At secondary school in Havířov, I really enjoyed maths, but I wasn’t interested in studying business. While I was still a secondary school student, I discovered Czechitas, an organisation that focuses on educating young people in information technology. I signed up for their courses immediately and really enjoyed them. It was only natural that I should apply to the Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University after this experience.
Software systems studies
I never considered myself to be the stereotypical IT person who would sit in front of a computer screen all day, which is why I chose to study for a Master’s degree in Software Engineering, which I am currently about to complete. I think it is a promising programme, offering a solid foundation in multiple areas with a strong focus on practical training. I specialise in the design and development of software systems.
I like that it’s very practical, so I’ve already tried creating mobile and web applications for various purposes, such as food delivery and psychology, where I helped to measure productivity and track habits. We also developed a web-based task management application for individuals or companies as part of a major team project, under the guidance of a real team leader and actual developers – it was fantastic!
My own startup and business
I’ve always kept busy and have earned extra money through various part-time jobs – I wanted to do more than “just study” at a university. About three years ago, I enrolled in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship course, developed in collaboration between Masaryk University, Mendel University and the South Moravian Innovation Centre.
Its focus was on bridging academia and industry, with the aim of supporting student entrepreneurship and regional innovation. Working in small groups, we came up with an idea, tested its feasibility and created our own business plan. I was very lucky to meet the people I did, because they later became my colleagues and we co-founded our own start-up together. If I hadn’t enrolled in the course, we probably wouldn’t have met as two of us are from the Faculty of Informatics and the other two from Mendel University.
At that time, artificial intelligence was just taking off and in Citymind – that’s our company – we wanted to develop a product that we ourselves would want to use. We realised that the public administration sector had been somewhat neglected, so we decided to focus on it. Today, we develop AI assistants for municipalities, institutions, universities and companies. The goal is to make advanced AI technologies more accessible, intuitive and effective, capable of simplifying communication, automating routine tasks, and providing data insights. In public administration, for instance, the aim is to enable citizens to communicate with city authorities and receive answers to simple questions without having to call, email or visit City Hall. Instead, they can use a chat interface to ask questions and receive immediate responses. In turn, municipalities gain a better understanding of what their citizens care about.
International experience
During my studies, I spent six months at the University of Valencia on an Erasmus exchange. For example, I took a course focused on the Internet of Things. As well as designing applications, we worked with hardware and built a small autonomous car, for instance. I absolutely love Valencia and consider it my second home – it’s a place I regularly return to.
In May 2025, I participated in the Vienna Startup Package, a programme aimed at young entrepreneurs looking to expand to Austria, as COO and co-founder of Citymind. The activity-packed programme took place in the middle of the semester, but fortunately I had enrolled in courses that could be completed remotely.
Last September, I secured a place on the prestigious Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) and spent a month in the United States. This was an amazing opportunity, as only fifty people from Europe were selected for the programme. I was placed at the University of Michigan with an AI startup. They showed me around the development environment and explained what they were working on. I also attended social events, which gave me an insight into the American business ecosystem, and focused on networking. I gained practical experience not only in Detroit, but also in Boston and Washington, D.C.
Invitation from the President
Last summer, I received a letter inviting me to a garden party in the Lány Castle. President Petr Pavel hosted around 50 young entrepreneurs and gave them the opportunity to present their projects. He was interested in what we were working on and gave us his feedback. It was a very pleasant meeting where I represented our company and had the chance to meet interesting people.
Business and recreation
Starting a business at a young age is worth trying, because you don’t have as much to lose, so to say. However, it usually means sacrificing your free time. Initially, I found it difficult to balance business with relaxation. During the week, I try to exercise. I go to the gym and, if I can, I head out of town at the weekends to go hiking. My favourite place is the Beskydy Mountains and I especially love hiking up Lysá hora.