Where Polish startups meet Berlin.
A three-day immersion into Berlin's innovation ecosystem for a selected cohort of Polish startups. We run it in editions — and the strongest applicants travel fully funded.
Expert workshops, structured 1-on-1 meetings with investors, study visits, and a pitch stage at Polish Tech Night — a condensed path into one of Europe's strongest tech ecosystems.
The bridge between Polish tech and the world
Despite the dynamic growth of the Polish tech scene, its startups are still rarely part of western ecosystems. Polish Tech | Scale changes that. Edition after edition, it brings a carefully selected cohort of startups to Berlin for expert sessions, investor meetings, and a culminating evening at Polish Tech Night. Editions are timed around Berlin's big tech moments (the 2026 edition ran alongside GITEX Europe), so participants can extend their visit and get even more out of the trip.
Real connections
Every session is built around introductions and follow-up — a minimum of 10 documented 1-on-1 meetings per startup.
Access to investors
Direct access to Berlin VCs, business angels, accelerators, and corporate innovation leads curated for scaling startups.
A stage at Polish Tech Night
Funded startups receive a pitch slot at Polish Tech Night, our flagship evening in front of 150+ founders, investors, and ecosystem builders.
Alumni network
Join a growing Polish–German innovator network that gets bigger with every edition — a lasting resource for partnerships, co-investors, and market entry.
Three days. One ecosystem.
Every edition follows the same three-day arc, with topics and experts tailored to the cohort. Every session leads to introductions; every introduction is followed up. The b2match matchmaking platform is open to all participants from day one.
Day 1 — Welcome & Workshops
- Morning
Welcome & orientation to the Berlin innovation landscape.
- Workshop
VC financing in Germany & the EU — what investors expect.
- Workshop
Cross-border cooperation — legal frameworks, IP, compliance.
- Workshop
PR & communications in the German-speaking market.
- Evening
Networking dinner — first 1-on-1 meetings on b2match.
Day 2 — Matchmaking & Polish Tech Night
- Morning
Structured 1-on-1 matchmaking with pre-selected investors & corporates (b2match).
- Afternoon
Knowledge-exchange roundtables on market entry & fundraising.
- Evening
Polish Tech Night — our flagship evening at CIC Berlin & Venture Café. 150+ attendees.
Day 3 — Study Visits & Close
- Morning
Guided study visits to Berlin's accelerators, tech hubs, and corporate innovation labs.
- Afternoon
Closing — reflection, follow-up planning, and the alumni network.
- Optional
Extend your stay — editions are timed around major Berlin tech events (in 2026, GITEX Europe).
Built for Polish startups ready to scale
A selective programme — around 20 startups per edition. For every edition, the committee evaluates each application against four criteria.
Polish roots
A Polish startup, or at least one Polish co-founder, building a product with global ambitions.
Pre-seed to Series A
A working product with early traction, actively seeking investment, partnerships, or market entry in Germany or the EU.
Berlin potential
A clear hypothesis for what Berlin can unlock — a specific investor, accelerator, corporate partner, or market.
Ready to connect
Committed to the full three-day programme and to following up seriously on every connection made.
The full programme, end to end
Three days inside Berlin's innovation ecosystem at CIC Berlin.
Expert sessions with Berlin operators — VC, legal, PR, cross-border growth.
10+ documented 1-on-1 meetings via the b2match platform.
Full access to Polish Tech Night — pitches, panels, 150+ people.
Guided study visits to accelerators, tech hubs, and innovation labs.
Entry to the Polish–German innovator alumni network.
The top startups travel fully funded
In every edition, a jury of investors picks the strongest applicants for funded places. Those selected get their travel and stay covered and a pitch slot at Polish Tech Night. In 2026, the top 5 startups were funded.
Return travel to Berlin
Hotel stay in Berlin
Pitch slot at Polish Tech Night
Practitioners, not presenters
Sessions are led by operators and investors with direct experience in German and European markets. Past speakers include:
Tobias Szarowicz
Polish Tech / CIC Catalyst
Polish startups in Berlin: first steps in the ecosystem
Adam Formanek
Polish Tech
Berlin's innovation ecosystem: actors, programmes, and how to connect
Ewa Geresz
Venture Café Berlin / CIC Catalyst / Polish Tech
Community and network as a growth factor
Prof. Dr. Matthias Mrożewski
ESCP Business School Berlin
Startup internationalisation: where science meets practice
The ecosystem behind the programme
A coalition of institutional, community, and academic partners bridging the Polish and German innovation ecosystems.
Past Editions
Apply to Polish Tech | Scale
Polish Tech | Scale runs as a recurring programme. Leave your details below and we'll be in touch as soon as applications for the next edition open.
The format at a glance
- Duration
- 3 days
- Location
- CIC Berlin, Germany
- Cohort size
- ~20 startups per edition
- Funded places
- Travel & accommodation for the top-ranked startups
- Application
- Open call before each edition
- Selection
- Committee review + investor jury for funded places
- Language
- English
- Timing
- Each edition runs alongside Polish Tech Night
Questions?
For questions about the programme, funded places, partnerships, or speaking opportunities, reach the team directly.
hello@polishtech.org