Early Life
Pavel Tykac was born on May 15, 1964, in Čelákovice, Czechoslovakia. He earned an engineering degree from the Czech Technical University in Prague in 1987. Tykac started his entrepreneurial journey in the early 1990s, capitalizing on the changes following the Velvet Revolution. He began by selling computer technology, laying the foundation for his future ventures.
Rise to Success
In 1991, Tykac co-founded Vikomt, a company that quickly became a major player in the computer technology market. Mid-90s, he sold his share of Vikomt and used the proceeds to acquire Regiobanka, which was later sold. He gained significant assets through trading shares during the coupon privatization in the 90s. In 1992, he co-founded Motoinvest, which specialized in hostile takeovers during the Czech Republic's privatization program. In 2006, Tykac entered the energy sector by investing in Czech Coal, eventually becoming the sole owner in 2010.
Key Business Strategies
Tykac's business approach is characterized by a keen understanding of markets and a willingness to take calculated risks. His strategy includes investing in sectors others avoid, such as coal. He has focused on building Sev.en Energy Group into a major energy player and expanding into international markets, including the US, Australia, and Vietnam. In 2018, Tykač acquired and merged two companies, forming Sev.en Energy AG, becoming the second-largest power company in the Czech Republic.
Philanthropy
Pavel Tykac and his wife, Ivana, are actively engaged in charity projects. They established the Women for Women foundation, which supports single mothers. They also support the “Lunch for Children” program and the “Chytré hlavy pro sever” grant program for schools in the Most Region. In 2018, the Tykacs donated £1.2 million to Oxford University to support Czech language and studies.
