MIT Open Learning together with StartSmart CEE, are creating an international platform for discussion about artificial intelligence – focused not on theory or current trends, but on specific implementations, the latest research findings, and documented examples of return on investment (ROI).

This is your chance to experience: 

So whether you’re building a startup, driving innovation in a corporation, investing in new ideas, shaping policy, or just starting your journey as a student – this is your opportunity to be part of something extraordinary. 

23–24 March 2026 | Museum of Polish History

Don’t miss the next chapter – Shaping Tomorrow awaits. See you there! 

🔗 More info: https://uaisummit.mit.edu/

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Join us for a free online webinar on November 4 at 4:00 p.m. (CET). During the meeting, you will learn about the details of the Berlin GoGlobalProgram – an initiative supporting Polish startups in scaling their operations and entering the German market.

During the session, Magdalena Jabłońska, CEO of StartSmart CEE, and Łukasz Owczarek, Head of Growth, will walk you through the application process, program structure, and key benefits. You will learn, among other things, how to obtain a grant of up to €35,000 for international expansion – without giving up shares.

Participants in the Berlin GoGlobal Program gain:

• three months of individual mentoring and training in go-to-market strategy building,
• an intensive week in Berlin with workshops, networking, and Demo Day,
• access to investors, corporate partners, and experts from the Berlin startup ecosystem.

Don’t miss this opportunity to get to know the Berlin market from the inside and find out how your startup can spread its wings in Germany.

👉 Register now and learn how to take your business to the European level!

Note: The program is co-financed by the European Funds for a Modern Economy (FENG) program under the Startup Booster Poland – Smart UP measure implemented by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP).

The post Are you wondering how to enter the German market with the Berlin GoGlobal Program? Join our webinar! appeared first on StartSmart CEE.

During the event, you will hear directly from Paweł Hytry, who scaled Spacelift from an early-stage idea to a global company with more than 100 employees and over $80 million in funding. In a fireside chat with Bogy Skowroński, Paweł will reflect on the journey from zero to one, explain why building strong foundations is essential, share the mistakes that taught him the most, and talk about what it really takes to expand a business worldwide.

The meetup will also feature Małgorzata Bielecka, Head of Acceleration at StartSmart CEE, who will introduce the acceleration program and its tracks – reTHINK and PilotReady. Drawing on her experience with startups across the region, she will present opportunities for founders to collaborate with corporate partners, launch pilots, and scale faster in international markets.

The session will conclude with networking and one-on-one meetings with corporate partners of the program – a unique chance to exchange ideas, build valuable connections, and explore collaboration opportunities.

What’s on the agenda?

• 16:00 – 16:20 – How StartSmart CEE can help you scale up your business – Małgorzata Bielecka
• 16:20 – 17:20 – Fireside Chat: From Zero to Global Scale – Bogy Skowroński with Paweł Hytry
• 17:20 – 19:00 – Networking & 1:1 meetings with corporate partners

Don’t miss this opportunity to get practical insights, valuable connections, and inspiration for scaling your startup globally!

Note: The program is co-financed by the European Funds for a Modern Economy (FENG) program under the Startup Booster Poland – Smart UP measure implemented by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP).

The post From Zero to Global Scale: Fireside Chat with Paweł Hytry appeared first on StartSmart CEE.

Why should you attend?

You will hear directly from:

Małgorzata Bielecka from StartSmart CEE, who will share insights about the acceleration program and its tracks – reTHINK, PilotReady, and PilotReady Booster. Drawing on her experience with startups across the region, Małgorzata will present opportunities for development, collaboration with corporate partners, and access to paid pilot projects that allow startups to test and validate their solutions in real market conditions.

Klaudia Szklarczyk-Smolana, doctor of medical sciences and co-founder and CEO of Intelliseq, will tell the story of how her company, specializing in computational genomics and bioinformatics solutions for interpreting human genome data, benefited from the StartSmart CEE program. Intelliseq was the only company from the CEE region to reach the finals of the international Clarity Undiagnosed competition organized by Boston Children’s Hospital. Klaudia will explain how the program helped Intelliseq refine its business model, open new markets, and secure nearly 6 million USD in funding, offering a real-world example of how acceleration programs can transform innovative ideas into international success.

What’s on the agenda?

• 16:00 – 16:40 – Małgorzata Bielecka of the StartSmart CEE: Insights about StartSmart CEE Accelerator and exciting opportunities for startup development in: Rethink, PilotReady and PilotReady Booster tracks
• 16:40 – 16:50 – Klaudia Szklarczyk-Smolana from Intelliseq – sharing their story how StartSmart CEE acceleration program helped them to succeed
• 16:45 – 17:15 Q&A

Don’t miss this opportunity! Learn how to join the StartSmart CEE Acceleration Program and start writing your own success story.

Note: The program is co-financed by the European Funds for a Modern Economy (FENG) program under the Startup Booster Poland – Smart UP measure implemented by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP).

The post How to Accelerate Your Startup with StartSmart CEE? Learn from Intelliseq’s Success Story appeared first on StartSmart CEE.

On April 23, 2025, at 16:00 CEST, join us for a MeetUp with Jarek Sygitowicz.

Jarek is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Authologic – a global e-ID platform for KYC- and AML-driven industries. Previously, he co-founded ZenCard, which was acquired by PKO Bank Polski in 2017. An entrepreneur with years of experience, he is an expert in strategy, UX, and customer relations.

This event is all about the facts, no filters: from day one to Series A – a practical look at what it really takes to build, grow and scale a startup.

What’s in store?

16:00 – 16:20 | How Can StartSmart CEE Help You Grow Your Startup?
Małgorzata Bielecka, Head of Acceleration, will introduce our acceleration program and explain how the Rethink and Pilot Ready tracks support startups. Additionally, learn about the EUR 90,000 non-equity grant and other opportunities to scale your business.

 16:20 – 17:20 | Bogy Skowroński in Conversation with Jarek Sygitowicz
Jarek will share insights on building a global company, lessons learned from Y Combinator, and the differences between the seed and post-Series A stages. No filters—just real takeaways and valuable experience!

17:20 – 19:00 | Networking & 1:1 Meetings
Meet corporate representatives from companies such as PZU, Polpharma, Warner Bros. Discovery, Rossmann and EFL, engage in discussions about potential collaboration, and establish valuable relationships that can drive your startup’s growth!

Date: April 23, 2025
Time: 16:00–19:00 CEST
Where: Online

Ready for the challenge?

Note: The program is co-financed by the European Funds for a Modern Economy (FENG) program under the Startup Booster Poland – Smart UP measure implemented by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP).

The post No Filters, Just Facts: From Day One to Series A appeared first on StartSmart CEE.

Why should you attend?
Mateusz Maj is a leader in technology and innovation who:

• Developed IT systems for banks and insurers in Western Europe.
• Has been leading companies in AI, mobility, and road safety since 2013.
• Collaborates with industry giants like PZU, BMW, and E.ON, optimizing vehicle fleets and introducing decarbonization services.

His company, VivaDrive, has been recognized as one of the top clean-tech companies in the CEE region, winning prestigious awards from the European Commission and Polish industry organizations.

What’s on the agenda?
4:00 PM – 4:40 PM
Introduction to the StartSmart CEE Acceleration Program – Małgorzata Bielecka.

4:40 PM – 4:50 PM
The Success Story of VivaDrive – Mateusz Maj:

• How did the StartSmart CEE program help his company grow?
• How to leverage acceleration programs to boost B2B sales?
• Key lessons for startups operating in tech industries.

 4:50 PM – 5:15 PM
Q&A Session: Your questions, our answers!

Where? Zoom Webinar
When? April 8, 2025, 4:00–5:15 PM CEST

Don’t miss this opportunity! Learn how to join the StartSmart CEE Acceleration Program and start writing your own success story.

Note: The program is co-financed by the European Funds for a Modern Economy (FENG) program under the Startup Booster Poland – Smart UP measure implemented by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP).

The post How to Build a Startup That Conquers Europe? Learn from Mateusz Maj appeared first on StartSmart CEE.

Join us at our upcoming MeetUp featuring special guest Przemek Pyziel, founder of Planet Heroes.

Przemek transitioned from banking to launching Planet Heroes, an award-winning sustainability startup that rewards eco-friendly actions with “Green Coins.” He’ll share insights on achieving business success, leading impactful projects, and turning bold ideas into global companies. 🌱

You’ll also have the chance to participate in 1-on-1 meetings with key partners, gaining valuable contacts and understanding their needs. Companies like Veolia Energy Polska, Piątnica, Maspex, Rossmann, PZU, and Polpharma will be present—an excellent opportunity to discuss your ideas with market leaders!

Agenda:
16:00 – 16:20: How StartSmart CEE can help you scale your startup
16:20 – 17:20: Fireside chat with Przemek Pyziel: “The Art of the Pivot: Planet Heroes’ Journey of Transformation”
17:20 – 19:00: Networking & 1-on-1 meetings with corporate partners

Date: 13 November
Location: Online
Register here: https://www.airmeet.com/e/bbc67280-7bfa-11ef-bfe2-d324e77f04d6

See you there!

Note: The program is co-financed by the European Funds for a Modern Economy (FENG) program under the Startup Booster Poland – Smart UP measure implemented by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP).

The post MeetUp! The Art of the Pivot: Journey of Startup Transformation appeared first on StartSmart CEE.

Make sure to save the date in your calendar and join us for this event!

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__Qic1WjrQD2efbcawWjxbA

See you there!

Note: The program is co-financed by the European Funds for a Modern Economy (FENG) program under the Startup Booster Poland – Smart UP measure implemented by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP).

The post Webinar! How the StartSmart CEE Accelerator Program helps startups? appeared first on StartSmart CEE.

Gekko Photonics is a deep tech startup solving socially significant problems with a non-invasive diagnostics platform based on Raman Spectroscopy. The company is currently developing three products: optical diagnostics systems of chemicals, a non-invasive glucometer and non-invasive health biomarker diagnostics.

How can you gain investors and develop deep tech products – such as those delivered by Gekko Photonics – tailored to global customers? Join a free webinar with Robert Stachurski, the company founder, deep tech entrepreneur, business mentor, and executive with over 10 years of experience in top management positions in high-tech companies, mainly in healthcare, consumer electronics, and IT.

Robert has advised more than 100 SMEs and corporations from around the world in innovation development, R&D, manufacturing and strategic management. In addition to Gekko Photonics, he is the founder of two more innovative startups: GlucoActive and Biocam.

During the webinar, Robert will share his experience and insights on how StartSmart CEE has helped his company in fundraising (working on business plans and investor materials), team-building (theory and practice), and commercialization (industry networking).

Magdalena Jabłońska, CEO of StartSmart CEE, will provide even more details about the StartSmart CEE Accelerator, including exciting opportunities for startup development in the Rethink and Pilot Ready tracks, potential partnerships with corporate entities, and valuable paid pilot collaborations.

Magdalena brings 20 years of experience as a business advisor, primarily focusing on innovation support and research and development initiatives. She began her career in consulting firms like Deloitte and PwC, and since 2018 she has been utilizing her expertise and passion for innovation as the CEO of the StartSmart CEE.

Learn from our experts’ experience and discover the real benefits of participating in the StartSmart CEE Acceleration Program. Recruitment for the Spring 2024 edition is still open!

Date: July 18, 2024

Location: Online

Agenda Highlights:

See you there!

Note: The program is co-financed by the European Funds for a Modern Economy (FENG) program under the Startup Booster Poland – Smart UP measure implemented by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP).

The post Webinar! How to gain investors and develop Deeptech products tailored to global customers appeared first on StartSmart CEE.

ElevenLabs is a global leader in audio AI research, used by millions of people worldwide, and reached a unicorn valuation in a record time in 2024. It delivers lifelike, compelling, and nuanced speech, voices, and sound effects across 29 languages.

The company’s AI tools are used to voice audiobooks and news articles, animate video game characters, create dynamic audio content for social media and advertising, and train medical professionals. But more importantly, it has also given back voices to those who have lost them and helped individuals with accessibility needs in their daily lives.

Join our MeetUp and meet the company’s AI safety lead Aleksandra Pędraszewska — a technology entrepreneur, venture builder, and operator. Before joining ElevenLabs, she co-founded VividQ, a world-leading provider of holographic display technology, based in Cambridge (UK), where she led financial, legal, and people operations as a COO.

She helped take VividQ from a prototype to a 50-people-strong team, with customers across the US and APAC, $25m raised in equity capital, and the title of “Best British Technology Pioneer”. She gained professional experience at Rolls-Royce, HBO, and an investment fund IdeaLab Ventures. Graduate of the University of Cambridge (BA), and Cambridge Judge Business School (MPhil). She was also named as a Forbes ‘30 under 30’ in the Technology Europe category.

During the MeetUp, Aleksandra will share her experience and insights on growing global teams and operational capabilities in a remote-first company, as well as how audio AI is transforming the world and how it can be developed, deployed, and used safely.

After the main session, you`ll have more than 90 minutes to network with representatives of our corporate partners, such as Warner Bros. Discovery Poland, PZU, MASPEX, Polpharma, Rossmann, Smart Soft Solutions, and EFL (Credit Agricole Group), our guests, and the StartSmart CEE Team.

Date: July 3, 2024

Location: Online

Agenda Highlights:

• 16:00 – 16:20:How StartSmart CEE can help you scale up your business – Insights about StartSmart CEE Accelerator and exciting opportunities for startup development in Rethink, Pilot Ready and PilotReady Booster tracks – Magdalena Jabłońska, CEO StartSmart CEE
• 16:20 – 17:20: Navigating the future of AI and growing tech business from zero to one — session and Fireside chat with our special guest, Aleksandra Pędraszewska, Head of AI Safety at ElevenLabs.
• 17:20 – 19:00: Network during 1-on-1 meetings with corporate partners of the program.

The post MeetUp! Navigating the future of AI and growing tech business from zero to one appeared first on StartSmart CEE.