How AceON Accelerator Helps Startups Win a $47K Investment

Jan de Vries · 2026-08-04

### The Startup Journey Is Harder Than It Looks You've got a great product idea. Maybe even a prototype. But then comes the hard part: figuring out what to do next. How do you validate your business model? Which metrics actually matter? And when should you start talking to investors? These are the questions that keep founders up at night. And they're exactly the questions AceON Accelerator was built to answer. After five successful programs, AceON has already helped more than 100 startups from over 20 countries turn early-stage ideas into companies ready for real growth. Now, they're opening applications for their sixth cohort—and it's completely free. ### What Makes AceON Different? AceON isn't your typical accelerator. It was created by Accace, an international advisory and BPO corporation, and ZAKA VC, a venture capital fund that invests primarily in US and European startups. That combination means you get both business expertise and a genuine investor perspective in one program. You're not just learning theory from people who've read about startups. You're learning from folks who've actually built and scaled companies. ### Learn From a Silicon Valley Investor One of the standout sessions in the program focuses on building a pre-seed pitch deck that actually raises money. It's led by Ján Kasper, co-founder and Managing Partner at ZAKA VC. ZAKA has invested in nearly 100 startups across the US and Europe, and operates from offices in Silicon Valley, London, Prague, and Bratislava. But Ján isn't just an investor. He's also a serial entrepreneur who's built and scaled more than 50 companies with combined annual revenue exceeding $763 million (that's €700 million). So when he talks about what investors look for, he knows what he's talking about. AceON's other co-founder, Peter Pašek, brings a different but equally valuable perspective. As Managing Director at Accace Slovakia and Head of FinTech at Accace Group, he's spent years advising companies across multiple industries. He believes the real value of the program is the knowledge and connections participants gain—things they can use long after the program ends. ### Real-World Expertise, Not Just Startup Theory Founders need practical insights from people who've faced real business challenges. That's why AceON brings in strategic partners who offer hands-on expertise. - Labyrinth Labs helps startups build scalable cloud-native architecture and make the most of AWS funding. - PERSONALITY Group focuses on leadership and talent development. - MERCURTEC covers business growth strategies. Adam Hamšík, co-founder and CEO of Labyrinth Labs, puts it simply: > "Focus on your product, your customers, and your growing team. Don't let infrastructure become a distraction from what you're actually trying to build." That's the kind of practical advice you get throughout the program. ### What's in It for You? The sixth edition of AceON Accelerator is designed for idea and pre-seed stage startups. Founders who want to build scalable companies and prepare for fundraising will find a lot here. The program is fully online and free, tailored for startups across Europe. Selected startups get access to investor-led lectures, mentoring sessions, and direct insights into the venture capital ecosystem. And here's the exciting part: at the end of the program, AceON will invest $47,000 (€40K) into one selected startup, announced during Demo Day. ### How to Apply If you're ready to take your startup to the next level, applications are open until September 3, 2026. Head over to [aceon.io/program](https://www.aceon.io/program) to apply. Don't wait too long—this is a chance to learn from people who've been where you are and succeeded. This might be the push your startup needs.