capture to satellites, Brno’s no longer building in isolation. It’s selling to the world.
