Partner Event | Startup Community Summit Poznań 2026
A one-day, curated summit for 350 founders, investors and community builders from Poland and CEE, run by Startup Community Poznań. The idea was born at Polish Tech Night in Berlin, and PolishTech was on stage as a community partner.
About this Event
What this summit is about
Local roots. Global ambition. Built by the community. Startup Community Summit is a one-day, invite-only gathering of 350 curated founders, investors, companies and community builders from Poland and Central & Eastern Europe, organised by the Startup Community Poznań Foundation. The focus is on what Polish startups need most: capital, customers, partners and mentors. The day is built around meetings and matchmaking, not hype.
The idea for the summit was born in Berlin, in conversations at Polish Tech Night. PolishTech and Venture Café Berlin joined as community partners.
PolishTech on stage
- Ewa Geresz (PolishTech; Interim Director, Venture Café Berlin; Board Member, CIC Catalyst) moderated the opening keynote fireside chat, "Lokalne korzenie, globalne ambicje", with Lech Kaniuk (Founder, Kepta Legal; Venture Partner, Eleven Ventures).
- Adam Formanek (Co-Founder, PolishTech; Startup Mentor, StartSmart CEE) moderated the fireside chat on building products for international scaling from day one, with Arianna Aglietti (MK Business Link / GITEX Universe).
Programme
Community
08:30 Registration and morning networking
09:00 Opening and greetings by Aleksandra Lemańska and Antoni Pożywiłko
09:15 Keynote fireside chat: Lokalne korzenie, globalne ambicje, with Lech Kaniuk, moderated by Ewa Geresz
10:00 Panel on authentic connections in business, moderated by Michał Włodarczyk, with Jakub Rawski, Jan Sikora, Monika Holod, Wojciech Ziółkowski and Zofia Banaszewska
10:45 Fireside chat: Jak budować startup, który nie umiera, with Fryderyk Szydłowski, moderated by Paulina Kotowska
Product development
12:00 Fireside chat on building products for international scaling from day one, with Arianna Aglietti, moderated by Adam Formanek
12:45 Talk on using startup ecosystems locally and globally, by Cezar Reszel
Organisation and founder growth
14:00 Talk on founder burnout, by Aleksandra Łoś
14:35 Panel on scaling a business, moderated by Jarosław Sroka, with Bartosz Burek, Grzegorz Maciaszek, Jagoda Pieścicka and Maciej Hojszyk
15:20 Talk on mentoring, by Wojciech Dymowski
15:55 Summary and closing
Evening
18:00–22:00 Charity Night and networking afterparty in support of Fundacja Web-Korki
Practical information
Date: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Time: 08:30–16:00, Charity Night 18:00–22:00
Venue: Concordia Design, ul. Zwierzyniecka 3, 60-813 Poznań
Language: English and Polish
Organiser: Startup Community Poznań Foundation
PolishTech role: Community partner and moderators