5 reasons why startups choose Concordia Design Accelerator
Michal Karbowiak
Startups need money, that's obvious. But in our gas pedal they see many more opportunities for them to grow.
We are now starting acceleration in the first round of the Concordia Design Accelerator program. The program is co-financed by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP), as part of the Startup Booster project. Currently, our goal is to connect Polish young technology companies with mature enterprises or local government units (so-called B2B/B2A path), as well as Venture Capital funds (Investor path).
In the following months, we will repeat this process in Round II (the call is open until December 27, you can apply via : https://accelerator.concordiadesign.pl/ and then - in Rounds III and IV we will help startups expand abroad (Go Global path).
Finally, Round V will attract foreign innovators to Poland (Poland Prize track).
Fierce competition
In the call for Round 1, we received as many as 270 applications from all over the country. The startups' solutions were so tailored to the needs of our partners that, with PARP's approval, we expanded the group of qualifiers from 8 to 15.
Among those selected were: VetApp, jCharge, Maturalni, Staffly, RESQL, Spectrally, Aiseemo, Hydropolis CleanWhale, Ludus AI, CargoNest, Education Development Center, eFolklore, DevCodi, Visus VR.
We took the opportunity to ask startup representatives why they actually chose to participate in the Concordia Design Accelerator.
First: money
This is obvious. Startups around the world need funds for development. In the case of Concordia Design Accelerator, they can receive as much as PLN 400,000 in grants and this is of the free-equity type, i.e. without having to give away shares. So they gain money, but retain full control of the company. In addition, our beneficiaries of the program will end up either with implementations with great clients (B2B/B2A track) or with potential investors (Investor track). So there are many more resources waiting for them.
Second, cooperation with the public sector
Concordia Design Accelerator is strong with the strength of its Business Partners. And among them are as many as two cities: Wrocław and Poznań. In addition to them, Wroclaw's MPWiK and indirectly Dolnośląska Zielona Dolina (a company established, among others, by Wroclaw University of Life Sciences) are also connected with the public sphere.
The current call included many startups that wanted to establish relationships with local governments. And as they emphasized, our gas pedal with such an opportunity stands out in the country. We are proud that Wroclaw selected three startups for cooperation, and Poznan, MPWiK and Lower Silesia Green Valley one each. That's as many as 30 percent of the companies selected for funding.
Third: new development opportunities
Startup founders emphasized that even if they are already running a profitable venture, the gas pedal offers additional growth opportunities. They can test new product functionality in a fairly comfortable and safe environment, or collaborate with companies in industries they hadn't thought of before. So if the new products or processes prove themselves under acceleration, they can be incorporated into the offering permanently afterwards. That means additional customers and new revenue streams.
Fourth: useful knowledge
Sometimes we even asked our applicants whether participation in the gas pedal from a business point of view is definitely necessary for them. From the data collected, it seems that financially they can calmly manage and without the grant. - I didn't come here for the money. Rather, for the opportunity to work with reputable experts. My startup is growing very fast, and I'd like to sort it out, juxtapose my problems with the right mentors," one of the founders answered us.
Fifth: an experienced team
We also asked about the choice of gas pedal to those applicants who have already developed successful startups in their careers. We have been observing the market for years, after all, we know their achievements, sometimes ones with an international dimension. - When I started there were no such programs, and besides, the belief that I already know everything is the first step to failure. I love to learn from other people, to benefit from their experience," one of the founders answered us. - Just as you have been observing the market for years, I have been observing your work. I decided that if I were to undergo acceleration, it would be with the Concordia team," he added. For us, this is a huge commitment. But also a chance to learn a lot from each other.
Business Partners: 4mobility, Art Building, Atlas Ward, Balluff, Cofounder Zone, Lower Silesia Green Valley, Emitel, Flex To Go, Airport Freight Station Wrocław, City of Poznań, City of Wrocław, Modus, MPWiK Wrocław, Poland Biomed Venture, Polski Tabor Szynowy - Wagon, Primavera Parfum, Regional Center for Development and Education, RST Software Masters, RST Ventures for Earth, Satus VC, Shape VC, Association for Social Cooperatives, TestArmy Group, Unfold VC, WeExpert
Ecosystem Partners:
Academic Business Incubator of Wroclaw University of Technology, Lower Silesia Regional Development Agency, inQUBE, SWPS University, Startup Wroclaw, Wroclaw University.
