Big Week, Small Business: Unleashing the Power of Entrepreneurship

An initiative that engaged and supported more than 1,500 Czech small businesses in just seven days. A program packed with inspiring events, top-notch experts, and practical tools. An opportunity for networking and new collaborations. A week that advanced the business of many by a year. That was Small Business Week in the Czech Republic. Read on to see what it was all like.

Entrepreneurship can be a rollercoaster, and Martin Kotmel, founder and CEO of a thriving plumbing business, knows it firsthand. Hitting a turnover of 5 million CZK (about $230,000) was a huge win a couple of years ago, but it left him exhausted and searching for more. Initially wary of rigid "processes", Kotmel found new energy and clarity with the help of his mentors, transforming his company with smart, efficient systems. Now, he enjoys higher revenues and more freedom, with time to focus on what truly matters—both in business and life.

Beating Heart of Local Communities

When small businesses struggle, we all feel the impact.

They are the foundation of the global economy—making up 90% of all businesses, providing 60% to 70% of jobs, and generating half of the world’s GDP. In the Czech Republic, they account for 40% of business revenue and nearly half of all employment. Small businesses serve locally, source locally and hire locally. In short, they are the beating heart of local communities.

However, small businesses often go unnoticed and underappreciated, receiving far less support than they truly deserve. But we, at Mastercard, in collaboration with Opero—a vibrant business hub and coworking space in Prague—are determined to change this narrative in the Czech Republic.

We established Small Business Week, known in Czech as Velký týden malých firem, and launched its first edition this year, taking place from September 30 to October 6, 2024. Our nationwide campaign aimed to shine a spotlight on small businesses and celebrate their contributions, and the series of events created opportunities for action-packed and inspiring meetups to spark ideas for industry experts and assist entrepreneurs to keeping up with the latest trends.

"Entrepreneurs are heroes; they possess the unique ability to identify opportunities and transform mere ideas into viable products or services, often working alone. Their impact extends beyond personal success; entrepreneurs frequently contribute to their communities. Providing them access to new trends and tools is an important endeavor." – Jana Lvová, General Manager, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Mastercard.

Putting Small Businesses on the Map

Create a customer benefit, add yourself to the interactive map, and spread the word about your business. --- These three simple steps were completed by over 600 companies, providing a diverse array of engaging workshops, tours, and services for both existing and new customers. After that, our job was to verify the accuracy of the information and share the stories of small businesses on social media and with the journalists.

The public had the opportunity to take a glimpse into the world of entrepreneurship and enjoy services and products from small businesses, such as a workshop focused on making herbal ointments, a free physiotherapy session, or a consultation to design a skincare routine.

The unique and exciting stories of entrepreneurs have been featured in tier 1 media, such as the story of CityZen, which produces cotton t-shirts that resist stains and odors, in Czech Radio (Český rozhlas), and the business Kaleido, which creates VR tours for everyone, highlighted in Metro.cz

Extensive support in sharing stories and data about entrepreneurs was provided by more than 20 ambassadors of the initiative, including: Tomáš Vala (SIKO BATHROOMS), Martin Vohánka (Eurowag), Pavel Prokop (ČSOB), Alexandra Kala (Profimed), and Jana Hanušová (Essox), among others.

The initiative get auspice from the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Quality Council of the Czech Republic. President Petr Pavel highlighted the launch of the initiative and emphasized the importance of small businesses.

"Hard work, stress, and uncertainty, yet also courage, determination, and innovation. Entrepreneurship demands bravery and offers great rewards. After years working with small business owners, we know they can bring ideas to life, but they often work alone. Opening doors to opportunities for learning from others and connecting with peers remains the best approach." – Martin Mára, Head of the Small Business Week & DoToho! Mentoring Scheme.

The Courage to Tackle Challenges

“I choose to find something positive in every negative experience,” said Simona Kijonková, one of the most influential women in Czech business, in an inspiring interview that set the tone for the day for 400 small businesses.

In the opening interview, Simona Kijonková shared her personal journey, highlighting the importance of resilience in both business and life, the careful selection of collaborators, the need for continuous innovation, and the value of staying humble, no matter how much success one achieves.

Following that, an inspiring array of speakers took the stage, featuring passionate small business owners and experts who revealed their best-kept secrets for thriving in business—from cultivating strong processes and culture to mastering strategy, marketing, and the latest digital technologies. Martin Kotmel revealed how streamlining processes and leveraging AI-powered apps gave him back valuable time and energy, while Pavel Hrstka wowed the audience with his exceptional customer communication—just a few of the standout moments.

The event also featured workshops with experts, consultation sessions, speed networking, and a variety of booths where participants could learn more about new tools, products, and services.

„It’s wonderful to see such a great turnout; the audience was fantastic, and the day was full of energy. The atmosphere was great. And the train ride was incredible!“ – Kateřina Tygl, Marketing Expert

„I didn't have high expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the presentations and workshops. It was really, really good. We definitely need similar events to shift the mindset of small business owners toward automation, speeding up processes, and utilizing AI… And the first step toward all of this is mastering cybersecurity.“ – Dominik Malčík, Redamp.io

Beyond the Talk: Turning Ideas into Action

"I’m not a fan of the phrase 'small businesses are the backbone of the economy.' Not because it’s not true—on the contrary, it's supported by solid data. The issue is that such powerful statements often just hang in the air, and the discussion doesn’t move toward practical solutions," kicked off the inspirational forum former Member of the European Parliament, Martina Dlabajová, giving it a clear, practical focus.

The event at Opero brought together over 100 industry experts from government, associations, financial institutions, and the non-profit sector. The spotlight was on data, insights, and real-world examples of programs and tools that have fueled progress for small businesses and driven success in other countries.

Arne Pache shared why Mastercard champions small businesses, and Jerzy Holub introduced the "Kde začít podnikat" ("Where to Start Business") tool—an interactive guide for selecting ideal business locations. Francesca Pellizzoni from Amazon provided insights on export support for SMEs, and William Jalloul from Flowpay unveiled new financing solutions, highlighting just a few program points.

The event concluded with Jana Havrdová, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, and Josef Jaroš, Chairman of the Board of the Association of SMEs, emphasizing the need for actionable steps to support SMEs and drive future growth.

We extend our sincere gratitude to sponsors, ecosystem partners, and experts, who, together with us—Mastercard and Opero—believe in the power of small business.

A complete list of partners is available on this website.