Finding a new location for your business can be tough – there are a lot of factors to consider before settling on a city for your next expansion. Take our advice, steer clear of European capitals for a moment, give the city which has been officially proclaimed as ‘magical’ a look instead. We’re talking about Krakow. This business-oriented Polish metropolis may be just what you’re looking for.
Right off the bat, let’s talk location! Krakow lies in southern Poland, right at the intersection of several major routes. If road or rail travel isn’t your thing, there’s also a large international airport just 11 kilometers west of the city centre, making it accessible from virtually any part of the world. John Paul II International Airport has undergone a range of modernizations in recent years. It is, in fact, also currently considered the second busiest airport in Poland – right behind Warsaw’s Chopin Airport.
As for infrastructure, Krakow is a truly magical mix of traditional and contemporary. Whether you’re looking to take a leisurely stroll through the Old Town or tour one of the shiniest, most modern office centers – you’ll find all those things here. At the heart of Krakow is the ICE Congress Centre, which serves as the city’s flagship business and cultural venue.
As a frontier for business, Krakow isn’t exactly uncharted ground – which is exactly why it’s an attractive destination for many investors and innovators. IBM, Cisco, and Motorola are just a few of the established brand names that, over the years, have decided to call Krakow home. That’s not all – Krakow has also been recognized as one of the most startup-friendly cities in Poland – making it an equally attractive destination for companies that are just getting their feet off the ground. As a matter of fact, many of the best-know success stories in the world of Polish startups began here – right next to Wawel’s Royal Castle.
We can’t forget to mention the city’s terrific startup ecosystem and the tremendous number of young, well-educated individuals that live in Krakow. As a matter of fact, ca. 60% of the city’s residents are less than 45 years of age. With numerous universities, the city is also home to a large student population which is estimated at ca. 170 thousand. Given these numbers, Krakow isn’t going to run out of young, educated tech workers anytime soon.
Oh! There’s also Krakow’s calendar, which is jam-packed with events for members of the business community. Numerous workshops, hackathons, and other networking opportunities are organized here on a weekly basis, but don’t take our word for it, do a quick online search yourself! These many activities prove how incredibly active Krakow’s startup community is.
Next month, on June 13th and 14th, our own Impact’18 will be part of Krakow’s tech schedule! We’re proud to announce that the city of Kraków will be our Host City for this year’s edition of the event. We’re hoping to see you there too, so register now!
