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By Endeavor Insight
Endeavor Insight partnered with Endeavor Poland to study the entrepreneurship ecosystem for tech companies in Poland. The purpose of the study is to provide insights on the sector’s current state, evaluate its strengths and weaknesses, and enable decision makers to better understand and support local tech entrepreneurship.
Network mapping shows entrepreneurial companies and how they are connected to one another through former employment, mentorship, investment, and serial entrepreneurship. The size of each bubble represents the relative influence of that company’s founders on other entrepreneurs in the ecosystem.
The rise of companies in specialized subsectors began in the early 2000s, and now makes up a majority of the tech sector.
Public money boosted the local VC market beginning in the mid-2010s, benefiting a wave of VC-backed firms.
The network has numerous employee spinouts (blue arrows), but formal mentorship and investment (orange and green
arrows) among founders is
relatively rare.
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Interactive Map
The graphics below show the global multiplier effect of Docplanner and Booksy through mentorship (orange lines), investment (green lines), their former employees (blue lines), and serial entrepreneurship (purple lines). They have not only supported founders in Poland, but also in other countries such as Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Businesses that grow rapidly to 50 or more employees will do the most for the economy. Poland’s tech sector is predominantly made up of smaller companies, but businesses that grow larger are driving the vast majority of job creation.
Tech companies that are “international first” have high growth potential and position Poland to become more globally competitive. Poland needs to foster a new generation of companies that are expanding to other markets so that they build a larger consumer base, attract more capital, and bring greater value to the Polish economy.
The top challenge for Poland’s tech founders is access to qualified managerial talent, especially among founders of scaled companies. Other major barriers include access to customers among B2B companies, the unpredictable taxation system, and a lack of conducive legal frameworks. Access to capital is a more pronounced challenge for smaller companies.
Endeavor Insight recommends the following strategies for decision makers in Poland to foster a more globally competitive and self-propelling entrepreneurial ecosystem.
For the full results and methodology download the report.
We are the leading global community of, by, and for high-impact entrepreneurs — those who dream bigger, scale faster, and pay it forward. Driven by our belief that high-impact entrepreneurs transform economies, Endeavor has been on a mission to build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging and underserved markets around the world since its creation in 1997. Endeavor was established in the Polish market in 2022. Contact [email protected] to get involved.
Endeavor Insight is the research division of Endeavor that provides data-driven analysis and visualizations showing what makes entrepreneurial ecosystems thrive. Our research team of economists, data scientists, and policy analysts specializes in understanding the needs of high-impact entrepreneurs and evaluating the networks that enable them to scale up and pay it forward to the next generation of entrepreneurs. For more information, contact [email protected].
BCG collaborates with business and societal leaders to address critical challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. Our approach integrates advanced technologies and flexible methodologies, helping businesses, including startups and entrepreneurial ventures, remain robust amidst uncertainty. In 2019, we established a technology hub for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in Poland — BCG Platinion and BCGX, providing technology-related services and solutions to businesses. This includes areas such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, data analytics, and technology strategy. BCG also contributes to the startup ecosystem through research, thought leadership, and partnerships with accelerators, incubators, and venture capital firms.
BNP Paribas Bank Polska S.A. has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 2011. It is part of the BNP Paribas Group, which is present in 64 countries. The bank supports Polish startups on three levels. First, it integrates their technological solutions to support the bank’s digitalization and operational efficiency. Second, it invests in startups that can be effectively scaled not only within the bank, but also among its clients and partners. Third, it offers a unique suite of expert-led banking services that supports world-changing companies in setting up their first legal entity, opening accounts abroad, and raising international capital rounds.
PwC is a network of companies providing business, strategic, technological, tax, and legal consulting and audit services. Polish PwC companies employ almost 7,000 people, including approximately 2,000 in technology teams. PwC has experience in cooperation with startups and scaleups, including an acceleration program and comprehensive support in terms of transactions, technology, and expansion into global markets. Thanks to cooperation with venture capital and private equity funds, we can also help startups obtain financing. At PwC, we combine technological innovations with human capital — the knowledge and various competences of our experts. Through our actions, we actively shape the future of business and the environment in which we operate.