Hard2beat
Hard2beat is a Polish early-stage venture capital fund founded in 2024 in Wrocław, backing pre-seed and seed-stage Polish deep tech startups (biotech, cybersecurity, devtools, dual-use, medtech, gamedev) with initial checks up to 3M PLN from an 84M PLN fund anchored by PFR Ventures.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersWroclaw, Poland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hard2beat does
Hard2beat Sp. z o.o. is a Polish early-stage venture capital fund headquartered in Wrocław, founded in 2024 by serial entrepreneurs Maciej Zawadziński, Maciej Frankowicz, and Konrad Trzyna. The fund invests exclusively in Polish deep tech startups at the pre-seed and seed stages, writing initial checks up to 3 million PLN with follow-on capacity up to 5 million PLN. Target sectors span biotech, cybersecurity, devtools, dual-use technologies, gamedev, industry 4.0, and medtech, with a stated preference for startups that combine software-driven and hardware-enabled architectures around defensible technological moats. The fund deliberately excludes B2C, marketplaces, and generic SaaS.
The fund operates through two legal entities: a managing company (Hard2beat Sp. z o.o., registered as an Externally Managed Alternative Investment Company Manager in the Polish KNF AIFM register under entry PLZASI00421) and an investment vehicle (Hard2beat ASI Sp.k.). Total fund capitalization is 84 million PLN (approximately €20 million) anchored by PFR Ventures through the PFR Starter program. A six-person team executes sourcing, technical due diligence, and portfolio support; sourcing combines active networking, an Airtable-based public pitch form, conference participation, and a podcast distribution channel. The fund analyzed over 1,000 pitch decks in 2025 and built a portfolio of 8 companies against a stated target of 24.
Revenue is generated via standard venture fund economics: management fees on committed capital and future carried interest on successful exits. Portfolio companies to date include Neuromedical (medtech), Defguard (cybersecurity), DefendEye (defense/dual-use UAV), Pikralida (biotech), Ludus AI (GameTech/AI), Melanos Care (skincare biotech), Graftcode (devtools), and WIDMO Spectral Technologies (industrial imaging). The fund provides strategic support on global sales, R&D, fundraising, and legal structuring, and offers portfolio founders in-kind credits via partnerships with AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, HubSpot, Zendesk, Webflow, Notion, Asana, and Miro.
Hard2beat firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hard2beat
- Legal name
- Hard2beat Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością
- Website
- https://hard2beat.vc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hard2beat is a Polish early-stage venture capital fund founded in 2024 in Wrocław, backing pre-seed and seed-stage Polish deep tech startups (biotech, cybersecurity, devtools, dual-use, medtech, gamedev) with initial checks up to 3M PLN from an 84M PLN fund anchored by PFR Ventures.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hard2beat industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital / Early-Stage Investment
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Independent Venture Debt Funds / Platforms (FSANAIAB)
Keywords
Where Hard2beat is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wroclaw
- HQ country
- Poland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hard2beat business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- VC Fund Management: Hard2beat operates as a venture capital fund that generates returns through equity investments in early-stage startups. The fund earns returns when portfolio companies achieve successful exits through acquisitions or IPOs. The fund manages PLN 15,000 share capital for the ZASI entity and PLN 50,007 for the ASI fund, with total capitalization of 84 million PLN.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Initial investment up to 3M PLN for early-stage startups |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Hard2beat product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hard2beat is an early-stage venture capital fund that invests up to 3 million PLN at pre-seed and seed stages in Polish deep tech startups, with follow-on capital of up to 5 million PLN per company. The fund targets software-driven and hardware-enabled startups with defensible technology, early validation, and resilient founders across sectors including biotech, cybersecurity, devtools, dual-use, gamedev, industry 4.0, and medtech. In addition to capital, Hard2beat provides hands-on strategic support on global sales, R&D, fundraising, and legal structuring, backed by a network of 250+ co-investors, angels, and industry partners.
Product overview
Hard2beat is an early-stage venture capital fund (not a product company). It operates as a single unified investment fund — Hard2beat Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością Fund 1 Alternatywna Spółka Inwestycyjna Spółka komandytowo-akcyjna — providing venture funding to Polish deep tech startups. The fund's core offering is capital deployment (up to 3m PLN initial, up to 5m PLN follow-on) combined with strategic support including global sales advice, R&D guidance, fundraising strategy, and legal structuring, backed by a network of 250+ investors, angels, and industry partners. Its portfolio spans biotech, cybersecurity, devtools, dual-use, gamedev, industry 4.0, and medtech sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hard2beat VC Fund Early-stage venture capital fund providing initial investments up to 3 million PLN and follow-on capital up to 5 million PLN to pre-seed and seed-stage Polish deep tech startups with defensible technology, combined with strategic support on global sales, R&D, fundraising, and legal structuring, plus access to a network of 250+ investors, angels, and industry partners.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3 successful exits for founding partner Maciej Zawadziński including Piwik PRO sold for over $50M
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Hard2beat
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Hard2beat technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hard2beat partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hard2beat competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SpeedUp Venture Capital Group: One of the most active Polish early-stage VC groups, investing in tech startups across Poland and CEE. Comparable stage focus and geographic mandate.
- OTB Ventures: Polish/Central European VC fund investing in early- and growth-stage deep tech startups including spacetech, AI, and enterprise software. Comparable geographic focus and deep tech mandate.
- Sunfish Partners: Polish/European pre-seed and seed VC investing in deep tech and science-driven startups. Directly comparable thesis and stage focus to Hard2beat, and an active co-investor.
- bValue: Polish pre-seed and seed fund investing in early-stage tech companies with Polish roots. Directly comparable stage, geography, and ticket size.
- Smok Ventures: Polish early-stage VC fund investing in Central European tech startups, frequently co-investing alongside Hard2beat in portfolio companies. Same stage focus and overlapping network.
- Market One Capital: Polish early-stage VC investing in Central European tech startups across multiple sectors. Operates in the same Polish ecosystem and stage range as Hard2beat.
- AIP Seed: Polish VC fund focused on early-stage deep tech and science-based startups, often partnering with research institutions. Closely aligned with Hard2beat's deep tech thesis.
Regional players
- Almaz Capital: Venture capital firm investing in early- and growth-stage tech companies across CEE and the broader European region. Comparable deep tech and enterprise focus.
- firstminute capital: European early-stage VC fund with a pan-European mandate including deep tech and science-driven startups. Comparable stage focus but broader geographic scope.
- Inovo VC: Polish/European early-stage VC fund backing tech startups, primarily in CEE. Operates at similar stage but with broader geographic mandate than Hard2beat.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hard2beat social profiles
Digital presenceHard2beat financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hard2beat leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Hard2beat funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hard2beat M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments8 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hard2beat
What does Hard2beat do?
Hard2beat is an early-stage venture capital fund that invests up to 3 million PLN at pre-seed and seed stages in Polish deep tech startups, with follow-on capital of up to 5 million PLN per company. The fund targets software-driven and hardware-enabled startups with defensible technology, early validation, and resilient founders across sectors including biotech, cybersecurity, devtools, dual-use, gamedev, industry 4.0, and medtech. In addition to capital, Hard2beat provides hands-on strategic support on global sales, R&D, fundraising, and legal structuring, backed by a network of 250+ co-investors, angels, and industry partners.
Is Hard2beat a public or private company?
Hard2beat is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Hard2beat founded?
Hard2beat was founded in 2024. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hard2beat based?
Hard2beat is headquartered in Wroclaw, Poland, in the Europe region.
How does Hard2beat make money?
One revenue line is on record: VC Fund Management.
Who are Hard2beat's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SpeedUp Venture Capital Group, OTB Ventures, Sunfish Partners, bValue, Smok Ventures, Market One Capital and AIP Seed. Regional players are Almaz Capital, firstminute capital and Inovo VC.
Does Hard2beat have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hard2beat.
What industry is Hard2beat in?
Hard2beat's product category is Venture Capital / Early-Stage Investment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAIAB, Independent Venture Debt Funds / Platforms. Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6282.