Techstars | All things startup in Warsaw №172Welcome to Warsaw’s go-to newsletter for startup news and events! A quick review of last week’s highlights and must-attend events. Got news or an event to share? Let us know—we’d love to feature it!
Last week's news💎 Infoshare Startup Contest 2025 Opens Applications for Seed & Early-Stage Startups Infoshare, the leading tech conference in CEE, invites startups to compete in the Infoshare Startup Contest 2025. If your startup is in the seed or early-stage and focuses on tech4good solutions, this is your opportunity to gain direct investor access, expand your network, receive media exposure, and compete for up to €30,000 in funding. Finalists will pitch in front of top global VCs, corporate partners, and industry experts, offering a unique chance to accelerate business growth. Applications are free and open until February 28. Read more. [date: 2025-02-20] [mid impact] 💎 RoomPriceGenie Raises $75M, Polish Fund RKKVC Exits with 10x Return RoomPriceGenie, a leader in Revenue Management Systems for independent hotels, has secured $75 million from Five Elms Capital in a deal that allowed the buyout of most investors, including Polish family office fund RKKVC, which exited with a tenfold return. The funding will accelerate global expansion, product development, and AI-driven pricing automation. This exit highlights the strength of Poland’s VC landscape and its ability to foster internationally competitive startups. Read more. [date: 2025-02-18] [high impact] 💎 METYCLE Raises €14M Series A for AI-Powered Metal Recycling METYCLE, a digital marketplace for international secondary metal trade, has raised €14.1M in a Series A round led by 2150, with participation from DFF Ventures, Market One Capital, Partech, and Project A. The startup focuses on minimizing CO2 emissions by enhancing the efficiency of metal recycling supply chains through AI-powered trading and logistics optimization. This funding will drive further data and software development, making circular economy solutions more accessible for industries worldwide. Read more. [date: 2025-02-20] [high impact] 💎 Polish Startup Linker Cloud Secures €3.5M to Scale Fulfillment Network Linker Cloud, a logistics tech startup, has raised €3.5 million in seed funding to develop an AI-powered fulfillment network for e-commerce companies operating across Europe. The investment, led by ffVC Poland, Street Smart Capital (Finland), Market One Capital, and Kogito Ventures, will optimize cross-border shipping, automate order handling, and enhance scalability for retailers. This funding will help the company expand its network, bridging the gap between e-commerce brands and logistics operators. Read more. [date: 2025-02-19] [mid impact] 💎 Safe Intelligence Secures £4.15M for AI-Powered Security Tech Safe Intelligence, a deep-tech startup specializing in AI-driven security solutions, has closed a £4.15M seed round led by Amadeus Capital Partners, with participation from OTB Ventures and Vsquared Ventures. In addition, its portfolio companies ATMOS Space Cargo and SEMRON have been awarded grants from the European Innovation Council (EIC). ATMOS Space Cargo is revolutionizing satellite logistics, while SEMRON is pushing the boundaries of next-gen semiconductor innovation. Read more. [date: 2025-02-20] [mid impact] 💎 Shoper Strengthens Market Position with cyber_Folks as Strategic Investor Shoper, a leading e-commerce SaaS provider in Poland, has completed the sale of 49.9% of its shares to cyber_Folks in a PLN 547.5M deal, marking a significant strategic partnership. The acquisition, approved by the Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (OCCP), strengthens Shoper’s position in cloud-based e-commerce services, providing businesses with enhanced tools for online store management. Read more. [date: 2025-02-19] [mid impact] 💎 Purple Ray Studio Raises PLN 1.6M for New Game & Boti Expansion Warsaw-based game development studio Purple Ray Studio, creators of the award-winning indie game Boti: Byteland Overclocked, has raised PLN 1.6 million from private investors. The funds will support the ongoing development of Boti, which has sold over 40,000 copies, and fund a new roguelike action game in the works. The investment highlights the continued growth of Poland’s gaming industry as local studios gain international traction. Read more. [date: 2025-02-18] [mid impact] 💎 Restimo Secures PLN 2M to Expand Its Restaurant Tech Platform Restimo, a Warsaw-based restaurant tech startup, has closed a PLN 2 million late-seed investment round. The company is developing an AI-powered ordering and logistics platform for restaurants, retail chains, and food delivery services. Notable angel investors include Mike Korba (User.com) and Aleksandr Zuza (Bianchi Professional), while Iglotex joins as an industry partner. The funding will scale operations and enhance integrations with POS systems, courier services, and food aggregators. Read more. [date: 2025-02-19] [mid impact] 💎 Wirtualna Polska Invests PLN 20M to Expand Stake in Legimi Wirtualna Polska Holding is increasing its investment in Legimi, a leading Polish e-book and audiobook platform, by acquiring an additional 20% stake. The deal, valued at nearly PLN 20 million, positions Wirtualna Polska as the majority shareholder. The acquisition comes as Legimi navigates legal and market challenges, including new copyright regulations and disputes with publishers. Read more. [date: 2025-02-18] [low impact] 💎 Polish Clone Robotics Unveils Human-Like Robot Prototype Clone Robotics, a Polish deep-tech startup, has introduced Protoclone V1, a robotic humanoid prototype featuring 200 sensors and over 1,000 synthetic muscle fibers. The lifelike robot, designed to mimic human movement, was showcased in a demonstration video, drawing comparisons to Boston Dynamics and Tesla’s Optimus project. The project’s potential spans AI, robotics, and biomechanics, with future applications in healthcare, automation, and research. Read more. [date: 2025-02-20] [low impact] This week's events📅 Mon 25: Neurofacilitation – How to Run Effective and Engaging Meetings 🧠 Learn how to apply neurofacilitation to enhance engagement and efficiency in meetings. Based on neuroscience principles, this workshop will help you design meetings that support focus, creativity, and effective decision-making. Ideal for leaders, managers, and facilitators. Read more. [🇵🇱 | Business & Productivity] |