Art
Painting first. Then the same way of seeing, applied elsewhere.
- MFA, Royal Danish Academy
- Hans Alf Gallery
- HILY: paintings into knitwear
David Šohaj Minařík
Artist, founder, science communicator.
I don't compromise on the result. I use what works, and build what's missing.
Trained as a painter in Copenhagen, I moved ideas into biotech: I co-founded MYCO, which turned mushroom mycelium into plastic-free packaging and won a Red Dot in 2024. I led communication at CzechGlobe, the Czech Academy's climate institute. Now I'm studying science communication in Trento and building HILY studio, PIXEE and Nixtee.
Ventures
From an experiment to a thing you can hold.
- MYCO 2019–2026, Red Dot 2024
- HILY
- PIXEE
- Nixtee
Science
Research brought to the table where decisions happen.
- CzechGlobe 2023–2026
- SCICOMM Trento
- two policy essays
Talks
Ideas that survive the stage.
- TEDxPrague 2025
- Stockholm and Uppsala 2023
- DVTV, Czech Television
Art
2014–2017
MFA in painting, Royal Danish Academy. Represented by Hans Alf Gallery, Copenhagen.
Ventures
2019
First mycelium grown in a bathroom. MYCO begins.
Ventures
TODO(David): year
MYCO raises its first investment.
Ventures
2022
MYCO wins E.ON Energy Globe CZ and an Energy Globe World Award medal, a first for Czechia.
Science
2023
Joins CzechGlobe for technology transfer. Presents mycelium materials in Stockholm and Uppsala.
Ventures
2024
Red Dot Design Award for MYCO's SafePads / 4Pack system.
Talks
2025
TEDxPrague: simple solutions beat clever ones.
Science
2026
Head of communication, CzechGlobe (Jan–Jul). Shortlisted for the Josef Vavroušek Prize.
Research
2026
Starts SCICOMM in Trento. Begins The Human Trace.
Art
2026
Leaves MYCO. Building HILY studio, PIXEE and Nixtee.
Now
Now
Write to me. I'll answer.
Work
Selected work you can look at.
Writing
Two essays. Czech only.
On prevention, and on goals that left the station. Analog Futurist once a fortnight.
Czech only. The PDF is Czech; there is no English translation yet.
Nobody will thank you for a repaired roof →
Why politics punishes people who do useful things — and how to build levees that outlast elections.
English noteA Czech-only essay on why politics punishes useful prevention, and how to build levees that outlast elections. Ingratitude here is a property of the system, not a character flaw. 62 pages, A5 PDF.
Czech only. The PDF is Czech; there is no English translation yet.
When the train has left, do not tear up the tracks →
Why a missed target does not disprove the direction — and what it costs to do nothing.
English noteA Czech-only essay on why a missed target does not disprove the direction, why we stop seeing dangers we got used to, and what it costs to do nothing. A goal and a number are not the same. 57 pages, A5 PDF.
Contact
Write to me. I'll answer.
A studio, a product, or a scientific idea that will not move. We can just get acquainted first.