The past two years have been a period of market adjustment in the Polish start-up ecosystem driven largely by a significant decline in available capital.

With limited access to funding, some ventures were unable to raise new rounds and had to wind down. Others adapted by focusing on operational efficiency, profitability, and lean growth strategies. As a result, many teams emerged stronger and more resilient and are now attractive investment targets.

Today, the market is entering a new phase of growth. In 2025, a long-awaited wave of capital is reaching founders, primarily through programs operated by PFR Ventures and financed under FENG (European Funds for the Modern Economy) – a national initiative supporting innovation and entrepreneurship with EU backing. Over PLN 2 billion in public and private capital is being deployed through around 40 VC funds, several of which are already active and investing. In total, these funds are expected to finance several hundred early- and growth-stage start-ups over the next few years.

One of them is our own Digital Ocean Ventures Starter, where we invest at the pre-seed and seed stage. Our mission is to back founders with global ambitions who are building international-first products from day one, supported by strong technology and execution.

Key trends driving the current wave of innovation include the growth of HealthTech and the rise of dual-use technologies, including cybersecurity, autonomous systems, AI-powered surveillance, energy resilience solutions, and biotech with crisis response applications. Another defining trend is the widespread adoption of AI, now a foundational layer of competitiveness across nearly every sector.

We’re not just witnessing a new opening, we’re entering a smarter cycle, shaped by capital discipline and global vision rather than hype and buzz.