The Single Market: our European home market in an uncertain world
The European Commission has unveiled its 2025 strategy for the Single Market, outlining a bold vision to make it simpler, more seamless, and future-proof. Central to the plan is the introduction of EU-wide business frameworks—often referred to as “28th regime” solutions—that offer startups and SMEs a streamlined, digital-first alternative to complex national systems.
Key takeaways:
- The strategy proposes an EU company law instrument to:
- Reduce legal fragmentation across Member States
- Enable online company creation within 48 hours
- Support SMEs and scale-ups with a unified, efficient legal structure
Other key priorities include:
- Eliminating the “Terrible Ten” market barriers
- Unlocking high-impact service sectors
- Strengthening SME access to cross-border opportunities
- Embracing digital tools for seamless integration
- Ensuring effective enforcement and national ownership
Czech investors were active again in 2024, willing to commit venture capital to startups. However, nearly two-thirds (62.2%) of them flagged the lack of quality startups as the biggest challenge last year, marking an almost 20% increase compared to 2023. These findings come from a survey conducted by the investment group DEPO Ventures.
The report analyzes investment trends, preferences, key challenges, and more, offering a comprehensive view of the Czech venture capital ecosystem. The main partners of the survey, which involved 156 respondents, are the startup support agency Czechinvest and the law firm Novalia.
Key takeaways:
- AI Leads as the Most Sought-After Technology, with a Rising Focus on Defense
- Interest in Exclusively Czech Startups Continues to Decline
- Startup Investments Deliver Stronger Returns Than Other Asset Classes
- Investor Sentiment for 2025 Remains Optimistic
- High Capital Demands and Risk Continue to Deter Potential Investors
