Wrocław among the Top Players on Poland’s startup map – we review the Startup Poland Report

As in previous years, the 2024 survey revealed a clear division between different regions of the country in terms of the number of startups. Mazovia and Lower Silesia lead the way, hosting the largest number of domestic young tech companies.

“The dominance of these two regions, and in particular, the two metropolises—Warsaw and Wrocław—has been and continues to be significant.”
– Tomasz Snażyk, CEO of Startup Poland

According to this year’s survey, 22% of respondents’ companies are registered in the Mazovian Voivodeship, while 20% are in Lower Silesia. Notably, Małopolska was overtaken this year by the Lublin Voivodeship, which for the first time made it onto the podium. However, the gap between the top two remains considerable. Lublin and its surrounding areas account for 9% of surveyed firms. Kraków (Małopolska) and Rzeszów (Podkarpacie) are tied in fourth place, each with 8%. In other regions, the percentage of surveyed firms does not exceed 5%. The worst-performing regions in the study were Lubusz, Opole, and West Pomerania.

According to Paulina Muszyńska, Head of Startup Wroclaw, maintaining a top position for another consecutive year is a tremendous accomplishment. Startup Wroclaw organizes events, promotes local companies abroad, helps secure funding, and offers training programs. It brings together the private and public sectors to strengthen the ecosystem.

According to Magdalena Okulowska, President of the Wrocław Agglomeration Development Agency, startups are often the most significant drivers of innovation.

“We are proud that Wrocław’s ecosystem is growing dynamically and solidifying its strong position in Poland and Europe. We fully understand how crucial it is, especially in challenging times, to support young, innovative companies. That’s why we are fully committed to continuing efforts to create favorable conditions for their development in our region.”
– Magdalena Okulowska

“From our perspective, investing in startups means investing in the city’s creative class. This type of wealth is invaluable—it fuels energy, builds competitive advantages, and drives Wrocław’s development.”
– Radosław Michalski, Director of the City Branding Department at Wrocław City Hall

The Polish Startups 2024 report also reveals that domestic startups tend to be small. Only 4% of surveyed companies reported having more than 51 employees, while 6% have between 21 and 50 employees. Teams of around a dozen people make up 13% of respondents. Almost one in three startups in Poland (31%) employs between 4 and 10 people. The study found that revenue models for young tech firms are primarily based on sales and licensing. As many as 64% of respondents indicated that they generate revenue through the sale of products, advertisements, content, or services, while 54% rely on licensing agreements, allowing clients to use specific technologies. Half of startups (56%) use artificial intelligence to increase operational efficiency, and for 13%, AI is a core element of their business model. Only 3% of companies reported that AI negatively impacts their operations.

The report also indicates that 43% of startups experienced significant revenue growth in the past year, while another 26% reported moderate increases. However, 8% of companies reported a sharp decline in revenues, reflecting varied performance depending on industry and financial conditions. The most common motivation for seeking investors is the desire for international expansion (46%), followed closely by obtaining “smart money” (45%)—a combination of financial support with strategic know-how and technological resources. The growing interest in investors with international experience reflects the ambitions of Polish startups striving for global competitiveness. As many as 91% of surveyed startups are considering expanding into European markets, with 37% targeting Germany and 29% eyeing the UK. Meanwhile, 60% of companies are interested in entering the US market, and 30% are exploring opportunities in Asia.