• Huge Thing Teams up with European Funds for a Modern Economy to assist startups with a profound acceleration program
• The program is divided into three tracks, addressing the specific needs of startups in Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)
• Applications are due to be submitted until July 28th

Established in 2012, Huge Thing became one of the first startup acceleration program operators in Poland. Since then, it remains dedicated to its mission of supporting the development of the startup ecosystem of Poland and the whole CEE region.

This Summer, Huge Thing teams up with EU’s European Funds for a Modern Economy 2021-2027 program and launches the first edition of Huge Thing Startup Booster. This is a 6-month startup acceleration program with equity-free cash prizes of up to EUR 80K.

According to Startup Poland’s Polish Startups 2023 report, startups’ biggest struggles include high employee costs (54%), subsequent funding (49%), administrative obstacles to running a business (37%), international expansion (24%), and a lack of appropriate knowledge and experience (18%).

Naturally, the most topical problems of a startup will depend on its stage of development, also referred to as Technology Readiness Level (TRL). To address startups’ challenges more specifically, Huge Thing Startup Booster acceleration program runs in three tracks, fitting for startups of different TRLs. Huge Thing’s senior program manager Maria Tyka-Majewska is convinced that this way, the invited mentors, partners, and the prepared content will perfectly address their current situations and needs.

Founders are welcome to choose one of the three tracks and apply before July 28th. The second stage of selection will take place on August 16th in the form of interviews. The startups that successfully qualified for the program will be announced on September 2nd, and all three tracks of the program begin on September 16th. The acceleration program runs 100% remotely.

Sector Agnostic Track for TRL 5

This track is meant for startups in their earlier stage of development. The program is designed to support the refinement of an existing product and prepare it for market entry. This track presupposes grants of up to EUR 40K in addition to the opportunity to learn from Huge Thing’s experienced mentors and partners, gaining valuable knowledge and practical skills. Naturally, the initiative also facilitates business contacts and, eventually, long-term partnerships, supporting the continued innovation.

• More information here
• Apply here

Industry Test Track for TRL 6-9

This is a corporate track meant for startups that already have an already functioning product. It presupposes grants of up to EUR 80K and collaboration with partner organizations, including Alior Bank, Legimi, PKO Bank Polski, PZU, Rossmann, Saint Gobain, Veolia, Żabka, and the City of Zduńska Wola. These partners will assist participants with product development and implementation testing, granting the startups an opportunity to verify their solutions in a real-life business environment and adjust to actual market needs.

• More information here
• Apply here

Go Global Track for TRL 8-9

This track is meant for higher-stage startups that already have completed initial market implementations. The program’s grants of up to EUR 80K are to support companies willing to expand internationally, particularly in Germany, North America, and Asian markets. The program will cover such topics as market entry strategies, establishing business contacts, and adapting products to local specifics for effective international scaling.

• More information here
• Apply here

Before applying, please look through the Regulations, Acceleration Agreement, and FAQ. If you have any additional questions, please write to [email protected].