Lukáš Kruntorád is one of those people who sees Czech business from a different angle than most. He’s not just interested in rapid growth and investments, but mainly in what happens before that. The decisions, processes, and mistakes that most founders repeat over and over again. In this episode of Reels Talk byAndré, we talked about founding companies, virtual offices, investors, but also about humility, intuition, and why networking is more than just collecting business cards.

From Gaming Servers to Companies

Lukáš’s journey to entrepreneurship didn’t start in boardrooms, but at a computer. Programming, websites, SEO, and first online projects were a natural entry into the business world. “I had to go through everything… Program a website, get people to it, understand marketing and sales,” he says. It’s precisely this combination of technical and practical approach that allows him to spot company weaknesses before they manifest. Currently, besides Sídlomat, he’s also involved in other projects.

Why a Great Idea Doesn’t Guarantee Success

According to Lukáš, most beginning entrepreneurs make the same mistake: they jump into business without basic knowledge and without a clear reason why they’re actually founding a company. “People want an LLC because they feel they need one. But they don’t think about what comes next,” he warns. Starting a company is easy today, getting rid of it isn’t.

“We have tons of different projects or startups here that grew incredibly fast, but also ended incredibly fast. Because they failed due to poorly designed processes.” Lukáš emphasizes that after securing investment, founders should remain humble and invest the money in company growth, not in personal luxury that could damage their credibility.

Why the First Million Can Destroy a Business

Investments, cars, status. Lukáš openly talks about how some founders are broken by their first big money. Founders suddenly have millions in their account and start living like rock stars. Instead of investing in the company, product, and people. Yet it’s precisely humility and the ability to curb one’s ego that often determines whether a company survives.

Sídlomat: Where Virtual Offices Aren’t a Gray Zone

Although many people think virtual offices are a “gray zone,” Lukáš clarifies that they are legally recognized and regulated. Providers like Sídlomat are also obligated entities under anti-money laundering law (AML), and must therefore verify each client just like a bank does.

During his time in the business of company addresses, he’s encountered bizarre requests: from demands to transfer companies to “straw men,” through people with business bans, to an attempt by a convicted pedophile to start a child care company.

With Sídlomat, which currently manages 21 addresses across the republic, he’s aiming to expand services to include their own accounting firm, which he sees as a logical step to support founding clients.

Real Experiences Instead of Business Cards

For Lukáš, networking doesn’t mean chasing business, but returning to people and exchanging real experiences. “It’s not about immediately selling something to someone. It’s about feedback, a different perspective, and stepping out of your own bubble,” he says.

Partnership with the most nutritious networking Meet&Deal was his way back into the networking world in a more cultivated environment. The goal was to meet business people and, as he wittily noted, even “while sober.”

Practical Advice for Every Business

At the end of the interview, Lukáš summarizes his recommendations for beginning founders into several points:

• Carefully choose who you’ll do business with and start a venture with.
• Trust your intuition and create your own perspective. Listen to opinions, but don’t trust blindly.
• Don’t forget to clearly define your goal before founding a company and think about whether it’s the right time.

Lukáš’s perspective is realistic, sometimes harsh, but precisely therefore valuable. He doesn’t sell shortcuts to success, but rather points out the places where entrepreneurship breaks. And often before we realize it ourselves. You can find the full interview on my YouTube where you’ll discover lots of interesting stories and juicy details straight from behind the scenes of founding companies and virtual offices.