The National Centre for Research and Development

A cohort of 10 start-ups participating in the National Centre for Research and Development’s (NCBR) acceleration initiative with the United States has just completed its acceleration programme in California. During their stay in the San Francisco Bay Area, Polish companies presented their solutions to mentors, investors, and representatives of the American innovation ecosystem. The visit was designed to provide unique hands-on experience in scaling businesses on the U.S. market, improving dialogue with investors, and establishing relationships with partners essential for future growth in the United States and globally.

The NCBR-USA acceleration programme aims to foster long-term cooperation between companies and institutions from Poland and the United States through the commercialization of technological solutions, acquisition of business partners and investors, and support for the expansion of Polish enterprises into the American market. Participants in the second round of this year’s edition had the opportunity to explore one of the world’s most advanced innovation ecosystems, spanning San Francisco, Berkeley, and Silicon Valley.

A Wealth of Knowledge

Following the completion of the selection process, the top-rated companies began intensive preparations for their journey to California. The programme included meetings with representatives of American businesses, entrepreneurship support organizations, academic institutions, and investment funds. It also featured workshops and mentoring sessions devoted to developing effective U.S. market entry strategies.

California is one of the most important places in the world for companies pursuing global growth. It is where entrepreneurs, investors, universities, and institutions come together to create the conditions for innovation on the largest scale. Through NCBR-USA, Polish startups can not only gain an insider’s view of this ecosystem but, more importantly, test their solutions through direct interaction with the market and potential business partners. Experiences like these are often a crucial step toward the successful internationalization of a company, underscores Cezary Błaszczyk, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the National Centre for Research and Development.

Polish Dynamism and the Strength of California

The programme and acceleration process were delivered by NCBR’s American partners from Granite Landings.

This year’s California edition of NCBR-USA once again demonstrated the tremendous potential of Polish entrepreneurs and technologies. Access to networks connecting business, academia, investors, and public institutions significantly shortens the path to entering the U.S. market. Combining the innovation of Polish companies with the opportunities offered by the world’s largest technology market creates exceptional conditions for building new partnerships and accelerating business growth, said Alex Wolfe, mentor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Granite Landings.

An Intensive Acceleration Experience

The programme prepared by the American partners was highly intensive. Participants spent the first days in San Francisco, where they met representatives of economic development organizations, the business community, and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH). Individual B2B meetings tailored to the profile of each startup also formed an important component of the programme.

The Polish companies additionally had the opportunity to participate in events held during SF Tech Week, one of the most important recurring gatherings dedicated to technology entrepreneurship and innovation in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through presentations, networking sessions, and industry events, participants connected with startup founders, venture capital funds, and representatives of technology companies operating within one of the world’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems.

Another key highlight of the programme was a visit to the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). Participants gained insight into the operations of one of the world’s most renowned academic and entrepreneurial institutions and explored opportunities for collaboration between academia and industry, including engagement with the university’s vibrant Polish diaspora. An added highlight was the meeting at the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology with its Director, Ken Singer, and — above all — with Luke Kowalski, who had until recently served as a Senior Vice President at Oracle.

The Bay Area remains a unique place in the world where innovative ideas meet capital, entrepreneurial experience, and global business networks. For Polish startups, direct exposure to this ecosystem and the opportunity to build relationships with partners who can support the further development of their technologies and expansion into the U.S. market are particularly valuable. I am pleased that the participants of NCBR-USA had the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into both the opportunities and challenges of doing business in the United States and to see that Polish innovations have the potential to compete successfully in the world's most demanding markets, said Professor Paweł Pietrasieński, Director of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) Office in Silicon Valley and Professor at the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH).

The following days took place in the heart of Silicon Valley. In Redwood City, startups attended specialized workshops focused on investor communications and fundraising presentations led by Donna Griffit, a globally recognized expert in startup storytelling and pitching. Her clients have included hundreds of startups that have successfully raised funding from leading international investment funds. The workshops conducted by Donna Griffit enabled participants to refine their pitch decks, communicate their value propositions more effectively, and improve their responses to investor questions. The companies were later able to apply this knowledge during subsequent meetings and pitching sessions organized as part of the programme.

Voices from the Participants

Participants highlighted how valuable it was to gain direct exposure to the American market and to test their ideas against the expectations of potential partners.

The opportunity to participate in SF Tech Week events and attend workshops led by Donna Griffit was an exceptional experience for our team. Within just a few days, we received more practical feedback on our investor presentation and growth strategy than we had received over many previous months. Conversations with investors and entrepreneurs working in Silicon Valley proved particularly valuable, as they allowed us to validate our business assumptions from a truly global market perspective, judged Piotr Kruszyński of Feyenally.

Representatives of other companies shared similar impressions.

The program enabled us to hold meetings that would likely have taken months, if not years, to arrange on our own. Discussions with investors, university representatives, and business partners operating in California were especially valuable. We are returning to Poland not only with new knowledge, but also with concrete contacts and ideas for expanding our operations in the United States. This clearly demonstrates the value of well-designed startup internationalization programs, noted Michał Czech of Melkens.

For many entrepreneurs, direct exposure to one of the world’s most competitive and innovative business environments proved particularly inspiring.

California demonstrates the importance of openness to collaboration, speed of execution, and a willingness to continuously test new ideas. We leave convinced that Polish technologies can compete successfully on the international stage, provided they have access to the right partners, customers, and investors. NCBR-USA has helped us take an important step in that direction, summed up Agnieszka Kąkol of Flowstaff.

More information about the NCBR-USA acceleration activity

The objective of NCBR-USA is to connect the innovation ecosystems of Poland and the United States by accelerating selected Polish technology startups in the U.S. market with the support of experienced American mentors and business partners. The National Centre for Research and Development has already launched recruitment for the first round of the 2027 edition of NCBR-USA, under which ten of the most promising startups will travel to the State of Nevada next spring to further develop their projects and prepare for entry into the American market.