Help us take Customer Engagement to new heights
We’re looking for startups that leverage the latest technology to help increase customer engagement.
Our business partners:
Enhance Your Customer Engagement solution with StartSmart CEE’s Acceleration Program
Customer engagement is one of the biggest challenges for any business.
At our Acceleration Program, we’re looking for startups looking for ways to boost sales, activate customers more efficiently, and build lasting relationships by seamlessly integrating and synchronizing interactions across various touchpoints.
During the Program, you’ll work alongside one of our corporate partners on building your proof of concept and scaling your idea.
You’ll also get access to resources, R&D support, networking opportunities, and expertise you need to turn your idea into a business and establish its market position.
Why join our Customer Engagement Acceleration Program?
Work alongside business professionals and industry experts. Get marketing, business, and tech insights and advice and leverage it to scale your business faster.
Leverage your partner’s vast resources to test how your innovation performs in a real business scenario.
Get access to a wealth of customer engagement and behavior data from your accelerator partner. Use it to optimize and improve your product.
Tap into your corporate partner’s R&D resources and get the support you need to speed up the development of your solution.
Work alongside the biggest names in your industry. “Borrow” their brand credibility and build a trust-worthy brand even before your product hits the market.
Join a StartSmart CEE Startup Acceleration Program, access a wealth of resources, and grow your startup while keeping 100% ownership over your startup.
Receive funding for testing and technology development, in partnership with our corporate sponsors. *This grant is available for a limited number of startups meeting the formal requirements.
Get a chance to get your first high-value client even before you finish the accelerator.
Our Corporate Partners
Maspex
Maspex is the biggest private food company in Poland and one of the largest in Central and Eastern Europe. It was established over 30 years ago and produces a wide range of products, including drinks, food, and spirits, which are available in 70 countries around the world. The company has a portfolio of 70 brands and offers over 4000 products made in 18 modern production plants located in Poland and abroad. These plants have over 160 production lines and annually produce more than 2.2 billion liters of juices, nectars, and beverages, 280,000 tonnes of pasta, cereal, and instant products, 180,000 tonnes of jams and preserves, and 155 million liters of alcohol. The company focuses on organic growth and acquisitions, having conducted 21 acquisitions to date, including 12 foreign companies. In 2023, Maspex generated sales revenues of 4 billion EUR.
PZU
The PZU Group is the largest financial institution in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The company is trusted by over 22 million customers in five countries. Operating in the areas of insurance, banking, investments, and healthcare, PZU manages nearly PLN 470 billion in assets. Implementing innovations is a crucial aspect of the PZU Ready for Startups program.
The company aims not only to respond to developments in insurtech but also to stay ahead of these trends. PZU is looking for startups operating in various areas, particularly in insurtech, advanced analytics solutions, digitalization, and new customer interactions.
Veolia
Veolia Group in Poland is committed to becoming a leading company in ecological transformation. For over 25 years, it has been a trusted partner to cities and industriesacross the country. By leveraging its expertise and experience, Veolia provides innovative services tailored to the needs of its customers. Through investments in the expansion and modernization of its production and distribution infrastructure, as well as by developing solutions for energy efficiency, water and wastewater management, and waste management, the company contributes to the sustainable development of cities and industries. Veolia Group in Poland employs 4,500 workers whose mission is to renew the world’s resources. Operating in 123 locations, it manages district heating networks in 59 cities.
Who should apply?
There are thousands of startups operating in the customer engagement industry. What makes your idea different from all those looking to scale?
Your idea should address one of our corporate partner’s key challenges (and be able to potentially solve it).
To get admitted, your idea needs to have market traction or at least a functioning, testable prototype.
You’re open to bringing the idea to market by entering a commercialization agreement with your corporate partner.
Recruitment is closed!
Recruitment for the Autumn 2024 edition is closed, subscribe to our newsletter to get notified about the start of the next Acceleration and other opportunities.
Help Our Corporate Partner Skyrocket their Customer Engagement
High customer engagement is the key to building long-term brand loyalty and increasing sales.
At StartSmart CEE (formerly MIT Enterprise Forum CEE), we’re working with established businesses that are looking for innovative startups that can help them solve their customer engagement challenges.
If you have an innovative idea that can help our partners improve their customer engagement in areas that are critical to them – apply today to CEE’s only MIT-affiliated Startup Acceleration Program.
Application Guide
Download our Application Guide and learn all you need about the admission process.
Find out the exact requirements you need to fulfill, including key application dates and essential documents.
Rules & Regulations
Access the rules and guidelines governing our Startup Accelerator Programs. Find out whether your startup satisfies the necessary formal requirements to participate.
Check out our success stories
Grow your Customer Engagement Innovation with StartSmart CEE Acceleration Program
Years of experience and 300 success stories have taught us a lot about scaling startups.
Apply today to one of our Acceleration Programs, let us help you scale yours, and become our next success story!