Formative fund to invest EUR 100 million in startups – venture capital accelerates in Poland
The Polish startup market is entering a new phase of development. The latest example of this is the Formative initiative, which plans to invest EUR 100 million in young, innovative companies over the next 3.5 years. This represents a significant boost for the entire venture capital (VC) ecosystem in Poland and a clear signal to both domestic and international investors that this market is maturing and beginning to attract serious private capital.
The project is led by Paweł Dobosz, known for the success of Internet Union, one of the largest telecommunications companies operating outside of the major operators’ structures. After a successful capital exit from that company, Dobosz decided to use the experience and financial resources he had gained to build a modern platform supporting the development of startups.
Formative – a new type of venture capital fund
Formative is not a classic venture capital fund – its founders describe it as a hybrid between a VC fund and a “startup factory.” This means that in addition to financing, young companies will be able to count on real operational support, mentoring, as well as strategic and business advisory services. The fund intends to take minority stakes in around 100 companies – which is a very ambitious, yet realistic plan for building a broad and diversified investment portfolio.
Sectors in which Formative will invest
Importantly, the investments will not be limited to a single sector. Formative plans to support projects in areas such as:
• Artificial intelligence and deep tech
• Education and edtech
• Biotechnology and chemistry
• Industrial technologies
• Gaming and digital entertainment
• ESG and sustainability solutions
The fund’s approach is based on long-term collaboration with founders and a deep understanding of each company’s business model. Projects will be selected not only for their innovativeness but also based on the team’s commitment and realistic scaling potential.
A signal for the venture capital market in Poland
From a market perspective, the launch of Formative is an important step towards the professionalisation and expansion of the VC ecosystem in Poland. Until now, many investments have relied on public funds, EU programmes or grants. Initiatives like this one show that the private sector is beginning to play a real role in financing innovation on a larger scale.
For foreign investors, this is an important signal – Poland is becoming an increasingly mature market for startups and venture capital funds. Skilled teams operate here, high-quality technological resources are available, and operational costs remain competitive compared to Western Europe. In the coming years, Formative may play a key role in shaping a new generation of technology companies in Poland – and it is a process worth following closely.
