Startup Booster Poland

Startup Booster Poland — Smart UP

Funds early-stage Polish startups through accredited accelerator operators and startup support.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

Startup Booster Poland is a FENG-backed accelerator grant programme administered by PARP that provides up to PLN 400,000 per startup through a network of accredited accelerator operators, including Smart UP and Unicorn Hub. The programme targets Polish micro and small enterprises no more than five years from registration date and not listed on any stock exchange. It operates under EU Regulation 651/2014 Article 22 (start-up aid) and covers four development paths: industry B2B/B2A commercialisation, VC-readiness, Go Global international expansion, and Poland Prize — a path designed for foreign-founded startups relocating to Poland.

Eligible costs include employee wages, accelerator services, fixed assets, intangible property, and promotional activities; the Poland Prize path additionally allows startup mentorship services. Operations supported under the grant can span both Poland and abroad. The final Smart UP and Unicorn Hub cohort deadline was 31 May 2026; other operators closed earlier. PLN 400,000 is the confirmed per-project maximum, making the grant meaningful for early-stage hiring, IP acquisition, and market entry but insufficient for capital-intensive hardware development alone.

Applicants are selected by accredited accelerator operators before a grant agreement is signed — startups do not apply directly to PARP. Founders should verify their company registration date against the five-year rule and confirm they qualify as a micro or small enterprise under Polish law before approaching operators. PARP administers the programme under FENG, with EU co-financing disbursed in PLN. The programme has been running since June 2024 across multiple operators and cohort deadlines throughout that period.