Prague and Central Bohemia are looking for a new EY Entrepreneur of the Year
The company EY, under the auspices of the mayor of the capital city of Prague, Zdenek Hřiba, and in cooperation with the innovation agency SIC, is announcing the eighteenth year of the competition for the title of EY Entrepreneur of the Year of the capital city of Prague and the Central Bohemian Region. With seven national winners, these regions are among the most successful in the competition’s history. The deadline for applications for this year’s edition is October 21, 2022. The holder of the title EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 of the capital city of Prague and the Central Bohemian Region will be announced in February 2023.
The title of EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 of the capital city of Prague was awarded to Tomáš Čupr, owner of Rohlik Group, who also became the national winner of the competition. He also represented the Czech Republic at the world finals in Monte Carlo in June 2021.
“It was a great honor to be part of a special group of national winners. For me, EY Entrepreneur of the Year is a celebration of business and innovation everywhere in the world. It is inspiring to experience firsthand that together we can change the world for the better!” he says Tomáš Čupr from Rohlik Group, holders of the titles EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 of the capital city of Prague and EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 of the Czech Republic.
Martin Dienstbier and Václav Navrátil from DIANA Biotechnologies succeeded in the Central Bohemia region. The independent jury was particularly impressed by the rapid development of their relatively young company. In 2020, PCR diagnostics entered the market and DIANA Biotechnologies developed and launched very sensitive PCR tests for covid-19 from saliva in a record short time.
“Victory in the competition EY Entrepreneur of the Year of the Central Bohemian Region and EY Beginner entrepreneur of the year made us very happy. We see it as an appreciation that what we do with the entire DIANA Biotechnologies team really goes beyond the scientific-academic community from which we originally emerged, and as further encouragement that our vision to build a globally successful pharmaceutical and diagnostic company in the Czech Republic is no longer just a distant dream,” they stated Martin Dienstbier AND Václav Navrátil from DIANA Biotechnologies and holders of the title EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 of the Central Bohemian Region.
“This year again brings a whole range of obstacles to entrepreneurs. All of them have been affected in different ways by the war in Ukraine, they are struggling with rapidly rising energy prices and high inflation. But I am convincedand that this is also why we will witness many inspiring stories in this year’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year competition,” she said Martina Kneiflová, leading partner of EY in the Czech Republic.
“Even in times of crisis, such as the covid pandemic, inflation and rising prices, Prague businessmen and women show exceptional resilience and determination. I believe that the most interesting names will compete in this year’s edition, as in the previous ones, and the winner will be the one who achieved the best possible results in business under such difficult conditions and at the same time preserved honesty and integrity.” he says Zdeněk Hřib, the mayor of the capital city of Prague.
The Central Bohemian Region and especially the Central Bohemian Innovation Center is aware of the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation. During its existence, SIC has helped more than a hundred companies succeed not only on the domestic but also on the global market.
“Entrepreneurship is the main driver of change and innovation in society. I am proud that we have many entrepreneurs in the Central Bohemian Region, incoming companies are globally successful. Some of them were also successful in the past in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year competition. This competition promotes interesting business stories that can inspire others to change the world around us through business.” stated Pavel Jovanovič, director of the Central Bohemian Innovation Center.
Anyone can nominate an entrepreneur for the competition using the form at www.podnikatelroku.cz. There is also an application on this website for entrepreneurs who want to participate in this year’s event. The deadline for applications and nominations is October 21, 2022.
EY Entrepreneur of the Year is the world’s most prestigious business competition that pays tribute to exceptional personalities. Its goal is to show the public excellent personal examples in the field of business, which are role models for young entrepreneurs. The EY Entrepreneur of the Year competition is designed to be international, so the criteria by which individual participants are judged are comparable in each country. Currently, as the only globally recognized competition of its kind, it is regularly announced in almost 60 countries on six continents.
Photo 1: Tomáš Čupr, owner of Rohlik Group and holder of the titles EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 of the Capital City of Prague and EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 of the Czech Republic
Photo 2 – from left: Martin Dienstbier and Václav Navrátil, owners of DIANA Biotechnologies and holders of the titles EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 in the Central Bohemian Region and EY Startup Entrepreneur of the Year 2021
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