At Startup Poland, we are a group of young entrepreneurs who want to be the engine of growth of the Polish economy. Many of us have created companies from scratch, that achieved success in Poland and abroad. We owe our success to creative and innovative ideas and the use of modern technology. We believe that in this way we are shaping the future of our country’s economy.
We believe that Poland has an unlimited potential for innovation which has to be utilized. Thus the importance of startups – new companies with huge prospects. Technology allows us to turn the innovative ideas of young Poles into projects of global reach. In order to take full advantage of all the opportunities and potential, we need an ecosystem supporting their development.
This is why we have established the Startup Poland Foundation which represents our community – innovative entrepreneurs. Our goal is to build awareness of the great potential of startups among decision-makers, politicians and local government officials. We are ready to be a partner in talks with everyone who – like us – wants Poland to build its global position on the basis of an innovative economy, created by talented and creative young entrepreneurs.
The Polish Startup Manisfesto
We believe startups are an effective response to growing unemployment, and below-potential economic growth. This is why we worked closely with our partners to create the Startup Poland Manifesto, which is now in the hands of the Polish President and all his Ministers.
The Polish Startup Manifesto argues there are five action areas to unlock the potential Polish startups:
- Favorable regulations and taxes
- Better access to financing
- Easier access to talent
- Education that promotes entrepreneurship and programming skills
- Startup-friendly infrastructure
The Manifesto calls for the following actions:
- Promotion of the startup investing culture
- Consultations with the public sector regarding legislative changes that improve growth of the startup ecosystem
- Increase of the data’s availability gathered in public offices, at every level of the government administration
- The position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at various levels of the administration – from the central government
to local governments - Increase of the attractiveness of Polish market to specialists from outside the EU
- Entrepreneurship education in schools from an early age, conducted by trained teachers with the support of practitioners
- Better and more effective incentives for the creation of ”startup schools”
- Simple procedures for the transfer of public funds
- Tax mechanisms friendly to business angels
- Creating a complex support system and procedures for startup investors
Connecting the startup world with government administrations
At this year’s Res Publica Festival, we focused one of the debates on the recommendation to create the position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) within local government offices in Poland. This would create links and direct contact to the startup society, as well modernize cities. The appointed CTOs would be intermediaries between the worlds of business and government.
Next milestones
We are now conducting the first report of startups in Poland and creating the new website which will be a database of the whole Polish ecosystem. We would like to connect all elements of the ecosystem and through an innovative platform offer a map Polish startup players. The portal will allow users to discover innovative companies and the people behind them, investors, incubation and accelerator programs, calendar of the startup events. It will be a knowledge center for entrepreneurs, investors, media and policymakers.
We look forward to sharing ideas with other Startup Nations members at the upcoming Startup Nations Summit in Mexico.
Photo credit: ResPublika