Silesian Startup Foundation

What Silesian Startup Foundation does

Silesian Startup Foundation is a Polish non-governmental organization (NGO) foundation headquartered at ul. Kaczyniec 9 in Gliwice, Poland (KRS 0001023998), focused on developing the startup and innovation ecosystem of the Silesian Voivodeship. The foundation operates as a coordinating hub across six stakeholder pillars: startups and founders, experienced business representatives, investors and VC funds, local government units, academia, and business environment institutions. It serves young entrepreneurs, experienced corporate representatives seeking open innovation, regional investors, public-sector officials, researchers, and secondary-school students. There is no proprietary technology platform; the foundation's assets are content products, programs, and convening capacity rather than software.

The foundation's product portfolio consists of four main lines: (1) a diagnostic report on the Silesian startup ecosystem published in March 2023; (2) the 'Zrób startup DOBRZE!' (Do a Startup RIGHT!) e-book series covering legal aspects, investor relations, sales processes, Business Model Canvas, product discovery, and AI legal compliance, with co-authorship from partners including SALESmanago, Perspecto, RKK VC, KTW.Legal, and B2R Law; (3) three podcast series — Startup Summer Vibes (Season 1 in 2022, Season 2 in 2023 with AI focus), Startup Ecosystem Vibes (2023), and Startup AI Vibes (2024) — distributed via Spreaker and Spotify; and (4) the 'Let's get started!' educational program piloted in 9 upper-secondary schools in Gliwice during the 2023/2024 school year with the city of Gliwice as a partner.

The foundation is staffed by 7 people and led by Kuba Nagórski (President, also Head of co.brick Venture Building) and Gosia Skorupa (Ecosystem Lead). Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the organization operates as a foundation with no funding rounds, no parent company, and no venture investment. Its revenue model is professional services and grants, with funding flowing from public-sector partnerships (Marshal's Office of Silesian Voivodeship, Gliwice City, inSilesia) and content-collaboration partnerships; no commercial pricing is published. Services are delivered free of charge or through partnership arrangements rather than a transactional pricing model.

Name

Silesian Startup Foundation

Legal name

Silesian Startup Foundation

Website

https://slaskiestartupy.pl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Silesian Startup Foundation is a Gliwice-based Polish NGO that builds the Silesian startup ecosystem by connecting founders, investors, corporations, public-sector bodies, and academia through content (e-books, podcasts, reports), consulting, and the 'Let's get started!' school educational program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Ecosystem Development Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Startup ecosystem development
• Innovation community building
• Entrepreneurship education programs
• Startup consulting services
• Regional economic development

Headquarters

HQ city

Gliwice

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Services: As a nonprofit organization (NGO), the foundation operates through various initiatives including workshops, training sessions, consulting, and educational programs. Revenue generation appears to come from program fees, partnerships, and potentially public/private grants rather than commercial product sales.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Silesian Startup Foundation is a non-governmental foundation that builds and supports the Silesian startup ecosystem by producing knowledge content (an ecosystem diagnostic report, a series of startup-focused e-books, and three podcast series), running an entrepreneurship educational program in secondary schools, and providing direct consulting, workshops, training, and networking services that connect startup founders with experienced businesses, investors, public-sector representatives, academia, and business environment institutions in the Silesian Voivodeship of Poland.

Product overview

Silesian Startup Foundation operates as a non-governmental organization providing a portfolio of content products and support services focused on building the Silesian innovation ecosystem. The core offerings include: the 'Wstępna diagnoza śląskiego ekosystemu startupowego' report analyzing the regional startup ecosystem; the 'Zrób startup DOBRZE!' e-book series covering business fundamentals (product discovery, sales, legal aspects, investor relations); the podcast series (Startup Ecosystem Vibes, Startup Summer Vibes, Startup AI Vibes) featuring stories about startups and innovation; the 'Let's get started!' educational program for high school students; and direct support services including consulting, workshops, and networking. These offerings work together to support startups at various development stages through education, content, community building, and direct mentorship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Startup Summer Vibes: Podcast series featuring stories of startups creating the most interesting innovative solutions
• Startup Ecosystem Vibes
• Startup AI Vibes
• Let's get started!
• Zrób startup DOBRZE!

Products and services

• Wstępna diagnoza śląskiego ekosystemu startupowego (Preliminary Diagnosis of the Silesian Startup Ecosystem Report) A diagnostic report on the Silesian startup ecosystem published by the foundation, prepared by researchers from the Metropolitan and Urban Studies Observatory, for ecosystem stakeholders including startups, corporations, investors, and government bodies in the Silesian Voivodeship.
• Zrób startup DOBRZE! E-book Series (Do a Startup RIGHT!) A series of free knowledge e-books covering startup fundamentals including product discovery, sales processes, legal aspects, investor relations, the Business Model Canvas, compliance, and a Legal Guide to AI, published in collaboration with expert content partners for aspiring and early-stage founders in Poland.
• Startup Ecosystem Podcast Series (Startup Ecosystem Vibes, Startup Summer Vibes, Startup AI Vibes) A portfolio of three podcast series — Startup Summer Vibes (stories of innovative startups, including an AI-focused season), Startup Ecosystem Vibes (short conversations with representatives of regional ecosystem institutions), and Startup AI Vibes (2024 AI-focused startup founder interviews) — distributed via Spreaker and Spotify for founders, ecosystem builders, and the broader Polish startup community.
• Let's get started! Educational Program An educational program for upper-secondary school youth in Gliwice that delivers entrepreneurship and startup knowledge through in-school meetings, introductions to startup and corporate role models, and follow-up workshops, with the City of Gliwice as a partner.
• Startup Support Services (Consulting, Workshops, Training, Networking) Direct support services for startups and ecosystem participants, including consulting, workshops, training, and networking facilitation, connecting founders with experienced businesses and investors in the Silesian region.

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• iteominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Content partner for the e-book 'Faza Discovery, czyli lepsze zrozumienie produktu i pewniejsze wejście na rynek' (Discovery Phase). Provided substantive expertise for the publication.
• Leśniewski, Borkiewicz, Kostka & PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Legal advisory partner for the 'Legal Guide to AI' e-book. Provided legal expertise on AI regulations and compliance for the publication.
• Benchy.ITminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Content partner for the '9 sposobów na udoskonalenie sprzedaży' e-book. Part of a consortium of sales technology companies providing expertise.
• Brandly360minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Content partner for the '9 sposobów na udoskonalenie sprzedaży' e-book. Part of a consortium of sales technology companies providing expertise.
• BuyerMindminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Content partner for the '9 sposobów na udoskonalenie sprzedaży' e-book. Part of a consortium of sales technology companies providing expertise.
• Digitree GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Content partner for the '9 sposobów na udoskonalenie sprzedaży' e-book (Sales Intelligence & sare). Part of a consortium of sales technology companies providing expertise.
• inEwiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Content partner for the '9 sposobów na udoskonalenie sprzedaży' e-book. Part of a consortium of sales technology companies providing expertise.
• SALESmanagominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Content partner for the '9 sposobów na udoskonalenie sprzedaży' e-book. Part of a consortium of sales technology companies providing expertise.
• Sawaryn i PartnerzyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Content partner for the '9 sposobów na udoskonalenie sprzedaży' e-book. Part of a consortium of sales technology companies providing expertise.
• SentioneminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Content partner for the '9 sposobów na udoskonalenie sprzedaży' e-book. Part of a consortium of sales technology companies providing expertise.
• Rating CaptainminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Content partner for the '9 sposobów na udoskonalenie sprzedaży' e-book. Part of a consortium of sales technology companies providing expertise.
• co.brickcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-development partner for the Silesian Startup Foundation. co.brick is a venture builder that collaborates on ecosystem reports, podcasts (Startup Ecosystem Vibes), and educational initiatives. Shared headquarters at ul. Kaczyniec 9 in Gliwice. Kuba Nagórski serves as both Head of co.brick Venture Building and President of Silesian Startup Foundation.
• Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa ŚląskiegocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Marshal's Office of the Silesian Voivodeship is a key regional government partner supporting podcasts (Startup Ecosystem Vibes), e-books, and the educational program. Represents public sector interest in developing the regional startup ecosystem.
• inSilesiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Regional innovation agency partner supporting podcasts (Startup Ecosystem Vibes), e-books, and educational programs. Key ecosystem stakeholder for Silesian innovation development.
• Gliwice CitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The city of Gliwice is a partner in the pilot educational program 'Let's get started!' conducted in 9 local secondary schools during the 2023/2024 school year.
• PerspectominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Content partner for the 'Dobre relacje z inwestorami' e-book. Provided expertise on investor relations topics.
• KTW.LegalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Content partner for the 'Dobre relacje z inwestorami' e-book. Provided legal expertise on investor relations.
• Evig AlfaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Content partner for the 'Dobre relacje z inwestorami' e-book. Provided expertise on investor relations.
• B2R LawminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Content partner for the 'Zbiór zasad o compliance' e-book. Provided legal expertise on compliance matters.
• startup.pfr.plminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Content partner for the 'Przygotowanie do rozmów z inwestorami' e-book. Polish Development Fund startup platform providing expertise on investor conversations.
• BTLAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Content partner for the 'Przygotowanie do rozmów z inwestorami' e-book. Provided expertise on investor relations.
• SPIN-USminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Content partner for the 'Przygotowanie do rozmów z inwestorami' e-book. Provided expertise on investor relations.
• Terra SeedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Content partner for the 'Przygotowanie do rozmów z inwestorami' e-book. Provided expertise on investor relations.
• EduLabminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Content partner for the 'Przygotowanie do rozmów z inwestorami' e-book. Provided expertise on investor relations.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• inSilesia: Silesian regional innovation agency that is itself a direct partner of the foundation; operates overlapping programming to attract investment and support startups in the same voivodeship, making it both a peer and a collaborator.
• co.brick: Venture builder sharing the same Gliwice headquarters and led by the same President as the foundation; operates in the same ecosystem with overlapping networks and a more commercial venture-building model.
• MIT Enterprise Forum Poland: Polish chapter of the MIT Enterprise Forum operating as a nonprofit supporting entrepreneurship through competitions, mentorship, and ecosystem events; comparable in mission, nonprofit structure, and educational programming.
• Fundacja Startup Poland: A Polish nonprofit foundation focused on developing the national startup ecosystem through reports (e.g., 'Polish Startup Ecosystem Report'), advocacy, and ecosystem events—the closest analog to Silesian Startup Foundation at the national level.
• Fundacja Innowacja Polska: Polish nonprofit foundation supporting innovation and entrepreneurship through educational programs and ecosystem initiatives; a structurally similar mission-driven foundation.

Regional players

• Black Swan Fund: Silesia-connected VC and fund manager active in early-stage Polish tech; comparable in regional orientation and ecosystem connectivity, though operating as a commercial investor rather than a foundation.
• Krakowski Park Technologiczny: Kraków-based technology park and innovation hub supporting startups and entrepreneurship in Małopolska; comparable as a regional ecosystem institution providing workspace, programs, and corporate connections.
• Huge Thing: Wrocław-based accelerator and VC that supports Polish early-stage startups through programs and investment; a comparable regional ecosystem builder operating in a different Polish city, focused on a similar founder demographic.
• ReaktorX: Gliwice-based Silesian startup studio and ecosystem actor that co-exists in the same regional ecosystem; comparable geographic footprint and overlap with youth/entrepreneurship programming.

Emerging players

• Startup Grind Poland: Polish chapter of the global Startup Grind community, hosting events and content for founders; comparable in community-driven, content-led approach to ecosystem building.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/silesian-startup-fundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Silesian Startup Foundation