How a Hotelier's Frustration Built a $2.3 Billion Tech Unicorn

Jan de Vries · 2026-09-03

Ever wonder what happens when a seasoned hotelier gets fed up with clunky software? Richard Valtr, the founder behind hospitality tech giant Mews, is coming to the EU-Startups Summit next May to share exactly that story. He's moving from the front desk to the fireside chat, and his journey is a masterclass in spotting industry-wide pain and building a global solution. It's a classic case of necessity being the mother of invention. Richard wasn't some Silicon Valley techie looking for a problem. He was in the trenches, running a hotel in Prague, and dealing with outdated systems that just didn't cut it anymore. That firsthand frustration became the catalyst for something huge. ### From Hotel Lobby to Boardroom Richard's path wasn't a straight line. He studied in London, then dove into property development back in the Czech Republic. That work led him to open the Emblem Hotel in Prague. And that's where the real education began. Day after day, he saw how legacy software was holding back his team and disappointing guests. The tech simply hadn't evolved with the times. So, in 2012, he decided to build a better way. What started as a quest for a superior property management system blossomed into a full-blown hospitality operating system. Think of it as the central nervous system for a hotel, connecting everything from daily operations and payments to revenue management and the entire guest journey. ### The Staggering Scale of Mews Under Richard's leadership, Mews didn't just grow—it exploded. Let's talk numbers for a second. In early 2026, the company closed a massive Series D funding round. We're talking about $275 million in fresh capital, which valued the company at a staggering $2.3 billion. By that same year, their reach was global: - Serving approximately 15,000 properties worldwide - Operating across 85 different countries That's a far cry from its origins in a single Prague hotel. It proves the problem he identified was universal. ### Why His Summit Talk Matters For founders and investors at the EU-Startups Summit, Richard's story is pure gold. It's a powerful lesson in **domain expertise**. He didn't disrupt hospitality from the outside; he revolutionized it from within because he lived the problems. Today, he's still deeply involved, steering Mews's long-term vision and shaping big conversations about AI, guest experience, and what the future of travel really looks like. His fireside chat won't just be a victory lap. Expect hard-won insights on scaling a European startup into a global player, navigating fundraising, and staying true to a core mission while evolving at breakneck speed. ### The Stage Awaits: EU-Startups Summit 2027 This all goes down at the EU-Startups Summit in sunny Malta on May 13-14, 2027. They're expecting about 2,500 founders, investors, and key players from across the ecosystem. It's two packed days designed for connection and inspiration. You'll find: - Inspiring keynotes and candid fireside chats (like Richard's) - Practical workshops to level up your skills - A buzzing exhibition hall full of Europe's hottest startups - Countless opportunities to network and make real connections If you're building something in tech or investing in the next big idea, hearing how Richard Valtr turned a personal headache into a multi-billion dollar platform is an opportunity you don't want to miss. It’s a reminder that the best startups often come from simply asking, "Why is this still so hard?" and having the courage to build the answer.