Poland is becoming one of the best places to build a startup, but most of the early-stage entrepreneurs we speak to aren't aware of the local tech resources that are available to help them.
With applications for the Poland Founder Institute now open, we're excited to release the Poland Startup Resource Guide, which is currently in Draft v4 below! It was developed by the Poland Founder Institute and local leaders: Alex M. Dascalu (Lead Director, Founder Institute Eastern Europe), Eastern Europe, Ewa Geresz (Managing Director, Founder Institute Poland), Ivan Germanov (Regional Success Manager, Founder Institute HQ), Ivaylo Ivanov (Director, Founder Institute CEE), Karolina Wilk-Tryjanowska (Director | Investor Network, Founder Institute Poland), Maria Mihes (Advisor, Start-ups)
This is just a draft, and while we spent many hours on this research, more input is needed. Please leave your comments on this collaborative Google document to help us complete the list. There are definitely omissions on this current version.
Are you looking to build a startup in Poland? Then apply to the Poland Founder Institute today!
Text version included below, for ease of searching:
Startup Stages
There is no one right way to build a technology company, but for the sake of simplicity we have outlined a basic, common, sequential framework.
1. Idea Stage
This is where new entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build their team and product.
A. Inspire
- Poland Startup Media: Centralized local information, listings, and news. (i.e. startup blogs/ publications/ lists/ FB groups/ newsletters)
- Inspirational Poland Startup Events: Open, inclusive startup events that often focus on ideation. (i.e. Startup Weekend, idea fairs, and inspirational meetups)
B. Educate
- Best Practices: Beginner knowledge-sharing tech events. (i.e. beginner events that serve to educate more than inspire).
- Training & Feedback: Skill & Idea development events and startup bootcamps for entrepeneurs. (Includes comprehensive training programs, like Founder Institute, General Assembly, Lean Startup Machine, code camps, etc)
C. Validate
- Team Formation: Events for Finding Co-founders in Poland. (i.e. tech networking events or other resources that facilitate early-stage recruitment and cofounder matching)
- Startup speed dating (various organizers)
- Warsaw Startup Jobs
- Build First Product: Hackathons & product events in Poland.
2. Launch Stage
In this stage, entrepreneurs establish and formalize the company, develop the product, get feedback from customers, and prepare for the next step.
A. Start
- Establish: Poland law firms & banks for startups
- Poland Workspaces: Co-working and flexible workspaces for startups in Poland.
B. Develop
- Formalize: Poland accounting, development and HR tools for early-stage startups.
- Poland Incubators: Groups that prepare companies for seed investment and provide advanced mentorship. (i.e. advanced knowledge sharing, later stage events and resources)
C. Launch
- Poland Seed Accelerators: Seed funding mentor programs (Techstars-style programs that provide funding)
- Pitch & Demo Events: Tech events that showcase Poland startups for investment.
- 1. Needs Improvement
3. Growth Stage
Here, a startup proves their utility, receives recognition, and scales up. This usually requires funding, angels, VCs, and ways to connect them to startups.
A. Recognition
- Poland Investor Networking: Events and groups that connect professional investors with founders.
- 1. Needs Improvement
- Major Media: Mainstream local business press that often showcase local startups.
B. Funding
- Poland Angel Investors: Seed-stage investors and micro-vcs.
- Poland Venture Capitalists: Series A and beyond
C. Growth
- Infrastructure: Office space, HR, local business insurance. (i.e. office space/ HR/ insurance providers for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)
- Expansion: Poland Growth accelerators and consultants. (i.e. programs and business consultants for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)
4. Poland Startup Success Stories
Successful homegrown companies that have raised significant institutional funding, employ a large workforce, or have achieved liquidity.
Supporters
To facilitate the steps, every ecosystem needs strong supporters.
1. Poland Startup Leaders
Successful local founders who lead the ecosystem & frequently mentor newbies.
2. Poland Government Startup Resources
Public organizations that facilitate local economic development
3. Talent
Major local business or tech universities and employers that attract and retain local talent.
- Local Poland Tech Universities (universities with prominent technical or business programs)
- Poland Tech Employers
Learn more about the Startup Ecosystem Canvas here, and leave us your thoughts on the Poland Canvas on this collaborative Google document (This is just a draft, and more input is needed!)
