Poland has the makings of a strong technology player

• Startups in Poland are starting with a delay - too little financing in the initial development phase limits the possibilities of scaling compared to the West - assessed Artur Kurasiński, author of the book "Startupowcy" during the 17th European Economic Congress in Katowice.
• The expert sees a great opportunity for Poland in the development of artificial intelligence. Thanks to the development of technology, everyone has the chance to develop innovations in their organization.
• However, digital education is needed for this to happen. - This is a priority - without mass understanding of new technologies, Poland will not use the potential of domestic innovators - said Kurasiński.
• He announces that his dream is to train a million Poles in AI.

Polish technology entrepreneurs - according to Artur Kurasiński - resemble runners who start the race with weights on their feet. The main barrier remains limited access to capital at an early stage of development.

For a startup to succeed, it must seek its fortune abroad

Kurasiński noted that while in Silicon Valley or Western Europe investment rounds at the level of tens of millions of dollars are nothing unusual, in Poland even a few million zlotys is already a big success . This lack of equal opportunities means that innovators from Poland start the global race late or have to move abroad.

According to the expert, Polish startups have the potential to become leaders in AI technology. Examples such as ElevenLabs prove that it is possible to create global AI-based companies with Polish roots.

Kurasiński drew attention to the democratization of innovation.

- Until now, innovations or progress were reserved. Currently, AI tools make it possible for each person to become the owner of innovation. With the support of AI, innovations can be introduced at every level of the organization. For example, a truck driver can use AI to better plan freight transport routes - said Kurasiński.

The need for digital education and raising competences in the field of AI

The greatest hope for development, according to Kurasiński, is universal digital education. He cited the example of China, which is introducing a subject that allows understanding how to work with AI in primary schools.

- I dream of training at least a million people in Poland in basic information related to AI. Not so that they would be developers, creators of the next OpenAI or ElevenLabs, but so that we would understand why we should turn on ChatGPT, what questions to ask it - the expert noted.

Despite many challenges, Kurasiński remains optimistic. He believes that Poland has enormous potential - talented people, capable of creating innovations, despite unfavourable conditions. The key is to unblock the channels through which this innovation can flow - both financial and educational.

He also points out that if we do not invest in competences, we will gradually become dependent on technologies supplied from outside.

Artur Kurasiński was a guest on the EEC Talks stage during the 17th European Economic Congress. See the full panel recording:

17th European Economic Congress