What Blocks Polish Startup Growth?
What Blocks Polish Startup Growth? PFR, Allegro & Startup Poland Publish New Report with Actionable Recommendations
Despite engineering strength and global ambitions, Polish startups still face structural challenges that make scaling difficult. A new report titled “What Blocks Polish Startupers? Challenges and Prospects for Change”, published on May 7, offers an in-depth diagnosis of these obstacles—alongside clear recommendations for public institutions, support organizations, and investors. The report was prepared by the Polish Development Fund (PFR) in collaboration with Allegro and the Startup Poland Foundation.
Subscribe to Startup Digest to stay ahead with the latest news, investments, and must-attend events.
The findings are based on survey data from graduates of the PFR School of Pioneers, supplemented by market analysis and insights from Mario Draghi’s EU-level competitiveness report. The report highlights an ecosystem brimming with talent and potential, yet constrained by critical external factors.
Key findings:
Team building is the most cited early-stage challenge. Half of the respondents said forming a stable, complementary team after acceleration remains a struggle.
Only 20% managed to retain their original team post-program. 14% experienced major team changes, which often delayed or derailed product development.
Product-market fit, strategy gaps, and low customer interest were also major hurdles.
17% struggled with maturing their technology, while surprisingly, only 9% cited lack of funding as their main barrier—highlighting deeper structural issues beyond capital access.
The report complements Startup Poland’s previous publications by introducing real-world perspectives from early-stage founders who have transitioned from concept to product testing. It is accompanied by concrete policy and ecosystem-level recommendations intended to improve long-term outcomes for the Polish startup scene.
New edition of the PFR School of Pioneers now open
Coinciding with the report’s release, recruitment for the 8th edition of the PFR School of Pioneers has opened. This year, the flagship acceleration program—run by PFR and Allegro—will focus on Climate Tech and sustainability. The program supports the development of high-tech, high-impact startups and serves as a feeder into the broader Polish innovation ecosystem.
Impact so far:
Over 350 participants
102 startup teams formed
49 companies established
EUR 60 million+ (approx.) in funding raised
42% of alumni secured external financing from VCs, angels, or public grants
Piotr Matczuk, President of PFR, stated:
“We’re building a full-cycle innovation ecosystem—from idea to competence development to financing. Programs like the PFR School of Pioneers and our funds via PFR Ventures are structured responses to real founder needs.”
The report and open call to action signal a serious push to address Poland’s startup bottlenecks with coordinated, systemic measures.
The full report is available here: startup.pfr.pl
