The Polish market is considered to be very attractive due to the fact that it belongs to the most quickly increasing ones in Europe, especially e-commerce – believes Katarzyna Kazior, chairman of the Polish department of Berlin incubator of start-ups (enterprises at initial development stage), Rocket Internet. – It is also a relatively big market because we have nearly 40 million inhabitants. Therefore, it certainly drives a big volume.
However, the expert points out that when investors analyze certain enterprises, it often turns out that they are too small and concentrated only on the Polish market. We are very powerful in business models which give a real and substantial value to a client – emphasizes the expert. – It is worth analyzing companies which are open to the countries abroad. For instance, three-dimensional 3D printers or unmanned aerial vehicles.
Startup Weekend is organized cyclically in Dublin. The event gathers designers, developers, entrepreneurs and experts from various branches of economy. Each of them has a chance to present their ideas which are then judged. Business models, projects and testing of the market are included in the event. I have recently participated at such conference and analyzed start-ups from different countries. The Polish ones are characterized by high pragmatism. The contents is very concrete and noticeable, often financial, for a user of this model. It is certainly our strength and value. I think that it is very important now to pay attention to the scale and go outside Poland – believes chairman of Rocket Internet Poland.
Ideas based on new technologies, Internet and e-commerce are developing the most successfully among national start-ups. They are related to approximately low costs of entrance on the market. However, Katarzyna Kazior points out that ca. 90 per cent of them do not live the maturity stage. On the other hand, we have more hardware investments, such as unmanned aerial vehicles or 3D printers – adds the expert. – These are businesses which require greater financial outlays and they also allow to gain some profits in a longer period. Moreover, we have several start-ups which went abroad in spite of the fact that they are not based on technologies. For instance, DocPlanner, ZnanyLekarz platform or Brainly. These are start-ups which are based on a business model of a very efficient execution.
Unfortunately, in the case of many national enterprises – especially technological ones – there is a great risk that they will not maintain on the market. Many of them are based on e-commerce or FinTech [financial technologies], that is they help in commercial exchange. However, a cautious approach to them is advisable – points out chairman of the Polish department of Rocket Internet. – On the other hand, we have ideas based on proven technologies, for instance bitcoins. Furthermore, these are very efficiently conducted business models. They constitute great strength of Poles.