Techstars | All things startup in Warsaw №192

Editor’s Edge

From AI bees to Rust-powered space twins, Poland’s startup scene continues to prove it’s not just here to play—it’s here to terraform your assumptions.

Last week, ORLEN opened its 15th Skylight Accelerator (because apparently 14 rounds weren’t enough to fix logistics with AI). Meanwhile, SmokeD’s neural nets are now sniffing wildfires in Kampinos, Osmia Future is sending bees to orchards like tiny electric delivery trucks, and SATIM teamed up with Ursa Space to finally answer the age-old question: “Can you see me now?” (Yes, even through clouds and darkness.)

Private capital didn’t stay quiet either: MCI, Innova, and MidEuropa are throwing around 8- and 9-figure funds like startup confetti, and Spacelift raised a cool €47.5M to keep your infrastructure from collapsing while you’re on vacation.

And yes, Grok 4 is back—doing Sutton’s homework and proving that sheer compute muscle still beats clever tricks. The Bitter Lesson? Be rich, train longer, brag louder.

This week, mark your radar for Zero Orbit on Aug 21—because nothing says “peak summer” like orbital defense pitch decks and French Tech diplomacy. Until then, grab your sticky notes, a paddleboard, or your Scala sandals. It’s going to be a weirdly productive week.

And with that, let’s dive in.

Last Week's NEWS

💎ORLEN Opens 15th Skylight Accelerator Call to Startups
Poland’s energy giant ORLEN launches its 15th Skylight Accelerator edition, seeking startup solutions to over 20 real-world challenges. Areas include AI in logistics, grid monitoring, and fuel detection. Past pilots led to measurable industrial gains. Applications open until 28 July 2025. Read more. [energy, innovation]

💎AI Wildfire Detection System Deployed in Kampinos
Polish startup SmokeD installs an AI-powered fire detection system in Kampinos National Park. Real-time alerts via neural networks now safeguard Poland’s largest biosphere reserve. This climate tech move boosts conservation and wildfire prevention. Read more. [climate, AI]

💎SATIM and Ursa Launch Global SAR Intelligence Alliance
Polish firm SATIM partners with U.S.-based Ursa Space to combine AI object detection with global SAR satellite data. This boosts defense, infrastructure, and crisis monitoring in hard-to-image zones like cloudy or night-time regions. Read more. [space, defense]

💎Osmia Future Scales AI Bee-Based Orchard Pollination
Polish agritech startup Osmia Future combines AI, smart hives, and solitary bees to enhance orchard pollination. The eco-solution, backed by ING Grant, boosts fruit yields while lowering ecological impact. Read more. [agriculture, AI]

💎MCI Capital Forecasts €235M in AI-Led Exits
Private equity firm MCI Capital eyes €235M in exits and doubles down on AI-led investments across Central Europe. Their strategy favors regional champions in food, e-commerce, and digital energy sectors. Read more. [VC, AI]

💎MidEuropa Plans €800M Fund After €4B in Exits
After record €4B exits, MidEuropa plans a new €800M fund targeting resilient companies in Poland and CEE. Key sectors include healthcare, consumer goods, and digital services. Read more. [private-equity, Poland]

💎Innova Capital Forms Tech Board to Guide CEE Scaleups
Innova Capital launches a Technology Advisory Board to guide its €407M fund investments. With advisors from Allegro and SoSafe, it aims to back AI-ready scaleups with global potential. Read more. [VC, technology]

💎Spacelift Raises €47.5M to Automate Infrastructure Ops
Spacelift, the Polish-American infra orchestration startup, raises €47.5M Series C to advance AI-powered DevOps tooling. Clients include NYSE, Volkswagen, and Duolingo. Read more. [DevOps, AI]

💎Asynchronics Builds Space Sim Marketplace with EU Focus
Warsaw-based Asynchronics raises pre-seed to launch a digital-twin marketplace for spacecraft systems. Powered by Rust, it supports EU’s 2030 Space Policy with open-source simulation tools. Read more. [space, software]

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My notes:

💎xAI’s Grok 4 Proves Sutton’s Bitter Lesson True

Grok 4, developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, rockets up reasoning benchmarks by embracing Richard Sutton’s “Bitter Lesson”—prioritizing compute over manual heuristics. It now leads ARC-AGI-2 with the best cost-efficiency. Read more. [AI, deeptech]

💎 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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