The autumn round of the Pilsen Innovation Centre (BIC Pilsen) incubation programme was launched early in September, attracting thirteen applications from innovative companies in the Pilsen Region. After initial consultations, which helped companies better define their needs and goals, eleven of the most promising projects were presented to the Programme Board. Based on the presentations, the Board selected eight of them to proceed to the next incubation phase.
APRONE s.r.o. was started this year by Jindřich Kodet, an experienced accountant, entrepreneur, and mentor who’s been working in finance since 2007. In 2017, he co-founded the accounting firm Guru Accounting s.r.o., and since 2020, he has been a mentor for the SIT Port Pilsen, where he helps secondary school startups with bookkeeping and the basics of business. Thanks to his experience, he understands the actual problems of the non-profit sector and has decided to respond to them. APRONE was created to address the needs of small and medium-sized non-profit organizations that struggle with lack of time, money, and expertise on a daily basis. The APRONE platform unifies key processes—it generates contracts, invoices, and donation receipts, prepares documentation for tax returns, facilitates grant reporting, and provides basic human resources management. This gives non-profits the security of knowing their documents are processed correctly, saves them time and money, and allows them to focus on their real mission—caring for people, communities, or animals. The incubation goal is to develop APRONE into a reliable software tool that will make everyday work easier, save time, and become a long-term sustainable platform with a positive social and regional impact.
The social impact project Ataka was created for people living with mental illness who strive for recovery and greater financial stability, and was inspired by the founder’s own experience with mental health challenges. Currently, the project’s portfolio includes three main products, which are the focus during its incubation phase: Ataka Support Group – a peer-led support group focused on mutual encouragement and developing personal competencies. Ataka Medication – a comprehensive system for managing psychiatric medication, including an organizer, a web application, methodology, and practical tools. Ataka Marketplace – an online shop where people with chronic mental health difficulties can sell their products without unnecessary bureaucratic or logistical burden. The project has been running since 2023 and has already achieved its first results; however, it only became commercial this year. The project primarily needs support in human resources and financial management, which Ataka will focus on through consultations — with the aim of becoming a stable, reliable resource for people who truly need it.
Bohemian Cosmetics, a Czech family business, produces natural cosmetics from local ingredients. Its founders were motivated by their personal need for efficient and safe care for skin and the need to protect the planet. They built on the traditional use of animal lipids and discovered their potential in modern cosmetics. The lipids their formulas are based on are ethically sourced from Czech organic farms as a by-product. As a result, their products provide deep nourishment, support the microbiome, and encourage skin regeneration. Combined with organic herbal macerates, antioxidants, and CO₂ extracts, their cosmetics are effective, gentle, and in keeping with the Pure Cycle principle of zero waste. Bohemian Cosmetics pays close attention to quality—its products undergo not only dermatological and stability testing, but also microbiological testing for each batch. The packaging is made from an innovative biopolymer certified for home composting, which decomposes within 18 months and returns to nature without microplastics. The brand will enter the market in November 2025. As part of the incubation programme, the company’s founders are preparing certifications and clinical tests that will provide scientifically based information on the benefits of the products, with which they have long-term positive experience. They believe this project is a key step in building customer trust and paving the way for expansion into European markets. “Thanks to the incubator, we are gaining support to bring our products to you. We’re not just focused on growing the business. We want to inspire mindful self-care and prove that nature really works — we’ve seen it firsthand,” they explain.
Startup Farmiture is changing the way we think about living and growing food by combining furniture and smart technology to create hydroponic gardens designed specifically for apartments. “Our smart garden isn’t a plastic box—it’s a genuine piece of furniture that fits into a modern interior while allowing you to grow fresh herbs and vegetables without much trouble and without soil. “We want people in cities to have not only a beautiful interior at home, but also a source of healthy food — sustainably, conveniently, and with the feeling that even their apartment can become a small farm,” say the founders of Farmiture. Within the incubator, they plan to make use of experienced mentors’ support to turn their smart idea into a strong business. They need a stratégy, a business plan, and the right partners to bring their concept into production and to market. At the same time, they aim to attract their first customers and demonstrate that the future of urban farming lies in furniture and technology.
Lumaya s.r.o. was founded by Lucie Fraňková, and inspired by her personal experience with anxiety in her family. The company aims to provide parents and children with tools that enable them not to hide from anxiety, but to understand it, reduce its impact, and gradually overcome it. Lumaya connects three key areas: education and support for parents, physical products as an anchor for children, and digital tools with augmented reality that bring solutions into everyday life. This way the startup answers questions that parents often ask themselves: What is my child experiencing? What is anxiety? How can I help them? Lumaya eliminates waiting times, guesswork, and the need to do psychology research at night. As part of the incubation programme, the startup will focus on concept validation, establishing technological partnerships and pilot testing in kindergartens and schools. It combines emotions, technology, and prevention into a single functional whole that changes families’ lives. As part of the incubation programme, the startup will focus on concept validation, establishing technological partnerships and pilot testing in kindergartens and schools. The incubation programme will help complete a MVP and turn the idea into a tangible impact in order to achieve the fundamental vision: no child or parent should be left alone with their fears and without help.
Startup MadCrypto introduces PrivLex AI — a secure, on-premise AI assistant designed for companies working with sensitive data. The solution ensures data sovereignty, keeping all information and know-how fully under the customer’s control. During the incubation programme, the team will focus on designing and validating their business plan. It is also expected to bring strategic acceleration and assistance with sales and marketing for the B2B segment and public administration. Last but not least, MadCrypto’s founders are seeking networking opportunities and contacts with potential partners and investors to help them expand more quickly in the market and become a leader in private AI solutions.
The PAVLIX modular building system was developed by product designer Marek Pavlík, who has more than 26 years of experience in product design and structural solutions and has also won several prestigious international awards. His PAVLIX system addresses challenges associated with complex load-bearing structures for a wide range of projects, from garden structures to exhibition displays and street furniture to entire buildings and their furnishings. The key principles of the system are modularity, simplicity, and scalability, which save time, space, and money. The technical solution relies on a prefabricated aluminum structure with a universal joint, into which other materials such as wood, glass, stone, ceramics, or innovative composites can be integrated. The system does not contain any welded or glued joints – all parts are assembled and easily replaceable over time. Thanks to this, PAVLIX can flexibly adapt to any project need. In the incubation programme, the company will focus on developing areas outside its technical core, in particular defining its marketing and business strategy, finalising its business plan and objectives, creating modern online tools for promotion and sales, and on entering the Czech and European markets. The plans also involve establishing key partnerships in Pilsen and throughout the region.
The TSB (Training Sandbag) project was conceived by Marcel Kolena, who wanted to develop a training aid that would make it easier for people with limited time and space for exercise to improve their physical condition, health, and self-confidence. The result is a compact and versatile device that combines the functions of dumbbells, kettlebell, resistance bands, weight vests, and punching bags. With the TSB, users get a single tool that allows them to train their entire body — at home, outdoors, or in the gym. “TSB is not just another piece of fitness equipment, but creates a foundation for a community of people who want to push their limits and support each other. The first training sessions and competitions have already taken place in Pilsen, and the positive response has confirmed the project’s potential—TSB is not just a product, but a comprehensive system that supports an active lifestyle,” said Marcel Kolena. His goal is to build TSB into a global brand and a symbol of healthy and active living. The vision involves engaging tens of thousands of users worldwide — from amateur athletes and professionals to children and seniors.
