Explore the key moments of ESA BIC Poland Demo Day, where startups pitched innovative ideas and connected with investors and industry leaders.
The first ESA BIC Poland Demo Day, held on December 9th, 2024, at the iconic Rotunda PKO in Warsaw, brought together innovators, investors, and strategic partners from the space industry for an inspiring showcase of creativity and progress.
Organized by the Industrial Development Agency (ARP), with the invaluable support of key partners including Polish Space Agency (POLSA) as the Strategic Partner, the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology (MRiT) as the Honorary Patron, and PKO Bank Polski, which kindly provided space for the event, the Demo Day was proof of the strength and potential of Poland’s growing space ecosystem.
Pitch, Connect, Grow
At the heart of the Demo Day were ten startups incubated at ESA BIC Poland, they presented pitch decks to an audience of investors, ESA BIC Poland partners, and other industry participants. It was a unique opportunity for the startups to demonstrate their innovative solutions, showcase progress made during the incubation period, and establish valuable connections for future growth.
The following startups and their inspiring representatives presented themselves during the ESA BIC Poland Demo Day:
- Astrolayers – Krzysztof Kallas
- Astroteq.ai – Noemi Zabari
- Asynchronics – Serge Barral
- CleverHive Space – Nina Bażela
- Kosmok – Łucja Rugor
- KOTA – Joanna Jurga
- MIRORES – Jakub Ciążela
- Mobile Monitoring – Dawid Walczyna
- Orbital Matter – Robert Ihnatisin
- Supercluster – Hubert Gross
Each startup presented a remarkable combination of creativity, innovation and business approach!
But the event was not just a platform for pitching but also an exceptional opportunity for startups to connect directly with venture capital investors. With 17 VC representatives in attendance, the Demo Day was an opportunity for valuable discussions, networking, and the potential for securing additional funding to accelerate the growth of these promising startups.
The event also featured an interesting panel discussion titled “What Attracts VCs to Space Startups”, led by Paweł Pacek, during which experts – Wojciech Drewczyński, Maciej Frankowicz and Tomek Lepka shared their perspectives on investment opportunities and challenges in the space sector. The discussion provided invaluable insights into what makes space startups appealing to venture capitalists, further strengthening the bridge between innovation and investment.
Adding to the inspiration, our keynote speaker, Jędrzej Kowalewski from Scanway, delivered an engaging and motivational speech that resonated with the audience and set the tone for an ambitious future.
Key Highlights and Awards
The event was also a great opportunity to celebrate joint efforts to develop the ESA BIC Poland ecosystem. The exceptional contribution of our partners was recognized through awards in three categories:
🏆 The Best Technological Partner
Nominated: Instytut Geodezji i Kartografii, Łukasiewicz – ILOT, National Centre for Nuclear Research
WINNER: National Centre for Nuclear Research
🏆 The Best Business Partner
Nominated: ICEYE Polska, Planet Partners, ABGi Poland
WINNER: ABGi Poland
🏆 The Best Legal Partner
WINNER: Osborne Clarke – Poland – an unrivaled partner providing legal support. All startups from Mazovia Region have excellent opinion about the cooperation with this partner!
The awards, based on nominations from the startups themselves, underscore the critical role these partners play in providing mentorship, technical knowledge, and strategic guidance.
🏆 Additionally, the audience voted Supercluster as the winner of the Best Pitch Award, highlighting the strength of their vision and presentation.
The success of the ESA BIC Poland Demo Day is a reflection of the collaborative efforts within the ecosystem. Strategic partners like POLSA support key initiatives and events, while institutions like Rzeszowska Agencja Rozwoju Regionalnego SA and Foundation For Technology Entrepreneurship provide daily incubation and business support, ensuring startups have the tools and mentorship needed to succeed.
Looking Ahead
The Demo Day showcased that Poland’s space ecosystem is vibrant and full of promise. As ESA BIC Poland continues to empower space startups, new initiatives, like the announced Incubation Boost – the next stage of support for startups that have undergone the incubation process at ESA BIC Poland. Over the next 4 years, a total of 8 Contracts will be signed with startups, under which each startup can receive up to EUR 100,000.
Detailed information will be available from March 2025.
The first Demo Day was a significant step forward for ESA BIC Poland, bringing together the brightest minds, groundbreaking ideas, and invaluable collaboration. A heartfelt thank you to all partners, startups, and participants for making this event so impactful.
🚀 We can’t wait to continue building momentum and supporting the growth of Poland’s space ecosystem in future editions!
