We are entrepreneurs and operators
Marcel Animucki
Investment ManagerInvestments are about:
Building value
The most important lesson I’ve learned:
Don’t waste time
3 words, which describe successful founder:
conscientiousness, hungry, receptive
Which niche do you find promising?:
Cloud computing.
Who inspires you?:
Historical figures
Background:
Advisory, investments
Companies I've worked for:
CSWP Audit, OX Partners
Favorite quote/ Personal credo:
Fortune favours the audacious
Location:
Warsaw
Maciej Balsewicz
Co-founder & Managing PartnerInvestments are about:
Finding the right match between investor and founders mindset and expectations.
The most important lesson I’ve learned:
Don’t take things on its face value.
3 words, which describe successful founder:
Perseverance, responsibility, resourcefulness.
Which niche do you find promising?:
Cutting intermediaries from still many markets.
Who inspires you?:
People who created large and successful organizations but stay humble.
Background:
Advisory, private equity, business
Companies I've worked for:
Integer, PineBridge Investments, EY
Favorite quote/ Personal credo:
If you don’t grow you die.
Location:
Warsaw
Błażej Bereta
Investment ManagerInvestments are about:
In case of early-stage startups - making educated decisions under conditions of limited information
The most important lesson I’ve learned:
1.01^365 = 37.8
0.99^365 = 0.03
3 words, which describe successful founder:
persistent, passionate, disciplined
Which niche do you find promising?:
Cybersecurity
Who inspires you?:
Happy people
Background:
HEC Paris, Warsaw School of Economics
Companies I've worked for:
Wirtualna Polska, Societe Generale
Favorite quote/ Personal credo:
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go
Location:
Warsaw
Eryk Frontczak
Investment AnalystInvestments are about
Finding the right fit between the founder and an investor
The most important lesson I’ve learned
"shortcuts make long delays"
3 words, which describe a successful founder
Innovative, persistent, adaptable
Which niche do you find promising?
Embedded fintech, e-commerce enablers, gaming
Who inspires you?
standalone people, able to go against the crowd
Background:
Financial analysis, Data science
Companies I've worked for:
Httpool, FTW Audit
Location:
Warsaw
Anastasiia Koshalko
Office Manager & HR expertInvestments are about:
Taking risks to succeed
The most important lesson I’ve learned:
Don’t judge, be open to new ideas, opinions, and views
3 words, which describe successful founder:
leadership, strategic thinking, and communication
Which niche do you find promising?:
Artificial intelligence
Who inspires you?:
My Team
Background:
Recruitment, HR
Certification:
Human Resources Management CIPD (level 5)
Companies I've worked for:
EVO.company, AES Corporation, OTP Bank
Location:
Warsaw
Leszek Orłowski
Investment DirectorInvestments are about:
You have to take chances, don’t wait till somebody gives it to you.
The most important lesson I’ve learned:
You gotta take chances, don’t wait till somebody gives it to you
3 words, which describe successful founder:
Persistence, vision, open-minded
Which niche do you find promising?:
Industry 4.0 in wider sense.
Who inspires you?:
Successful people with vision, who are humble and don’t stop
Background:
Consulting, investments
Companies I've worked for:
PwC, Black Lion (currently: Soho Development SA)
Favorite quote/ Personal credo:
Nothing is easy, but who wants nothing
Location:
Warsaw
Alina Rozanova
Associate for CEEInvestments are about:
When the company needs only one “push” to make the next great leap in its growth.
The most important lesson I’ve learned:
Learning every day is what keeps you on the top.
3 words, which describe successful founder:
Consistency, networking, global vision.
Which niche do you find promising?:
Quantum computing
Who inspires you?:
Founders that go profitable without fundraising
Background:
Community building, public relations, and creative communication for companies;
Companies I've worked for:
CAP School, Singularity University in Kyiv, Seedstars, EMERGE Global Ventures, Touch.
Favorite quote/ Personal credo:
Always following new challenges, never standing at the same place.
Location:
Tbilisi
Victoria Umanska
AssociateInvestments are about:
Changing lives. I find it incredibly inspiring when people can drive new businesses, create new working places and change our day-to-day life starting with a single idea and the laptop.
The most important lesson I’ve learned:
Time is limited
3 words, which describe successful founder:
Business goals oriented
Which niche do you find promising?:
Machine2Machine payments, Intermediary sales optimization
Who inspires you?:
Ayn Rand
Background:
MarTech, Biz Dev for startups, Non-Profit
Companies I've worked for:
SALESmango, Tagvenue, CallPage, Senuto, Google via Arvato Finance
Favorite quote/ Personal credo:
Continuous effort is the key
Location:
Warsaw
Rafał Brzoska
Venture partnerI engage in VC because:
I share my experience with the young founders and it gives me great satisfaction when I help people who work hard at the beginning of the road.
My key message:
If everything is under control, it means that you are driving too slow.
Most important lesson learned:
Courage and ability to take high risks are crucial in business.
I am passionate about:
Travelling and diving.
Sector:
E-commerce, Logistics, Mobility
Background:
Business
Companies I work with:
Integer, SalesManago, Social Wi-Fi, callPage
Office:
Warsaw, Cracow
Marek Dziubiński
VENTURE PARTNERI engage in VC because:
I would like to boost technological innovation development in Poland.
My key message:
Let’s make innovation today to shape our tomorro.
Most important lesson learned:
Always focus on true needs of the market and have ideas not only about the product, but also how and to whom exact you will sale it. Good product is not enough for success.
Sector:
Medical Devices, IoT, Healthcare
Background:
Medical engineering
Companies I work with:
Medicalgorithmics
Office:
Warsaw, San Francisco
Tomasz Hanczarek
Venture PartnerI engage in VC because:
I want to make a contribution to the development of my country by supporting Polish business in early stage.
My key message:
From the very beginning, you should want to create the largest company in the world. To be brave enough to compete with the largest ones and go until the end, that's what you need to have in your spine.
Most important lesson learned:
In quickly growing company we still need to stay flexible, free from corporate restrictions and thanks to that we can do more for the client. I believe that in business you can not lose your fantasy and have fun. You have to stay young all the time.
Sector:
Outsourcing services, Gaming, e-commerce
Background:
Business
Companies I work with:
Work Service, Stukpuk.pl
Office:
Wroclaw
Rossen Hadjiev
VENTURE PARTNERI engage in VC because:
I would like to share my experience with young businesses and build success together.
My key message:
No pain, no gain - no risks, no wins.
Most important lesson learned:
Rush and emotions have no place in investments.
Sector:
Investments, Pharma, Retail
Background:
Private equity, business
Companies I work with:
StarPharma, Just GYM
Office:
Warsaw
Dariusz Żuk
Venture PartnerI engage in VC because:
VC is an important part of the ecosystem have been creating from 2004.
My key message:
Focus on the product which will solve people’s problem in a better way than the others.
Most important lesson learned:
Team, resources are so important in doing startups but timing is also crucial.
I am passionate about:
Having a positive impact on myself and the others
Sector:
Proptech, SaaS, IOT, Fintech,
Background:
>130 investments in startups (tickets from 30k to 1m Euro), >20 exits, created brands - AIP, business.link, AIP Seed. business.link - exit to Skanska in 2019.
Companies I work with:
with all invested companies and corporations working on implementing startups ex. T-mobile, Citi, mBank
Office:
Warsaw
Tomasz Misiak
VENTURE PARTNERI engage in VC because:
I want to transform bold ideas into working businesses.
My key message:
1000 years ago the world could be changed by the king, 150 years ago by a great entrepreneur, today someone who has a great idea - use your chance.
Most important lesson learned:
People is the core success factor of every business.
I am passionate about:
Books and travel.
Sector:
Supply Chain, Staffing, VR, Telecoms
Background:
Business
Companies I work with:
Work Service, Teleakces, PushPushGo
Office:
Warsaw
Marian Owerko
VENTURE PARTNERI engage in VC because:
I would like to give my own input in promoting young entrepreneurship in Poland.
My key message:
Investment is so easy like skiing through the revolving door.
Most important lesson learned:
Business is a daily struggle if you want to achieve not just success, but sustainable advancement.
Sector:
E-commerce, Modern Food, Retail
Background:
Business
Companies I work with:
Bakalland, Cenatorium, Gedeon Medica, Oshee, Nova Tracking, callPage
Office:
Warsaw
Tadeusz Uhl
ADVISORI engage in VC because:
I am involved in VC because I can participate in the process of building technological companies. By providing support for these ideas, I have the opportunity to share my experience and learn a new approach to business.
My key message:
Use the potential to build an advantage. With small steps you can build a stable company with high potential and strong foundations.
The most important lesson I've learned:
Every idea deserves a chance. The crazier the idea is, the greater the interest in the market.
I am passionate about:
New technologies and their applications in industry.
Sector:
Hi-tech, engineers, research and development, railways, aviation, SHM
Background:
Stanford, Tohoku, Leuven, Dresden, ETH Zurich
Companies I've worked with
AGH University of Technology, EC Grupa, Solaris, Wielton, Newag, Simens, Alstom, Airbus,Ballard, Hyuindai and many others
Office
Cracow