The Polish-Ukrainian Startup Bridge has opened a call for startups for its new initiative, “PUSB for #techfugees.” Ukrainian projects interested in temporarily relocating to Poland can receive financial assistance, access to co-working space in Warsaw, and support in finding potential investors, among other benefits. Entrepreneurs in their early stages of development (pre-seed or seed) are invited to participate, as access to the Polish market could be a key development opportunity in the face of the war. Recruitment is open until June 6, 2022, at the link below. Participation in the initiative is free. The goal of the Polish-Ukrainian Startup Bridge (PUSB) is to identify the best business ideas and then accelerate them through training conducted by experienced Polish experts. Additionally, the project facilitates direct contact with representatives of venture capital funds for young entrepreneurs from across the eastern border. The project, run by the Cooperation Fund Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, is financed by the Polish Aid program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.
Operations during the War
“For us, like for many, the war in Ukraine became a serious challenge, leading to changes in PUSB’s operations. From the very first days, we began receiving requests for help from startups that were already involved in our project or were planning to join us this year. This allowed us to understand precisely what they needed and what support we could provide. That’s when the idea for PUSB for #techfugees was born.” “We hope that participating in the initiative will help Ukrainian founders get back on their feet and support their country’s recovery in the near future,” said Łukasz Wawak, project manager of the Polish-Ukrainian Startup Bridge.
The project’s new initiative – PUSB for #techfugees – focuses on startups in the early stages of development (pre-seed and seed stages) that are willing and able to temporarily relocate from Ukraine to Poland, or have already done so. From among all those interested, the organizers will select 15 teams in June. When evaluating applications, they will prioritize their impact on Ukraine’s recovery, business scalability, and potential for growth in the Polish market.
Selected participants will receive, among other things, financial assistance of up to 10,000 PLN for mentoring services and the purchase of goods and services needed to continue their business. Additionally, founders will have access to co-working space in Warsaw, assistance with company registration in Poland, the opportunity to participate in training and workshops led by startup industry experts, and more. At the end of 2022, a Demo Day will be held – an event during which startups from Ukraine will present their ideas to a group of Polish investors and innovators.
Recruitment for the project is open until June 6, 2022, and can be completed via the registration form available at:
More about the Polish-Ukrainian Startup Bridge: www.startupbridge.eu.
