#TechWawa 1 WARSAW THE CITY OF STARTUPS Start up in Warsaw! Each metropolis reflects, to a certain extent, the nature of its residents. Compared to other cities, Warsaw seems to be unique – it is exactly like its residents. When we think about characteristic features of Warsaw, we can see a city that is ambitious, dynamic as well as conscious of its successes and hungry for more. We want our capital city to be even more modern, intelligent, sensitive and, consequently, happier. Working at the local government level, we fulfil our dream of a Warsaw of the future, as well as work with creative and enterprising circles. We provide them with favourable conditions for development and support their projects. For this purpose, we have established thriving institutions to support the startup ecosystem, we cooperate with the scientific environment and help to develop innovative and creative thinking in children and youth. Our intention is to continue promoting and fostering the culture of innovation by cooperating and pursuing joint projects with the stakeholders for the development of innovative entrepreneurship, attracting events conducive to knowledge exchange, and encouraging talented authors to fulfil their passions in Warsaw – an intelligent city, where modern thinking and technologies are used for dynamic yet sustainable development. So if you are searching for a place to make your idea come true, a place where Poland’s startup heart beats, and which offers both the possibilities and high-quality space for development – come to Warsaw! RAFAŁ TRZASKOWSKI MAYOR OF THE CAPITAL CITY OF WARSAW Look into the world of startups 6 How do higher education institutions 50 support startups? Getting 18 your bearings Who is a startup 44 founder? Where to meet? 30 56 What should you know before you Where to begin? get the 66 money? Corporations 72 and startups 6 WHAT DOES THE CITY OFFER FOR STARTUPS? Look into the world 6 of startups #TechWawa 7 Hi, I’m Stefan! For many years now, I have been following the successes of so-called unicorns – startups with an international presence and worth over a billion dollars. They are the ones being talked about a lot! I myself would like to establish such a startup that will develop into a unicorn. I know my industry inside out and I have an idea of how to revolutionise it. I believe my company will be addressing real problems of many people. But how shall I start? Create a prototype? Tell the potential co-founders about my idea? Search for clients? Find an investor? I am confused as this is a new field for me. Moreover, I have only recently moved to Warsaw and need to learn how to navigate the startup map of the city, which is teeming with life and bursting with ideas. I see there are plenty of accelerators, startup hubs, budding capital funds and networking events – I feel that fresh entrepreneurs can spread their wings here! However, I am not sure what may come in handy at various stages of setting up my startup, so I am setting off on a tour around Warsaw to search for partners and mentors, as well as backing and financing for my idea. Join me! 8 WHAT DOES THE CITY OFFER FOR STARTUPS? Startups in Poland and the capital What makes startups eager to choose Poland and Warsaw? Poland attracts success are highly sought-after and appreciated Poland’s 38-million strong consumer employees who find employment in tech- market is one of the biggest in Europe. nological and IT companies, R&D centres The country’s convenient location (in and scientific institutes. Poland ranked first the centre of Europe at the intersection in the FDI Intelligence ranking in terms of of main communication routes) makes the number of new jobs in 2017, with an it possible to easily export goods to all increase of 53%. The achievements of our European countries and thus reach over domestic companies are highly esteemed 500 million consumers. Thanks to stable abroad, and our local startup ecosystem economic growth since 1992 and invest- has become the leader of transformations Poland is a stable country with ment safety, lower labour costs compared in the region. a high potential, attractive to Western countries and low taxes for for foreign investors. Warsaw entrepreneurs, average speed of fixed-line attracts young entrepreneurs Precisely Warsaw! Internet equal to 42 Mbits, and of mobile and allows their ideas to thrive. Internet – 22 Mbits (Ookla, speedtest.net, What determines the success of the And what exactly is it that makes January 2018), Poland ranks 27th in the technological ventures in Poland’s capital? ⅓ of startups in Poland choose world (the first in Central and Eastern Eu- Qualified specialists, a strong and well-or- Warsaw? rope) amongst startup-friendly countries ganised startup environment, modern (Entrepreneurship Rankings, 2018). infrastructure created with the support Education also plays a role here – of EU funds, as well as state financing. As well-educated Polish economists, en- part of the Start in Poland initiative in 2017, gineers, IT specialists and scientists approx. PLN 640 million from European #TechWawa 9 (41,000). Approx. 58,000 graduates per year stay on the Warsaw labour mar- ket. Warsaw, as the only city in Poland, achieved a very high level of language proficiency in the EF English Proficiency Index – a rating illustrating the level of English knowledge. It also ranked third in the category of “Professional skills and experience” of female residents in the Dell Women Entrepreneur Cities Index (WE Cities) – a global ranking defining cities’ ability to attract companies run by women and to support their development. The highest ranked institutions in the catego- 640 ries of academic, technical, economic and non-public higher education institution million PLN in the ranking by “Perspektywy” (2018) monthly, are: the University of Warsaw, was allocated for investing the Warsaw University of Technology, the in the local startup Warsaw School of Economics (SGH), and system in Warsaw the Kozminski Academy. Warsaw creates development opportunities for young entrepreneurs. In addition to access to key support and funding Funds was allocated for investing in War- events in Poland – 17,000 in 2017, that institutions, largest companies, science saw’s startup ecosystem. is 46 a day – some of which offer free and R&D base, as well as business hubs, The main political, economic and admission (Warsaw Convention Bureau). we offer municipal incubators that provide cultural centre of Poland is valued for its office space, all-year-round training courses, openness to business – it’s the 4th most Warsaw’s human capital workshops and acceleration business-friendly city in Europe (European programmes, along Cities and Regions, 2016/2017). There has The city, through more than 60 private with comprehensive been a constant increase in expenditures and public higher education institu- information for for the development of urban invest- tions, provides education to more than startups. ments – in the years 2016–2022, they 250,000 students from all over Poland are forecasted to reach PLN 16 billion. In and abroad (GUS [Polish Central Statisti- Michał Olszewski, Warsaw, there are 150 research institu- cal Office], 2017/2018) – including nearly Deputy Mayor of tions and 115 co-working offices, and the ⅓ of them at Warsaw-based universities the Capital City city annually holds the most business of technology (42,000) and economics of Warsaw 10 WHAT DOES THE CITY OFFER FOR STARTUPS? Smolna 4, 00-375 Warsaw T +48 22 443 07 56 [email protected] firma.um.warszawa.pl facebook.com/CentrumPrzedsiebiorczosciSmolna Centre of Entrepreneurship Smolna networking meetings and workshops, Białołęka which have so far attracted more than Centre of Entrepreneurship Smolna 10,000 people. (CPS), the first Warsaw-based business Owners of small and medium-sized Bielany incubator is entering its 6th year. It has businesses, as well as those who are Targówek thus far been visited by 60,000 people, planning to set up their own business, which is as many as the population of may find out how to acquire the funds Żoliborz Praga Północ the Ursus district. to get off the ground, how to settle the Bemowo Rembertów The Centre rents out rooms and premium in ZUS (Social Insurance Insti- Wesoła desks (40 workstations) at preferential tution), as well as how to protect ndus- Wola Praga Południe rates, and grants free access to confer- trial property and avoid VAT problems. ence halls. A place in the incubator is The incubator also make it possible to ŚRÓDMIEŚCIE Wawer available to any company operating in set up a business – this option has been Ochota Mazovia region and on the market for no used by more than 1,500 people over Mokotów more than 3 years, with a business profile the past 5 years. The Centre also runsUrsus that fits into one of the key industries for a miniportal dedicated to companies, Włochy Warsaw and the region. namely www.firma.um.warszawa.pl. Young entrepreneurs are very It contains guidelines on economic Wilanów interested in the services provided by activities, as well as information about Ursynów the Centre of Entrepreneurship Smolna current training courses, conferences, (CPS), such as specialist legal, account- networking meetings, tenders and ing and financial counselling, as well as pending projects. #TechWawa 11 The series enjoys unflagging popularity and is organised in cooperation with such insti- tutions as: ZUS (Social Insurance Institution), 60,000 the Mazovian Unit of EU Programmes Imple- people visited the Centre mentation, the Polish Chamber of Commerce, of Entrepreneurship the National Contact Point at the Polish Bank Smolna during the Association, and the Patent Office. first 5 years of its existence #Net_Smolna is a networking meeting combined with presentations.