Last week, part of our team explored Warsaw from the angel investor perspective. Our partners from COBIN Angels invited us to kick the trip off with a visit to the grand Palace of Culture and Science on Sunday and visit to one of the local restaurants to try out Polish cuisine, such as warm juice, dumplings, sour soup and pirogi.
Visiting Polish startup ecosystem and Deep Tech CEE Summit
Monday started with a visit to Google for Startups. It’s CEO Michal Kramarz’s assertion, “In this region, we have great tech talent. So, invest!” was an encouraging call to action. We also learned from entrepreneurs-turned-angels Olga Adamkiewicz and Marta Zarosa about the journey from startup to exit, and eventually, to becoming an angel investor.
The day also featured a partner meeting from our 4NGELS project with FiBAN, COBIN, Business Angels of Slovenia, and EstBAN, followed by an engaging discussion on cross-border investing at the Deep Tech CEE Summit Investor Day. Our Slovenian colleague, Nina Dremelj, and Anna Torz from Civitta brought immense value to this dialogue on stage.
From Polski Bank to Warsaw Stock Exchange and beyond
Warsaw is undeniably a bustling metropolis, exuding a vibrant energy and a vast urban sprawl that makes it feel like a true European capital. Our 3rd day begun in Polski Bank Rotunda building, strategically placed right in the heart of Warsaw’s bustling business district. We got an insightful overview of Polish startup ecosystem, a session organized by Polish Startup Hub’s Maciek Sadowski. But Piotr Kedra from PFR Ventures, Kristiina Libe from Tehnopol and the ReadytoScale project, and Maria Tyka-Majewska from HugeThing, all painted a comprehensive picture of the local startup landscape.
From there, we shifted to the Warsaw Stock Exchange, where the Deep Tech CEE Summit was in full swing. We were particularly captivated by the pitches from the TOP3 4NGELS startup-competition-turning-into-a-syndicate-startups: Fyenally, with solutions for short-sighted individuals; ToriiPay, revolutionizing B2B payments; and Logoplan, which is working to enhance children’s speech development. Each of these startups has the potential to make life a little easier, with innovative solutions addressing real challenges.
The adventure didn’t stop there. COBIN Angels led us a bit out of town to visit two Polish startups: PureCity and Ecobean. PureCity is making waves in urban air quality management, while Ecobean is focused on sustainable innovations by turning coffee waste into new, eco-friendly products.
Cross border investments are born when we keep exploring
Experiences like these are crucial for fostering cross-border investing and building a robust European economy. COBIN Angels is gearing up to launch a cross-border syndicate, and for anyone interested in participating, this is an exciting opportunity to be part of a pan-European investment movement.
Warsaw, a city of over 1.8 million people and a storied history dating back to the Kingdom of Poland in the 10th century, remains an ever-evolving hub of culture and commerce. From its automotive and chemical industries to its startups and deep tech innovations, Warsaw is a city full of potential. If you ever get a chance to join a study trip like this, seize it!
Our next destinations are Germany and Finland, and we’d love to have more enthusiasts join the journey toward cross-border collaboration and an innovative European economy.
Useful links & inspiration for further:
- Google Campus Warsaw
- Deep Tech CEE Summit
- Polish Startup Hub
- PFR Ventures (VC)
- HugeThing (VC)
- Warsaw Stock Exchange
- Fyenally,
- ToriiPay
- Logoplan
- PureCity
- PureCity
- 4NGELS cross-border syndicate
