Are you a young entrepreneur with an idea for a startup, or maybe you’re in the beginning stages of developing a business venture? There’s a new contest on the horizon.
The LSE SU Polish Business Society is setting up a startup contest at the Polish Economic Forum. The organizers are hoping to find a project full of potential to succeed on the Polish and international market, and in turn, provide all of the mentorship it may need to ensure that success.
If all of this sounds right up your alley, you’re in luck – Start-Up Challenge is currently in the applications stage.
To apply, all you need to do is fill out a form on the Polish Economic Forum’s website, and answer a few questions regarding your idea and your startup’s future development plans. 5 of the best applicants will be invited to join the finals of the Start-Up Challenge in London on March 10th during the LSE SU Polish Economic Forum 2018.
There, the young entrepreneurs will have to compete in a Dragon’s Den type challenge. The final project presentations will be held during the forum, in front of a crowd of 700. Afterwards, the distinguished authors will get a chance to expand on their business concepts by answering the jury’s questions.
As for the jury, some of the voices you can expect to hear are Sebastian Kulczyk – the CEO of Kulczyk Investments, which specializes in the modern technologies sector; Krzysztof Krawczyk – the executive director of CVC Capital Partners, who also serves the role of the vice-president of the Polish Private Equity Association, and Tytus Cytowski – the founder of Cytowski&Partners, which represents the interests of growing enterprises.
The winners will be chosen by the jury. As of now, not all of the prizes have been revealed, but even the sneak peak sounds very exciting. The laureates will receive support from Bain&Co, who will work on the further development of their business. Moreover, the winning startup will receive a place in the very finale of the CVC Young Innovator Awards contest.
When it comes to the motivation behind the contest, the organizers state that they wish to inspire young Poles to create their own business ventures.
We’re hoping for The Forum to be a place where new ideas are born, and businesses which will shape the Polish economy in the future, as well as turn the eyes of the Western countries towards the dynamic development of young Polish enterprises. – said Wojciech Zych, the co-chairman of the LSE SU Polish Business Society, which organizes the Polish Economic Forum.
Krzysztof Stefanowicz, the other co-chairman of the Society adds: Through our actions we’re hoping for Poland to become an increasingly attractive market for startups, and, in the future, hopefully the startup hub of Central Europe.
Don’t hesitate to apply! The forms are open until the 16th of February, so you still have plenty of time left to spruce up your application. All of the terms and conditions can be found on the Polish Economic Forum’s website.
