Jan Černý: We are a natural partner for family businesses dealing with succession. We invest so that we can keep companies forever

PFCNews

Pale Fire Capital partner Jan Černý says in an interview for HN that over the next five years the group plans to invest EUR 400 million in strong European companies. “An investor, as I see it, is someone who acts like a good farmer, thinks long term, helps their companies grow dynamically, but does not leave scorched earth behind,” he Read more

Aukro’s Restart. Under Pale Fire Capital, the Czech Online Marketplace Is Becoming a Leader in Collectibles and Re-commerce

PFCNews

Forbes, 7 May 2026, Jana Pšeničková

It has more than twenty years of history behind it and is now the largest Czech-owned domestic online marketplace. Aukro, founded in 2003 in Zlín as part of the Polish Allegro Group, underwent a rebirth several years ago.

The first came when it was bought out of Polish ownership by Václav Liška, who was … Read more

Jan Černý is the new Managing Partner of Pale Fire Capital

PFCNews

Jan Černý has become the new Managing Partner of Pale Fire Capital. He takes on the task of building and developing the group’s private equity portfolio at a moment when one of the greatest investment opportunities in recent years is opening up for PFC — at the intersection of technology, AI, and traditional industries. The group is preparing to accelerate … Read more

Dušan Šenkypl named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in Prague

PFCNews

The 26th edition of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards has unveiled the winners of the first two regional rounds, announced in late January. A panel of judges, composed largely of past laureates, selected Dušan Šenkypl, a partner at Pale Fire Capital, as Entrepreneur of the Year in Prague. The award for the Central Bohemian Region went to Michal Read more

Aukro completes its first foreign acquisition

PFCNews

Aukro entered five new markets in 2025 and completed its first ever foreign acquisition. Further details were reported by CzechCrunch.

After several difficult years, Aukro has regained momentum following its takeover by Jan Barta and his partners and has now embarked on its first acquisition drive.

11 December 2025, CzechCrunch, Filip Magalhães

One of the Czech Republic’s largest auction platforms Read more

Pale Fire Capital invests in French meal-voucher heavyweight

PFCNews

Hospodářské noviny has revealed a new investment by Pale Fire Capital and fresh details on the growth in the value of its portfolio.

Another big bet by Barta and his partners: Pale Fire Capital invests in a French meal-voucher giant

22 December 2025, Hospodářské noviny, Michael Mareš

Discount platform Groupon, online marketplace Aukro, travel start-ups Daytrip and Davinci, cycling … Read more

Pale Fire Capital Supports Czech Universities on Their Journey Toward Global Excellence

PFCNews

At Pale Fire Capital, we believe that Czech capital should aspire to succeed under the toughest conditions on global markets. We are convinced that the same ambition is relevant for Czech science. Sharing knowledge, research methods, and experience with leading international scholars is one of the key ways to strengthen the innovation capacity and competitiveness of the Czech Republic.

This Read more

Aukro Now Operates in Six European Countries

PFCNews

Aukro, a leading online auction and marketplace platform in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and part of the Pale Fire Capital portfolio, expanded into five new countries this year. As a result, Aukro listings are now available in markets with over 120 million people. The company has made significant progress in its strategy to become a unique international platform connecting … Read more

Pale Fire Capital sells its stake in the growing agency teamIT back to the original founders

PFCNews

Today, teamIT ranks among the most respected recruitment agencies in the Czech Republic specializing in IT professionals. After six years of partnership, the investment group Pale Fire Capital is selling its stake in the company back to its original founders and existing co-owners — Jan Birás, Michal Tomek, and Petr Kropáček.

The teamIT agency connects top experts in information technology … Read more