WHERE TECH MEETS PURPOSE
Two accelerators. One conviction: technology only matters when it solves what matters most.
When StartSmart CEE and SWPS University join forces, it's a statement that the most resilient startups are built at the intersection of technological ambition and genuine social purpose. That diversity of methodology, mentorship, and network is a competitive advantage, not a complication.
This is the culmination of six months of intensive work. Twenty startups. Hundreds of mentoring hours. One stage, one afternoon. Join us to witness their next chapter begin.
Capacity is limited – register early.
WHAT TO EXPECT
20 startup pitches – CEE's most promising founders presenting to a room of investors, angels, and industry leaders
Inspiring keynotes – visionary speakers at the crossroads of technology, business, and social impact
A frank panel discussion – an honest conversation about the future of the startup ecosystem in Central & Eastern Europe
International perspectives – guests from across borders, sectors, and disciplines
Dedicated networking space – structured time and the right environment to find the partnerships, co-founders, and capital you've been looking for
Live pitching contest finale – winners announced on stage
KEYNOTE
"Scaling what matters: If you're not building impact, you're building risk" | Natalia Wardejn & Marcin Czyczerski, Partners at GCG Partners
Markets are changing. Investors are changing. Expectations are changing. Impact is no longer evaluated through storytelling alone – it increasingly shapes formal investment scoring, value creation metrics, and strategic decision-making across funds and portfolios. This keynote explores how investors assess a company's additivity to the economy: the measurable KPIs, yes – but also the less visible, subjective choices made between competing opportunities at the table. Because in the next decade, the companies that scale fastest will be those creating measurable value not only for markets, but for society and the future economy.
AGENDA
13:30 Doors open & registration
14:00 Welcome & opening remarks
14:15 Keynote: "Scaling what matters: If you're not building impact, you're building risk" – Natalia Wardejn & Marcin Czyczerski, GCG Partners
14:45 Presentation – TBC
14:50 Pitching session I – 10 startups take the stage
15:50 Break & networking
16:30 Pitching session II – 10 startups take the stage
17:30 Panel discussion: “From Pilot to Growth: do Booster programmes actually deliver?” - 🎤 Moderator: Magdalena Jabłońska (StartSmart CEE) and her guests: Łukasz Stańczyk (Rossmann), Konrad Ozdowy (PKO BP), Mateusz Kuzdak (Grand Medical Clinic), Natalia Lemarquis (Shin Rai Robotics), Monika Standziak-Koresh (PARP)
18:30 Winner announcement & awards
19:00 Networking reception
21:00 End of event
WHO SHOULD COME
Building world-changing technology is one of the hardest things a person can attempt. It demands resilience, resources, the right network – and a community that genuinely believes in what you're doing. This Demo Day is that community, gathered in one room.
Come if you are:
An investor or business angel looking for high-potential, impact-driven opportunities in CEE
A corporate partner or industry expert seeking startups to collaborate with or integrate
A founder or early-stage entrepreneur who wants to learn, connect, and be genuinely inspired
An ecosystem builder, journalist, or researcher covering the future of innovation in Central & Eastern Europe
Or simply someone who believes technology should serve people – not the other way around
We have an intense, energising afternoon ahead. Full of inspiration, honest conversation, and the kind of connections that actually move things forward.
This project is implemented with funds from the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) under Priority II of the European Funds for a Modern Economy 2021-2027 program (FENG).