As the 6th largest EU market by population (38 million citizens), the Polish market is a significant and attractive place to start a business. The startup ecosystem in the country is rapidly developing and holds significant potential, considered one of the strongest in the CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) region. A plethora of accelerator programs has emerged to support local as well as international startups' development, making the country an excellent site if you're planning to expand to other EU markets.
In this article, we have compiled a comprehensive list of startup incubators and accelerators in Poland. They have been subdivided into applicability for startups in their 'ideation', 'launch', or 'growth' stages, so whichever stage you're in, you would be able to find a program that suits you!
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FULL LIST OF STARTUP INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS IN POLAND
Ideation Stage Startup Incubators in Poland
The complete list of ideation phase incubators in Poland:
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: AI-First / Industry 4.0
To accelerate innovation, NextGrid offers an acceleration program for entrepreneurs powered by Artificial Intelligence technologies. Through their 3-month program, you will verify your idea, construct a proof-of-concept, and pitch to their network of AI-focused angel investors and high-profile VCs. Their curriculum was specifically designed for technical entrepreneurs and provides the foundation, assistance, and knowledge needed when dealing with complicated technological solutions.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
In Inkubator Starter, you'll be able to access everything you need to grow your business such as consultancy, training, and office space. The incubator is suitable for companies who are at the early stages of development, helping ideas through the pre-acceleration and incubation processes and allowing new startups to flourish in the Polish markets. They conduct regular workshops, conferences, and meetings, as well as facilitate contact and collaborations between enterprises.
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder / Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Ainot's mission is to assist new ideas in reaching the market by providing entrepreneurs with professional support and financial assistance to launch their firms. You can submit your ideas, of which selected ones will be subjected to a deeper analysis and will result in a detailed business plan. Finally, the most viable concepts may receive funding of up to EUR 200,000 to establish the new business.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
The Technology Accelerator Gliwice is a program targeted at seed-stage concepts in the early stages of development (Proof of Principle and Proof of Concept). The program is open to entrepreneurs, research institutes, scientific institutes, or individual innovators to help them verify their R&D projects. As part of the program, they will assist you in developing a range of analyses such as market potential, feasibility, patent, research, and commercialization model, as well as provide capital for you to establish the company, including applying for patents, producing prototype, testing production, and more.
Launch Stage Startup Incubators and Accelerators in Poland
The complete list of launch phase startup incubators and accelerators in Poland:
Who is it for: Aspiring entrepreneurs with an idea and seeking cofounder
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Mobile
Though not an incubator or accelerator per se, Punk Team is a startup studio that you should consider partnering with if you want to launch your business idea. As Poland's first startup factory, they conduct a co-founding program where aspiring entrepreneurs may form their startups from the ground up. Instead of leading you by hand or telling you what to do, they will act as a partner that will actively help you manage your firm.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
HugeThing is a member of the SpeedUp Venture Capital Group, a consortium of Poland's leading venture capital funds that invests in early-stage startups. They operate as one of Poland's oldest and most renowned accelerators, offering a wide array of startup programs and support programs. They help startups in building products, validate and test ideas, collaborate with corporations, and raise capital, assisted by their network of top-tier mentors.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Social, Ecological or Technological, Environment
Startup League is an accelerator targeted at companies from Mazovia's startups whose ideas have primarily social, ecological, and technological impact in line with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. The project is co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund as part of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship's Regional Operational Program for 2014-2020. During the three-month acceleration program, they will assist you in developing your business, prepare you for grants and investments, and connect you to important players in the ecosystem - mentors, investors, business practitioners, and leaders in their field.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team / Mature statup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Fintech, Insurtech/Medtech, IT/ICT and Cleantech
Accelpoint has operated their smart tech accelerator in the CEE region since 2018, boasting a proven track record of successful exits and international experience in startup development. They offer multiple accelerator programs for startups at the launch to growth stage, collaborating with international partners as well as top business mentors to assist startups in obtaining VC funding in Poland and abroad.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: MarTech
[m]spark is a platform for technological advancements in marketing and advertising which provide startup acceleration services. Since they are linked with GroupM, Poland's largest media holding company, you can leverage their access to over 200 leading advertisers and industry professionals in Poland and the area by joining their program. They will also assist you in co-creating innovative technological projects with partners and enable effective scaling and sales growth in both domestic and international markets.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team / Mature statup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Multiple Sectors
Startup Hub Poland is a non-profit foundation that fosters the local startup ecosystem and assists Polish startups in accelerating and scaling globally. They offer multiple acceleration programs for startups at launch and growth stages across various focus sectors. They assist young startups in enhancing their business hypothesis and development, and mature startups to test their solutions with corporate partners and scale to international waters. They also offer support and advice for international startups looking to expand to Poland and provide access to their local network of corporations.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Build by a team of entrepreneurs, founders, and investors who want to turn the CEE region into a land of unicorns, ReaktorX is a startup accelerator program targeted at early-stage startups with big determinations. They provide initial capital, tools, a network, and a tailored acceleration program designed so that you can work with your lead mentor on the particular challenges or areas you want to focus on. Ultimately, the program's goal is to prepare your startup for its first investment round by guiding it through validation, product-market fit, go-to-market strategy, and other processes.
Who is it for: Early startup with a team / Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
Through its open innovation platform, Startup Spark delivers an effective place for collaboration between startups and large corporations and enables commercialization, synergistic effects, and production of solutions to actual technological and business challenges. They run the IoE Hub, an IoT-focused technological hub that provides members with priority access to technology, investment opportunities, talent, commercial partners, consumers, and more. They run various accelerator programs, including a soft-landing program for foreign startups looking to expand to the Polish market.
Growth Stage Accelerators in Poland
The complete list of growth stage startup accelerators in Poland:
Who is it for: Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Health, Foodtech/Agritech, Sustainability, Industry 4.0, Enterprise Software, Fintech/Insurtech, Martech, Smart City, Retail & Autonomous Store, Big Data
Affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the MIT Enterprise Forum CEE is an accelerator program that provides financial, legal, and consulting support to founders from the CEE region. The program will assist innovative startups in rapidly and efficiently scaling by providing knowledge and resources from leading global and regional enterprises, assisted by experienced Polish and international mentors.
Who is it for: Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: IT
Though slightly different from a regular incubator and accelerator, the Legal House Incubator provides assistance to companies looking to build or expand their IT business in Poland. With the help of their attorneys, tax advisors, and accountants, they will assist support your employee's relocation and residence permits, provide a representative office, and assist in navigating the complex legal and accounting support.
Who is it for: Mature startup with a team
Need to have an idea: Yes
Focus: Technology
With the goal to bring top-tier startups to Poland and help them grow in the Polish market, Space3ac acceleration program connects major corporations with challenges to technology entrepreneurs with creative solutions. You can present your solutions to corporations' pressing issues, presenting you with an opportunity to test the solutions and collaborate with partners. They offer up to EUR 65,000 EUR per team along with mentorship from world-class experts and soft landing support in Poland.
Closing Thoughts on Joining a Startup Accelerator or Incubator in Poland
With over 3000 businesses, 130 VCs, and a number of incubator and accelerator programs, the startup ecosystem in Poland is one of the most developed in the CEE region. Though they are still in the early stages, they have the most potential to appeal to entrepreneurs and investors not just in the region but also throughout Europe. Polish corporations are also eager to cooperate and innovate with startups, many of which operate their own accelerators or partner up with existing accelerators in the country. Joining an incubator or accelerator in Poland is a highly valuable experience and an avenue for startups to leverage their connections.
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