Can you tell us about Rockaway Capital and what sets it apart from other organizations in the same industry?

Rockaway Capital was established in 2013 to promote and accelerate the growth of traditional industries by using new technologies. I am involved in Rockaway Ventures Fund, which is a venture arm of Rockaway Capital, and we look for startups in various sectors to support and invest in them. Our investments are concentrated in Central and Eastern Europe. In my opinion, what differentiates us from other players in the market is the extensive experience and resources we bring to the table to help our startups grow more rapidly while adhering to sustainability goals. We ensure that all our investments abide by the European Union’s sustainability regulations such as SFDR and steer clear of sectors such as tobacco, oil, and gas.

As Partner and Chief Sustainability Officer, what are your key responsibilities and how do you contribute to the overall mission of the organization?

I am responsible for managing the due diligence process, which is used to assist potential startups to make sure they meet both business and sustainability criteria. My role involves collaborating with external vendors to create and refine evaluation frameworks and due diligence processes. After we invest, I guide the portfolio companies to refine their business models and implement sustainable measures that comply with our values and the European Union’s sustainability regulations.

I am also in charge of selecting investment amounts, evaluating firms, and making sure sustainability guidelines are followed daily. I assist in overseeing the process to make sure we generate funds consistent with our long-term objectives and sustainability pledges as we get ready for another fundraising cycle.

In terms of driving growth at Rockaway Capital, what are your current priorities and focus areas?

In today's challenging environment, startups are having a difficult time raising funds due to shorter runways and tougher scaling conditions. My top priority is to closely monitor their development and help them scale effectively, validate their ideas, and adapt to evolving market changes.

"Our Goal Is To Help Businesses Grow Sustainably And Efficiently Through Cutting-Edge Technologies"

As an angel investor and partner at Rockaway Capital, my goal is to help startups seize growth opportunities. I want to help these companies grow into unicorns and become Central and Eastern Europe's biggest success stories.

What would you consider your most significant achievements?

While working at Google, I led the initiative to make Google search relevant locally. We were able to adapt the search engine to understand the Czech context and even managed to do the same in Russia, where Yandex was a leading player. This became a big win for me since I was able to localize a global product successfully in collaboration with exceptional product and engineering teams. Having worked in Silicon Valley, New Zealand, England, Switzerland, and other countries helped me gain a global perspective. This enables me to help startups with unconventional, out-of-the-box strategies.

Another major win for me has been the many collaborations and relationships that I have fostered with talented people around the world. Through these connections, I have learned to adapt my strategy based on different people and circumstances.

Your Success Mantra:

My success mantra is never to stop acting on your dreams and ideas. I believe that the stepping stones to success start with resilience, hard work, and perseverance.

Awards of Recognitions won so far: Hall of Fame Finzeny.cz; Forbes top 190 most influential women in the Czech Republic; One of Sustainable Leaders of the World.

A business leader you admire and why: I admire Melinda Gates for her influential work, Susan Wojcicki, and Ursula von der Leyen, the head commissioner of the EU, whose vision I greatly respect.

Message for aspiring women leaders and entrepreneurs: Believe in yourself and pursue your personal and career goals despite challenges because success can only be achieved through perseverance and hard work.

Katerina Havrlant, Partner And Chief Sustainability Officer, Rockaway Capital

Katerina Havrlant has a Master of Arts from Charles University and an Executive Leadership Certificate from INSEAD. She is a qualified angel investor, for example with EXFI platform, or SICTIC Switzerland. She has previously served as Director of Europe, The Middle East, and Africa at Google, leading Economic Contribution projects, Sustainability, and AI efforts. She also managed Emerging Markets Product Strategy for Android and Mobile at Google and worked as a Product Management Director and Board Member at Atlas.cz. Katerina is also a passionate philanthropist and founder of the Havrlant Art collection.