Rockaway Ventures: A New Dawn for Tech Investment in Central and Eastern Europe
May 16, 2025, 9:32 pm
Location: Germany, Bavaria, Munich
Employees: 51-200
Founded date: 2017
Total raised: $41.41M
Location: United States, California, San Francisco
Employees: 201-500
Founded date: 2014
Total raised: $261.3M
In the heart of Europe, a financial phoenix is rising. Rockaway Ventures, a Czech-based investment fund, has closed its second fund, Rockaway Ventures II, at nearly €55 million. This isn’t just a number; it’s a signal. A signal that the winds of change are blowing through the tech landscape of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
Founded in 2014, Rockaway Ventures began its journey without a formal structure. It was a time of exploration, a time when the team backed early Czech success stories like Productboard and Storyous. Fast forward to today, and the fund is stepping into a new era. The second fund, launched in 2022, marks a significant shift in focus. It’s not just about e-commerce and travel tech anymore. The spotlight is now on transformative technologies in sectors like energy, defense, and dual-use technologies.
The fund’s strategy is clear. It targets late-seed and Series A tech startups. These are the companies that are not just dreaming but are ready to disrupt traditional industries. Rockaway Ventures is betting on founders who are committed to driving growth through innovation. They are looking for the trailblazers, the visionaries who see beyond the horizon.
Currently, Rockaway Ventures boasts a portfolio of 11 companies, each showing promising early momentum. The plan is ambitious. Over the next three years, the fund aims to expand its portfolio significantly. Sixty percent of the investments will flow into CEE, while the remaining 40% will target Western Europe and diaspora startups from Czechia and neighboring countries now operating in the United States. This dual focus is a strategic move, ensuring that the fund taps into both local and international talent.
The driving force behind this expansion is the recognition of global trends and geopolitical developments. The world is changing, and so is the tech landscape. Rockaway Ventures is keenly aware of this shift. The firm is particularly interested in sectors that are being reshaped by these trends. The emphasis on transformative technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI), is not just a trend; it’s a revolution.
Petr Šmíd, a General Partner at Rockaway Ventures, sees a venture capital comeback. The recovery began in 2024, and it’s gaining momentum. Investors are now waking up to the potential of AI. A few years ago, many were skeptical. Today, the narrative has changed. The impact of AI is sector-specific and tangible. It’s not just about hype; it’s about real-world applications that can change the game.
Rockaway Ventures is not just a source of capital. It’s a partner in the truest sense. The team brings entrepreneurial experience to the table. They understand the challenges that founders face. This hands-on approach is what sets them apart. Founders working with Rockaway Ventures receive support in areas like international expansion and scaling. It’s about building a bridge between ambition and execution.
Notable investments in the fund’s portfolio include Apaleo, a German cloud-native hotel management platform, and CulturePulse, a US-Slovak startup utilizing AI for behavioral modeling and risk prediction. These companies are not just numbers on a balance sheet; they represent the future of their respective industries. They are the vanguards of change, and Rockaway Ventures is right there with them.
The fund’s commitment to supporting startups throughout their entire lifecycle is commendable. From pre-seed to growth-stage rounds, Rockaway Ventures aims to be a constant ally. This long-term vision is crucial in a landscape where many investors are quick to pull the plug at the first sign of trouble.
As the tech ecosystem in CEE continues to evolve, Rockaway Ventures is poised to play a pivotal role. The focus on transformative technologies aligns perfectly with the region’s potential. CEE is a melting pot of talent, innovation, and opportunity. The fund’s strategy to invest heavily in this region is not just smart; it’s necessary.
In conclusion, Rockaway Ventures is more than just an investment fund. It’s a catalyst for change. With its second fund, it is ready to back the next generation of tech startups. The focus on transformative technologies, combined with a hands-on approach, positions Rockaway Ventures as a leader in the venture capital space. As the world watches, this fund is set to make waves in the tech industry, not just in CEE but beyond. The future is bright, and Rockaway Ventures is at the forefront of this exciting journey.
Founded in 2014, Rockaway Ventures began its journey without a formal structure. It was a time of exploration, a time when the team backed early Czech success stories like Productboard and Storyous. Fast forward to today, and the fund is stepping into a new era. The second fund, launched in 2022, marks a significant shift in focus. It’s not just about e-commerce and travel tech anymore. The spotlight is now on transformative technologies in sectors like energy, defense, and dual-use technologies.
The fund’s strategy is clear. It targets late-seed and Series A tech startups. These are the companies that are not just dreaming but are ready to disrupt traditional industries. Rockaway Ventures is betting on founders who are committed to driving growth through innovation. They are looking for the trailblazers, the visionaries who see beyond the horizon.
Currently, Rockaway Ventures boasts a portfolio of 11 companies, each showing promising early momentum. The plan is ambitious. Over the next three years, the fund aims to expand its portfolio significantly. Sixty percent of the investments will flow into CEE, while the remaining 40% will target Western Europe and diaspora startups from Czechia and neighboring countries now operating in the United States. This dual focus is a strategic move, ensuring that the fund taps into both local and international talent.
The driving force behind this expansion is the recognition of global trends and geopolitical developments. The world is changing, and so is the tech landscape. Rockaway Ventures is keenly aware of this shift. The firm is particularly interested in sectors that are being reshaped by these trends. The emphasis on transformative technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI), is not just a trend; it’s a revolution.
Petr Šmíd, a General Partner at Rockaway Ventures, sees a venture capital comeback. The recovery began in 2024, and it’s gaining momentum. Investors are now waking up to the potential of AI. A few years ago, many were skeptical. Today, the narrative has changed. The impact of AI is sector-specific and tangible. It’s not just about hype; it’s about real-world applications that can change the game.
Rockaway Ventures is not just a source of capital. It’s a partner in the truest sense. The team brings entrepreneurial experience to the table. They understand the challenges that founders face. This hands-on approach is what sets them apart. Founders working with Rockaway Ventures receive support in areas like international expansion and scaling. It’s about building a bridge between ambition and execution.
Notable investments in the fund’s portfolio include Apaleo, a German cloud-native hotel management platform, and CulturePulse, a US-Slovak startup utilizing AI for behavioral modeling and risk prediction. These companies are not just numbers on a balance sheet; they represent the future of their respective industries. They are the vanguards of change, and Rockaway Ventures is right there with them.
The fund’s commitment to supporting startups throughout their entire lifecycle is commendable. From pre-seed to growth-stage rounds, Rockaway Ventures aims to be a constant ally. This long-term vision is crucial in a landscape where many investors are quick to pull the plug at the first sign of trouble.
As the tech ecosystem in CEE continues to evolve, Rockaway Ventures is poised to play a pivotal role. The focus on transformative technologies aligns perfectly with the region’s potential. CEE is a melting pot of talent, innovation, and opportunity. The fund’s strategy to invest heavily in this region is not just smart; it’s necessary.
In conclusion, Rockaway Ventures is more than just an investment fund. It’s a catalyst for change. With its second fund, it is ready to back the next generation of tech startups. The focus on transformative technologies, combined with a hands-on approach, positions Rockaway Ventures as a leader in the venture capital space. As the world watches, this fund is set to make waves in the tech industry, not just in CEE but beyond. The future is bright, and Rockaway Ventures is at the forefront of this exciting journey.