Techstars | All things startup in Warsaw №210

Editor’s Edge

Finally!! This week, Poland did what we’ve all been yelling at it to do for years: launched a €920 million innovation fund. Yes, real capital. Not a grant, not a pitch competition with a free lunch and a LinkedIn photo booth. Actual market-driven money. It’s called Innovate Poland, and if the plan sticks, it could be the end of Poland’s innovation complex and the beginning of its sovereign capital era.

Meanwhile, in biotech-meets-Bugs-Life news: Proteine Resources raised €12M to scale mushroom-fed larvae into functional pet food. So yes, your dog’s diet might be more science-backed than your startup strategy.

Across the Atlantic, Fireworks AI, co-piloted by Polish engineer Paweł Garbacki, is now sitting on a €4B valuation after a casual $250M raise. The company is taking on OpenAI, which is cute, until you realize they’re building the thing that powers your thing that breaks every time ChatGPT updates.

Back home, Synerise pocketed €25M from the European Investment Bank. They process 17.5 billion decisions a month, most of which are probably “accept cookies.” But let’s not downplay it, they’re a rare example of Polish AI done at scale, with actual product and revenue, not just a Figma prototype and a prayer.

Also this week:

• Thursday Gathering dares you to find meaning in “Calculated Uncertainty.”

• Guy Kawasaki Zooms in to tell you why AI hasn’t killed creativity (yet).

• The Pitch Pit lets you fail publicly, but nicely.

• And Royal Łazienki launches a multi-sensory art show, because even your burnout deserves a curated experience.

So yes, while the rest of the world spirals over AI ethics and unstable capital, Warsaw quietly builds, pitches, exits, and feeds dogs mushrooms. Business as usual.

And with that, let’s dive in.

Last Week's NEWS

💎 Innovate Poland launches with €920M to fuel VC, PE, and growth capital funds

Poland’s innovation ecosystem gets a major boost with the launch of Innovate Poland, a €920M initiative co-led by PFR Ventures and the EIF. The platform uses a Fund-of-Funds model inspired by France’s Tibi Plan, aiming to scale Polish VC, PE, and growth funds with long-term co-investment from private and institutional capital. Early adopters like PZU signal credibility, while the optional Innovate PL FoF accreditation ensures governance standards. Designed to shift Poland from grant dependence to market-led capital, the program aims to anchor top tech talent and late-stage growth locally. Read more. [VC, policy]

💎 Proteine Resources raises €12M to redefine functional pet nutrition

Polish biotech startup Proteine Resources has secured nearly €12M in total 2025 funding from Radix Ventures and the European Innovation Council to accelerate development of EntoPro™, a patented, sustainable protein derived from mushrooms. This ingredient delivers full amino acid profiles and prebiotic benefits, aiming to replace low-grade pet food proteins with functional, science-backed nutrition. The funds will support Poland’s first autonomous protein factory and expand pilot production to 100 tons per year. Commercial formulations are expected by Q1 2026, signaling a health-focused shift in global pet food. Read more. [biotech, sustainability]

💎 Fireworks AI raises $250M at $4B valuation with Polish co-founder on board

California-based Fireworks AI, founded by PyTorch engineers including Poland’s Paweł Garbacki, has raised $250M in Series C funding at a $4B valuation. The company is building robust, scalable AI infrastructure for enterprise-grade applications, competing directly with OpenAI’s ecosystem. Garbacki, a Warsaw-born engineer, shapes Fireworks’ tech roadmap, proving how Polish talent is leaving its mark on Silicon Valley’s frontlines. With €327M in total funding, Fireworks is one of the most prominent examples of the Polish tech diaspora fueling global innovation. Read more. [AI, infrastructure]

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💎 Synerise secures €25M strategic financing from European Investment Bank

Kraków-based Synerise has received €25M from the European Investment Bank through the TechEU programme to fuel its behavioral AI platform expansion. The company processes 17.5B monthly decisions across 460 global implementations. Its tools, like Terrarium DB and Cleora.ai, blend real-time data and AI for hyper-personalized customer engagement. The EIB support enables broader EU and North American growth while positioning Synerise as a model of European tech sovereignty. CEO Jarosław Królewski called the investment a vote of confidence in Poland’s AI leadership. Read more. [AI, deeptech]

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This week's events

📅 Mon, Nov 17 - Talk LeSS Conference 2025, Unveiling LeSS: Scaling Agile for Simplicity and Success [Best for Agile Leaders & Product Teams] [PAID]