- CEE Startup Voucher 2025 Grand Finale gathered regional innovators, investors, and mentors in Žilina, Slovakia
- Top 10 CEE startups showcased strong technological solutions with high market and impact potential
- SensomediX, OWASmooth, and AdvaMat got recognized as winners for their breakthrough deep tech innovations
- The event strengthens cross-border collaboration and boosts the CEE region’s growing startup ecosystem
On November 11th, 2025’s edition of CEE Startup Voucher program by CEE Startup Network reached its highly anticipated Grand Finale at the Nová Synagóga in Žilina, Slovakia. The town transformed into a vibrant hub where investors, mentors, founders, and innovation enthusiasts gathered to celebrate and witness some of the most promising entrepreneurial talent in the CEE region.
The event highlighted the Top 10 startups that advanced through a rigorous selection process, showcasing ventures that demonstrated both innovation and potential for lasting impact. Attendees experienced a full program featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, and engaging founder stories, offering insights into the highs and lows of the startup journey and celebrating innovation, resilience, and the entrepreneurial spirit in our region.
The event also included dynamic pitching competition, providing startups with the opportunity to present their ideas, gain visibility, and attract potential partners or investors. ITKeyMedia spotlights the winners:
1st Place: SensomediX
Matej Daniel, Co-Founder and CEO at SensomediX
Czech SensomediX became the winner of this year’s CEE Startup Voucher. It was founded earlier this year by Tobiáš Judl (CMO) and Matej Daniel (CEO). The startup develops medical device solutions focused on rapid diagnostics during surgery with the aim to deliver the technology that could enable surgeons to detect infections immediately on the spot, during an operation. With this, SensomediX hopes to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and raise the standard of care in orthopaedic or surgical settings. As the winner SensomediX earned the main prize of EUR 20K.
2nd Place: OWASmooth
OWASmooth Co-Founders Dr Barbora Hennelova (COO and CSO) and Miroslav Hennel (CEO)
Slovak deep tech startup OWASmooth became SensomediX’ runner-up. Started in 2025 by the power couple of Miroslav Hennel and Dr Barbora Hennelová. The team delivers a data processing technology that ‘smooths’ raw sensor data — removing noise, correcting instability, and revealing accurate trends or signals in real time. Their solution claims to improve data quality by over 70%, without needing new hardware or power‑hungry AI — a major advantage for IoT, embedded systems, and industries where computing resources are limited.
OWASmooth is available both as a cloud/SaaS version and an SDK/library for direct integration into devices. Earlier this year, OWASmooth won its regional accelerator program (organized by the Innovation Center of Košice Region, ICKK) and secured an investment of EUR 40K from Czech Founders VC as part of its Sherpa acceleration programme.
3rd Place: AdvaMat
Prof. Tomáš Polcar, Founder at AdvaMat
AdvaMat came third in the competition. This is a Czech materials science company specializing in advanced coatings based on physical vapor deposition (PVD) and related surface technologies. The company’s roots trace back to a research group at the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU), originally founded in 2009 under the leadership of Prof. Tomáš Polcar. In 2014, this research activity spun out into a company that develops and applies high performance coatings that significantly extend tool lifetime, improve wear and corrosion resistance, and optimize production efficiency — while maintaining sustainability and minimal environmental impact. Their coatings are used across manufacturing industries to enhance durability and functional surfaces. The company combines scientific expertise and industrial application, offering clients bespoke coating solutions and long‑term collaboration throughout the production process.
The CEE Startup Voucher Grand Finale traditionally showcased how essential cross-border collaboration is for strengthening the region’s innovation landscape. By spotlighting ambitious founders and connecting them with investors, mentors, and industry leaders, the event reinforces a pipeline of talent that is elevating the entire CEE startup ecosystem. As these companies grow, their success will continue to attract capital, inspire new ventures, and solidify Central and Eastern Europe as a hub of technological excellence.
Kostiantyn is a freelance writer from Crimea but based in Lviv. He loves writing about IT and high tech because those topics are always upbeat and he’s an inherent optimist!
