About us
Foundation activities
Build startups, develop the ecosystem and invest in ventures in Poland
We connect those who are changing incubation...
The team is most important - both for building a promising business and for the dynamic operation of an NGO. Where we are today, we owe to hundreds of people united by a passion for supporting young entrepreneurs. Today, IHF is a professional, intergenerational and international institution, bringing together several dozen people, where the voice of young people remains a key element of our ecosystem. Their energy and vision consistently show that the perspective of youth is necessary for shaping the startup market - it is a symbol of innovation, disruption and fresh outlook
We believe in young people, just as others once believed in us!
The Innovations Hub Foundation has been operating in the market for over 3 years. We are one of the few NGOs in Poland that was created based on bootstrapping – reinvesting earned funds from scratch. The funds earned from business cooperation are transferred to the Foundation's statutory activities. Our business approach has provided us with a unique perspective in creating new companies, while allowing us, as an organization, to deeply understand the fundamentals of business. Currently, we also work with sponsors, are beneficiaries of numerous grants and have donors. Thanks to the determination of the founders and startup approach, we have become one of the most efficiently operating incubation centers in Poland.
FOUNDATION HISTORY
Our history
2018-2019
The Foundation's beginnings trace back to the student project MedBiz Days – a multi-day medical conference connecting the world of medtech and business, organized by the Business Student Research Club at the Warsaw School of Economics. The event gathered outstanding speakers and engaged several dozen students. The project was recognized in the KPMG Ideas Loading competition, where it took second place. Jakub Borowy, future founder of IHF, was part of the project team.
2019 - 2020
Coordination of the MedBiz Days project was taken over by Jakub Borowy, who transformed it into a mentoring program connecting students from medical, business and technical universities. The program was implemented in cooperation with three student research clubs from Warsaw University of Technology, Medical University of Warsaw and Warsaw School of Economics. Within the initiative, participants developed investment teasers for their ideas, which they then developed and presented under the guidance of mentors, competing for a cash prize. The program covered over 100 students from across Poland. Nina Badura (future co-founder) supported Jakub in his activities, while Kacper Raciborski (also a future founder) provided expert support.
2020 - 2021
Jakub Dąbroś and Tomasz Zachwieja, future members of the Foundation's Board, join the team. Kacper Raciborski coordinates the second edition of the program, which gains a new name and purpose – from now on, the program not only educates but also enables students to establish their own companies. The scale of activities grows significantly: the program reaches over 250 people, and results in the creation of one of the first PSA-type companies in Poland. Representatives of other universities join the team, including foreign ones from the Netherlands, Great Britain and Ukraine. The success of the second edition prompts Jakub, Nina and Kacper to continue the project and become independent from the university.
July 2021
The decision was made to establish the Foundation, which began to professionalize its activities and set the goal of supporting young innovators and modernizing business incubation. The Foundation's Board included Jakub Dąbroś, Kacper Raciborski and Jakub Borowy. The Foundation stopped operating within student research clubs, becoming an independent entity.
2022
The Foundation works intensively on building its recognition and credibility in the market, resulting in a significant increase in awareness of its activities both in Poland and abroad. The decision is made to launch another track of the mentoring program – Green Innovations Challenge. As a result of program implementation, several startups are created (PSA-type companies and limited liability companies), which gain recognition in national and international competitions, and one of them obtains funding from a VC fund. The Foundation increases its media presence, and its ecosystem now includes about 12 entities. In the same year, the Foundation's second project is organized, conceived by Julia Staszczak – the Young Innovator Academy.
2023
The Foundation actively supports the creation of new companies established by young entrepreneurs. Renowned entities and institutions such as AstraZeneca, Warsaw Stock Exchange and the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland join its partners. The Foundation acquires additional sponsors, and its ecosystem now includes about 20 operating companies. The first Innovations Hub Summit takes place – the mentoring program's grand finale. New projects such as Capital Raising Champions and From Science To Startup are launched, and the Foundation also engages in initiatives such as Startups in the Palace organized in cooperation with KPRP.
2024 - present
The year 2024 brings further strategic partnerships, including cooperation with InPost Green City, CIC Warsaw and the Ministry of Development and Technology. The Foundation begins to actively engage in legislative processes in Poland, while developing its programs and building new relationships with partners. The second edition of Innovations Hub Summit takes place, and the Foundation now reaches thousands of beneficiaries. About 50 entities at various stages of development operate in the Foundation's ecosystem. The first project aggregating publicly available legal documentation templates for the ecosystem is also launched. Tomasz Zachwieja joins the Board. The Foundation begins to publicize problems related to the incubation market and takes action to map the Polish startup ecosystem.
FOUNDATION GOALS
Different projects,
same goals
Actions for the professionalization of business incubation
We support innovative ideas with development and commercialization potential, implementing incubation programs that contribute to the creation of new companies. We bring international know-how to our region, strengthening the local innovation ecosystem.
Market mapping – a window into the Polish startup ecosystem
We map the local startup ecosystem, creating and strengthening relationships between its members. Our actions result in deepened cooperation, easier access to knowledge and joint implementation of innovative projects.
Support and education for young people
We support young people not only through education, but also by helping them establish their own companies and in the process of commercializing their innovative ideas.
Promotion of Polish innovations, innovators and startups
We work with media and startup event organizers to promote the successes of Polish innovators both domestically and abroad.
Organization of business events
We engage in numerous events related to new technologies, and also organize our own initiatives.
Did you know that our activities are aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals?
We not only support regional economic growth, innovation development and youth education, but also work to strengthen regional cooperation, supporting the modernization of incubation processes.
Foundation activity report for the years 2021-2024
We are pleased to present the second report summarizing three years (2021-2024) of the Innovations Hub Foundation's activities. Our activities are aligned with EU innovation policy and selected UN Sustainable Development Goals. We are successfully changing European incubation, strengthening the region's startup sector, and progressively building Poland's position on the international arena as a center of new technologies.
Download reportAwards, nominations, recognition
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Support our activities
If our values resonate with you and you would like to support IHF's activities, you can also do so as an individual. We cordially invite you to make donations for the Foundation's statutory activities.