Equipment has been evolving for decades. Skates are lighter, helmets are safer, sticks are more flexible. But how do you carry all that gear up to the fifth floor without an elevator, or dry it at home without taking over half your apartment?
It’s a quiet, everyday reality that rarely gets talked about — yet hockey simply doesn't work without it.
A few years ago, the Czech startup MIRNIX began building on this exact problem. No fluff, just product by product. And now comes the next step: a 5 million CZK investment from Josef Prusa and Radim Vrbata, who are becoming partners in the company.
For us, this is more than just capital. It’s confirmation that solving hockey off the ice makes total sense—and that this segment has the potential to grow into a category of its own.
Hockey off the ice
It started with a single question: Why does hockey off the ice have to be such a logistical hassle? In 2019, MIRNIX decided to change that. We created backpacks for a complete set of gear — lightweight, ergonomic, and durable. Then came the drying gearv, making it possible to dry and store an entire kit with pride. Compact, lightweight, built to last forever, and even spacious enough to hold full goalie gear.
Everything is made in the Czech Republic, with an uncompromised focus on quality and durability. Not just for a single season, but for years to come—backed by our lifetime warranty.
Why Prusa? Why Vrbata?
Our collaboration with PrusaLab started during the hardware accelerator program that MIRNIX completed in 2025. The program helped our startup speed up development, optimize manufacturing, and prepare for scaling a physical product—a discipline that very few young companies manage to master.
For Josef Průša, it’s about backing a tech product with clear international potential. The mix of 3D printing, local manufacturing, and global ambitions aligns perfectly with his long-term philosophy of building strong hardware brands right here in the Czech Republic.
Radim Vrbata brings a whole different dimension. 17 NHL seasons, over 1,000 games played. Pro-level hockey experience that helps us fine-tune products so they hold up not just for weekend warriors, but at the absolute highest level. He's also the mind behind the popular media project Bez frází (Beyond the Headlines) and the unique wellness concept Day1 Health Club.
Taking a local brand to the next level
The new capital gives MIRNIX the confidence and runway to grow — investing in production, boosting product development, and paving the way for international expansion. The goal isn’t just to sell more units, but to build a powerful global brand. Today, MIRNIX products are available not only through our own e-commerce store, but also at specialized hockey retailers like Hejduk Sport, Sportega, JB Sport, and CCM stores.
At a time when most sports equipment is outsourced to Asia, MIRNIX doubles down on local manufacturing and tech know-how. Full control over our products, quality, and R&D is a core part of our long-term strategy.
This investment from Průša and Vrbata is more than just a validation of our hard work so far—it’s a clear signal to the market that Czech hardware can win in the global sports industry.