On August 26, 2025, STRV Prague’s rooftop became the meeting point for more than 100 entrepreneurs, founders, and curious minds. Our sold-out Female Founders: Business Stories, Lessons & Networking was more than an event, it was an atmosphere. As one attendee put it: “Very inspirative female founders open to sharing, very warm atmosphere.”
The program opened with Jana Sedláková addressing the classic founder dilemma: how do you fuel growth? Should you bootstrap and retain control, or fundraise and scale faster? Jana’s legal and VC background gave her a sharp perspective: “You can fund it or bootstrap it, but if nobody wants it, it’s still doomed.” The mix of pragmatism and encouragement resonated, several attendees later called her talk “clear” and “inspiring.”
Next came Petra Doubková, who drew the audience into her journey of creating sustainable household products. She spoke openly about failed early experiments: “the smell was awful!”, and about the fear she had to face just to get started. Petra also highlighted her company’s values: remote work, empathy, and inclusive hiring, including collaborations with sheltered workshops. One participant reflected: “I loved the choice of topics and speakers. I admire all of them and their courage.”
The evening’s first panel, moderated by Femme Palette Co-founder and CEO, Lucie Neumanová, featured three founders:
Their honesty made a strong impression. One attendee wrote: “I think it was fantastic. Very inspirational. I love the choice of the speakers and the wide selection of different businesses.”
Gabriela Dědičová shifted the spotlight to customer relationships. Her approach, treating clients like friends rather than transactions, has earned her business a flawless reputation. She told stories of WhatsApp updates and photo messages that make customers feel truly cared for: “Customers don’t just remember the jewellery, they remember how you made them feel.” While a few participants wished her talk had been less brand-centric, most were struck by her authenticity and the reminder that empathy is the ultimate growth strategy.
The final panel, moderated by Klara Holíková, COO and Co-founder at Femme Palette, gave space for failure. Klara Losert (Talkbase), Kamila Zahradníčková (Lakmoos), and Linette Manuel (Makeful) shared candid stories about what went wrong and how they bounced back. From hiring missteps to product launches gone sideways, their honesty drew laughter and nods of recognition. Feedback captured the spirit well: “I loved how many first-time speakers there were and how honest, open, and genuine everyone was able to be. It was such a safe place, even to do this kind of scary thing as a first-time speaking in English.”
As the talks ended, the rooftop filled with conversations under the fading light of Prague’s skyline. Some discussed funding strategies, others brainstormed collaborations on the spot. One participant summed it up perfectly: “These events feel like a warm hug and I love how thought through they are even in terms of the smallest detail.”
The feedback spoke volumes: “It was fun. Thank you.”; “I found the topics very inspiring.” and “I love the choice of the speakers and admire their courage.”
Each speaker brought a different angle, whether it was Jana’s clarity on growth strategies, Petra’s vulnerability, Gabriela’s empathy, or the raw honesty of our panels. Together, they created a mosaic of lessons that left the audience energized, connected, and ready to take their next bold step.
