Techstars | All things startup in Warsaw №184

Editor’s Edge

If startup events were music festivals, this week would be Coachella for founders—with a little French flair and a side of quantum buzz.

Poland’s innovation scene just dropped a mixtape of announcements: €230M from PARP, €200M from ICEYE for spy-grade satellites, and a Startup of the Year award for AI Clearing, proving that construction sites can now be audited faster than your excuses for missing deadlines. Meanwhile, Aegis Capital raised PLN 80M to fund the healthtech of tomorrow—because apparently, living forever is the new Series A.

But the real headliners? Carpathian Startup Fest and Thursday Gathering #233: IN TECH WE TRUST. Rzeszów is pulling founders and VCs from across CEE for two days of rapid-fire pitching, matchmaking, and the startup equivalent of polite elbowing. Back in Warsaw, Venture Café and La French Tech are co-hosting a Euro-synergy showdown that blends deeptech, greentech, and croissant-powered networking. If you’re not in the room, you’re not in the deal.

Also on the lineup: AWS tips, cybersecurity red teaming, a lunar FPGA hackathon, and a towel-themed coding contest (yes, really). It’s the kind of week that reminds you why Warsaw is Europe’s most chaotic, caffeinated, and quietly brilliant tech scene.

And with that, let’s dive in.

Last Week's NEWS

💎 ORLEN Venture Capital Joins €32M Round Backing Hystar

ORLEN Venture Capital has announced its investment in Hystar, a Norwegian deep-tech company producing cutting-edge proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) electrolysers for large-scale, zero-emission hydrogen production. This marks ORLEN VC’s thirteenth direct investment and positions the Polish fund as one of Central Europe’s most active players in strategic climate-tech and energy-transition innovation. Read more. [startup funding, Energy, CVC]

💎 PARP Commits Nearly €230M to Support Startups from Idea to Scale-Up

The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development will distribute nearly €230M to boost Polish startups. Funds will support green accelerators, incubation grants up to €135K, and scale-up pathways with up to €450K in non-dilutive funding. Over 1,700 incubations and 700 grants have already been delivered. Read more. [startup funding, innovation policy, acceleration]

💎 Poland Surpasses 2,500 Registered Family Foundations in Just Two Years

Business Insider Polska, with Tomczykowski Tomczykowska law firm and Bank Pekao SA, has published "Report 2.0: Family Foundations," revealing the fast-paced adoption of family foundations in Poland. Two years after the Family Foundation Act was passed, over 2,500 foundations have been officially registered out of nearly 4,000 applications. Read more. [family foundations, private wealth]

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💎 PFR Launches PLN 600M Deep Tech Fund Targeting Dual-Use Innovation

PFR, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, unveiled the PFR Deep Tech programme to support AI, cybersecurity, robotics, and defence-related startups. The fund will deploy capital through 3–5 VC firms and aims to back up to 80 ventures with TRL 3–8. It also aligns with NATO and global defense investment standards. Read more. [investment, defence, innovation]

💎 PFR Pioneer School Opens 8th Edition with Focus on ClimateTech and AI Innovation

The PFR Pioneer School has launched its 8th edition, targeting aspiring founders, technologists, and career shifters eager to tackle climate challenges. This year’s theme: ClimateTech. A PLN 110K prize pool backs the program and integrates UN Sustainable Development Goals into its curriculum. Applications close June 22. Read more. [education, acceleration]

💎 ICEYE Secures €200M Deal with Poland to Deliver Radar Satellite Reconnaissance

Poland has signed a €200M agreement with ICEYE to acquire synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites and mobile ISR systems, granting the country sovereign access to real-time Earth observation. Founded by a Polish entrepreneur, ICEYE will provide three satellites initially, with more to follow. Read more. [defense, satellite]

💎 InPost Partners with Migam.org to Launch Polish Sign Language Interpreter Access

Starting June 2025, InPost customers who are Deaf or hard of hearing will gain instant access to Polish Sign Language interpreters via Migam.org. The partnership, announced at Impact’25, brings real-time video interpretation to InPost’s customer service, enhancing accessibility for millions. It’s a major move toward inclusive logistics, with both companies reinforcing their commitment to social innovation. Read more. [accessibility, logistics]

💎 Aegis Capital Raises PLN 80M to Invest in Longevity and HealthTech Startups

Aegis Capital, a Warsaw-based VC firm, has closed a second funding round, raising PLN 80M (EUR 18.5M) to back 16 early-stage startups in health and longevity tech. Backed by PFR Ventures and FENG, the fund focuses on personalized medicine, preventive health, and biotech. It aims to make Poland a regional hub for health innovation with mission-aligned investment strategies. Read more. [venture capital, healthtech]

💎 AI Clearing Wins Startup of the Year at Impact’25 for Infrastructure Monitoring Platform

AI Clearing, founded by Polish entrepreneurs and now based in Austin, has won “Startup of the Year” at Impact’25. Their platform automates construction site audits using drones and AI, cutting auditing time from weeks to hours. Serving clients globally, the company recently invested $16M in a Polish R&D center. The award underscores Poland’s growing role in deep tech and smart infrastructure. Read more. [AI, construction tech]

💎 Orasio Raises €16M to Build GDPR-Compliant Video Intelligence for Public Safety

Paris-based Orasio has raised €16M to build a sovereign, AI-driven video intelligence platform for law enforcement and defense. Backed by Expeditions Fund and Frst, Orasio’s tech integrates with existing infrastructure and complies with EU data laws. Read more. [AI, defense]

💎 Waliców Redevelopment Revives Warsaw’s Jewish Memory Through Architecture

Grupa 5 Architekci unveils a moving revitalization plan for three historic buildings at Waliców Street, once central to Jewish life in Warsaw. Rather than rebuilding, the design preserves war-damaged facades and adds a canopy sheltering memory. The Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation will base its new HQ here, turning the ruins into a living museum of remembrance and resilience. Read more. [architecture, culture]

💎 “If You Don’t Ask, the Answer Is Always No” — A Psychological Blueprint for Founders

From Steve Jobs’ teenage cold call to startup success rates, this article explores the behavioral science behind asking. Drawing from research on rejection, loss aversion, and founder mindset, it reframes asking not as risk but as the core entrepreneurial act. A must-read for founders learning to embrace the “no” on the path to the ultimate “yes.” Read more. [entrepreneurship, psychology]

💎 Sinfonia Varsovia Moves Forward with Poland’s Largest Concert Hall by 2030

Sinfonia Varsovia has opened the tender for constructing Poland’s largest concert hall at Grochowska Street in Warsaw. Designed by Atelier Thomas Pucher, the venue will seat 1,877 guests, feature rooftop promenades, and blend historic architecture with modern acoustics. Read more. [architecture, culture]

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