Sans Souci: light without limits

“Sans souci means without worries – and that’s exactly how we want our clients to feel when working with us,” says Martin Cháb, CEO and Founder of Sans Souci Lighting. The Prague-based designer and manufacturer specialises in decorative lighting and glass architecture. What makes them different is their unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and advanced technological innovation.

CRYSTAL VALLEY

Tucked into the rolling hills of northern Czechia, the region is the heart of Bohemian glassmaking – much like Champagne is to sparkling wine. Rather unsurprisingly, it played a decisive role in the creation of Sans Souci.

“I was studying international business in Sydney when I was invited to return home and visit the glassworks in Crystal Valley. I fell head over heels in love with it. That’s when the idea for the business was born,” Martin recalls. “Glass can be transformed into so many different shapes – and I always tell my clients to come to Crystal Valley and soak up the atmosphere of glassmaking.”

Inspired by this tradition, Sans Souci has grown into a global company, with offices from New York through Dubai to Singapore.

SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION

What makes Sans Souci stand out isn’t just craftsmanship – it’s the time and research they put into sustainable technologies. “We’ve introduced PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) technology for eco-friendly nano-layer plating, developed in collaboration with universities and our in-house R&D team,” Martin explains. Put simply, PVD is a greener alternative to the traditional galvanisation process used in glassmaking. And it’s not just sustainable – it’s practical too. “PVD allows for both decorative and functional layers, including antibacterial coatings. That means lower maintenance and extra value for our clients – which became especially important for hospitality projects after Covid,” says Martin.

The leap into PVD was made possible through EU-guaranteed loans via Česká spořitelna, backed by the EIF. “We were lucky to have bankers who took the time to understand our business and our innovation projects. They saw the minimal risk behind what, from the outside, looks like the unpredictable nature of a project-based SME.”

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

PVD has also opened the door for Sans Souci to move beyond project work and start building its own product lines. By combining PVD with technologies like 3D printing and scanning, the company is expanding into new markets and new ways of working. “It’s a completely different way of selling,” says Martin. “With projects, people come to you because of your expertise. With products, it comes down to look, price, distribution channels and branding.”

But that shift doesn’t intimidate him. “We’ve set up an innovation creative lab in Crystal Valley – a space for creative minds to collaborate, experiment and design new products and solutions. It’s all about keeping that spirit of innovation alive.”

Location: Prague, Czech Republic

Financial Intermediary: Česká spořitelna

SME: Sans Souci Lighting

Sector: design and manufacturing

Number of employees: 150

Financing purpose: product development

EIF financing: InvestEU