Four years ago, something extraordinary began. It started at an Open House event at the Smíchov Secondary Industrial School. We never expected that this meeting would fundamentally change our company, Catermat.com, and truly impact the lives of students through a partnership with the Czech IT Academy.
When Lukáš from Catermat.com attended that Open House, he was instantly captivated by the atmosphere, the people, and, above all, the mission of this community of young creatives. He was struck by the energy these students brought to solving real-world problems. That was the exact moment our collaboration was born.
Working with these bright young men and women has proven to us that the problem isn't the next generation. The problem is often the inability of some people to actually connect with them.
It started simply. The students at the Czech IT Academy had a hydroponic farm. We wanted one too, so they built and installed it right at our headquarters. From there, the ideas kept rolling in. The vision was clear: give young students a chance and provide them with hands-on experience on real projects.
Gradually, we moved from small tasks to major events, such as a massive Family Day for over 500 employees. Over the past few years, we’ve executed dozens of events together. This partnership has resulted in tangible products like the Botany grower and our hydroponic farms which bring not just innovative solutions, but a fresh perspective and a new way of thinking.
The Czech IT Academy is a nationwide project of young, creative developers who don't just want to study theory—they want to build. While it is technically a vocational school, its equipment competes with the best startups, featuring 3D printers, lasers, and high-end workshops. This allows students to turn ideas into reality instantly.
Their mission is simple and inspiring: to make IT so engaging that more young people educate themselves in their fields and become "game-changers" in the market. They connect students, companies, and schools through collaborative projects where everyone wins.
This partnership is incredibly special to our team. The students provide us with innovative solutions in food production, energy, waste management, and more. It’s wonderful to give back through mentoring sessions, but it is equally inspiring to witness the creative ideas these young people bring to the table.
This journey proves that even a small investment of effort can have a massive impact. Our CEO, Lukáš, invested his time and is thrilled with the results we’ve achieved.
The future isn’t about what young people can’t do. It’s about giving them a chance and seeing what we can all create together.