Techstars | All things startup in Warsaw №189
Welcome to Warsaw’s go-to newsletter for startup news and events! A quick review of last week’s highlights and must-attend events. Got news or an event to share? Let us know—we’d love to feature it!
Editor’s Edge
Another week, another crop of AI darlings pitching to replace your team — or your therapist.
Proofs wants to save sales engineers from death-by-demo by generating full-stack PoCs in hours. Enterprise buyers love it, devs are suspicious, and somewhere a CTO just whispered, “Finally.” Meanwhile, mysite.ai raised €2.1M to build AI employees for SMBs. Human ones are still waiting on equity.
In deep tech, Noctiluca raised €3M to light up Asia with OLEDs, while InSoil landed a €100M carbon credit pact to make soil sexy again. And Listny Cud, Poland’s vertical farming pioneer, called it quits after 4.5 years — proving again that sustainability is great until someone checks the P&L.
The EIC Pre-Accelerator is handing out €500K grants to early-stage deeptechs. EY wants you to apply for their Entrepreneur of the Year award — presumably before your burn rate catches up. And Deloitte + PSIK just confirmed what you already know: private debt is booming because founders hate giving up equity more than they hate spreadsheets.
Coming up? Buckle in.
WRLD HACK Bootcamp will teach you Web3 like it’s 2021 again. Evolutions Meetup in Wrocław promises free legal advice and actual startup wisdom (no NFTs, we checked). Thursday Gathering goes full nerd with a science fair collab, and Imaguru’s AI hackathon asks you to save democracy with Python scripts and optimism.
That’s your week. Go build, pitch, and pretend you’re not checking your download numbers every 6 minutes.
And with that, let’s dive in.
Last Week's NEWS
💎 Proofs Could Be Poland’s Next Unicorn
Proofs, founded by Bartek Pucek, is revolutionizing how sales engineers deliver Proof-of-Concepts (PoCs). The startup enables technical teams to generate fully functional PoCs in hours, not weeks, using AI agents that build and deploy production-grade applications across modern stacks like React, Next.js, Shopify, and more. This radically cuts sales cycles and engineering costs, reportedly saving up to $600,000 annually for some enterprises. Read more. [AI, enterprise SaaS]
💎 Noctiluca Raises €3M to Scale OLED Tech and Expand in Asia
Toruń-based deep tech company Noctiluca SA has secured approximately €3 million (PLN 13M) through the sale of 149,000 series I shares at PLN 90 each. The funding will be used to advance Noctiluca’s OLED material development and to expand its commercial footprint in Asia, particularly in China and Taiwan. This scale-up includes investments in new testing infrastructure for panels and diodes. Read more. [deep tech, materials]
💎 mysite.ai Raises €2.1M to Build AI Employees for Small Businesses
mysite.ai has secured €2.1 million in pre-seed funding to develop fully autonomous AI employees for small businesses. Investors include Inovo VC, Sunfish Partners, Fabian Veit (make.com), and Bart Roszkowski (Alokai), among others. The AI website builder, mysite.ai’s first offering, allows users to generate a hosted, SEO-optimized site conversationally, with no code or design skills needed. Read more. [AI, small business]
💎 InSoil and Key Carbon Close €100M Deal for Regenerative Agriculture
Lithuanian-born agtech startup InSoil (formerly HeavyFinance) has closed a transformative €100 million partnership with Key Carbon to expand regenerative agriculture across Europe. The deal will fund zero-interest Green Loans for farmers adopting climate-friendly practices in exchange for carbon credits. More than one million hectares are expected to transition under this model, removing 35 million tonnes of CO₂ by 2026. Read more. [agriculture, climate]
💎 Poland’s IDA Program Calls on Startups to Shape the Future of Dual-Use Innovation
The IDA Program (Inwestycje i Adaptacja Technologii Podwójnego Zastosowania), operated by Polski Fundusz Rozwoju (PFR), is now accepting applications until June 30, 2025. Designed for startups and SMEs working on technologies with both civilian and military applications, IDA offers a gateway into Poland’s evolving defense-tech ecosystem. More than a funding opportunity, it is a strategic bootcamp. Read more. [defense, innovation]
💎 Listny Cud Closes After 4.5 Years as Poland’s Vertical Farming Pioneer
Listny Cud, the Warsaw-based startup known as Poland’s first vertical farm, has officially ceased operations after 4.5 years. The company introduced microgreens and zero-waste packaging to the Polish market, serving both individual consumers and major HoReCa and retail partners. Read more. [foodtech, sustainability]
💎 Deloitte and PSIK Publish Report on Poland’s Private Debt Market
Deloitte, in collaboration with the Polish Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (PSIK), has released a new report that dives into the fast-evolving private debt landscape in Poland. The comprehensive study examines the growth of non-bank financing options for mid-sized enterprises, providing insights into deal structures, investor preferences, and macroeconomic trends. The report outlines how private debt is helping companies finance acquisitions, bridge funding rounds, and expand operations without giving up ownership. Read more. [private equity, finance]
💎 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Opens Applications for 2025 Edition
Nominations are now open for the 2025 edition of EY Entrepreneur of the Year, a global competition recognizing visionary founders and leaders who drive innovation, impact, and growth. The program honors individuals whose companies demonstrate strong financial performance, bold strategic direction, and a clear commitment to purpose. EY encourages startups and scaleups alike to apply—especially those driving transformation in emerging industries. Read more. [entrepreneurship, recognition]
💎 EIC Pre-Accelerator Launches with €500K Grants for Deep Tech Startups
The European Innovation Council has opened its EIC Pre-Accelerator call, targeting startups in underfunded EU regions. Selected startups can receive up to €500,000 in funding and coaching, along with fast-track access to the EIC Accelerator. The program is open until November 18, 2025, and supports early-stage deep tech ventures at TRL 4–6. The €20M budget aims to bridge national, regional, and EU-level financing. Read more. [deep tech, EU funding]
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My notes:
💎 Blackstone’s €500B Bet on Europe Puts Warsaw on the Map
Blackstone’s plan to invest €500 billion in Europe signals a strategic shift. Poland—once peripheral—is now seen as a pivotal market. With GDP growth forecast at 3.5% in 2025 and rising tech talent, Warsaw is attracting major capital. Investors cite three trends: geopolitical urgency, deep tech momentum, and returning talent. Read more. [investment, Poland]
💎 Why “Work” Must Be Redefined in the Age of AI
The future of human dignity may depend on decoupling identity from productivity. As machines absorb more tasks, redefining work becomes urgent. Rather than clinging to outdated productivity metrics, experts call for recognition of care work, imagination, and presence as valuable societal roles. Universal Basic Income pilots across Europe and the U.S. have shown positive results. Read more. [future of work, AI ethics]
💎 16 AI Strategy Playbooks You Can’t Ignore
Top firms, including Accenture, Amazon, BCG, and Bain, have published AI strategy playbooks to help organizations align automation with outcomes. These guides, free and battle-tested, cover frameworks for value creation, CX transformation, risk management, and AI maturity. Read more. [AI, strategy]
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This week's events
📅 June 23–24, 2025
WRLD HACK Bootcamp 2 [PL] [FREE]
ICP HUB Poland invites aspiring developers, students, and tech-curious individuals to WRLD HACK Bootcamp 2, a free two-day online event dedicated to Web3 and AI fundamentals. The program requires no prior coding experience and includes step-by-step sessions on building decentralized applications using tools like Vue.js, Rust, and the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP). Read more. [web3, bootcamp]
📅 June 24–25, 2025
Evolutions Meetup & Showcase 2025 [PL] [EN]
Held in Wrocław, Evolutions Meetup & Showcase is one of Poland’s top startup gatherings, hosted by Startup Wroclaw and OVHcloud. The two-day event features workshops, panels, and competitions designed for founders across all stages. Day one includes expert-led sessions on pricing, pitching, legal issues, and product-market fit. Guests include Ahmad Piraiee, Maciej Kraus, and Katarzyna Can, alongside legal experts from dotlaw offering free startup consultations. Read more. [startup, innovation]
📅 June 26, 2025
Thursday Gathering #235: Science Fair [PL] [EN] [FREE]
Join Venture Café Warsaw for a special edition of Thursday Gathering focused on science, startups, and community-led innovation. Held at CIC Warsaw, this event brings together Poland’s most vibrant entrepreneurial minds in one collaborative space. Expect interactive science exhibits, workshops, and demos alongside deep networking opportunities with researchers, startup teams, and curious minds. Read more. [science, networking]
📅 June 27–29, 2025
AI for a Free Future – Hackathon by Imaguru [PL] [EN] [ES]
Imaguru hosts a bold, hybrid hackathon spanning Warsaw, Madrid, and online, empowering developers and changemakers to build AI-powered tools for freedom, truth, and democratic values. Over 48 hours, teams will compete across 6 tracks: cybersecurity, digital identity, education, information, future of work, and ethics. Participants can join solo or as teams, pitch ideas, and build working prototypes with support from mentors such as Anouk Muis (OpenAI), Tak Lo (Zeroth.ai), and Peter Vesterbacka (Slush). Read more. [AI, hackathon]