Ecosystem Profile Picture: Poland

Find out what's happening in each European ecosystem from the VC perspective!  To better understand the extent of the COVID-19 pandemic, we embarked on a journey through various startup scenes, big and small. We took the first Profile Picture in Poland, close to our home. We hope that the findings will improve your understanding of the Polish VC ecosystem and help you navigate your actions in these turbulent times.

The bridge mentality of transatlantic expansion — an interview with Pavel Bogdanov

Pavel Bogdanov, a General Partner at Almaz Capital. Having been investing in startups for the past 13 years, Pasha has vast knowledge about the VC business. However, only a few minutes into our conversation, I realized that when it comes to making investment decisions, as important as his...

Getting your place at the table — an interview with Marcin Szeląg

Not even 40-year-old, Marcin Szeląg can already be counted among the forefathers of Polish venture capital. He is a General Partner at Innovation Nest, one of the few VCs in Poland investing internationally. Before embarking on the VC path, he was an operator at a Krakow-based startup epuls,...

If you’re a pioneer, don’t expect to have mentors - an interview with Jure Mikuž

Nothing beats talking to people who love what they’re doing, even if it’s not easy. This is exactly the case with Jure Mikuž. Although he set out as a banker, Jure chose to work on things that truly matter to him, transitioning to VC.

A great team will help you find your strengths - an interview with Kristjan Laanemaa

Despite what the name might suggest, karma itself was not the topic of my interview with one of the founders and a General Partner at Karma Ventures. However, we talked about building partnerships based on trust, and how to find the peace of mind in this fast-paced career.

The Operational VC - an interview with Florian Heinemann

Florian Heinemann’s life could easily be made into a book and yet he is far from slowing down. A pioneer of operational VC, he told me of the distinction between basing your fund on expertise, instinct, or reputation, as well as the need for focusing on the founders.

Going against the stream - an interview with Roy Gottlieb

A General Partner at the Spanish-Israeli deep tech VC fund Cardumen Capital, Roy Gottlieb is a self-made man with a passion for technology, law, and finance.