Techstars | All things startup in Warsaw №211

Editor’s Edge

Let’s talk numbers, narratives, and neural nets, because Warsaw just won’t stop.

This week, we’ve got AI decoding contracts in real-time (but still can’t figure out most startup cap tables), biotech playing with spider venom and space-grade cancer vaccines, and Allegro refinancing like it’s prepping for the next Bond sequel: License to Scale. Meanwhile, Infinite Orbits is bringing satellite servicing to Poland, because why not casually join the orbital repair economy on your way to Żabka?

Poland’s deeptech momentum is so strong it might need cooling rods. From Auxilius tackling angina one dose at a time to FormalFoundry making AI decisions actually explainable (you heard that, OpenAI?), we’re witnessing a nation not just catching up, but rewriting the user manual for European innovation.

On the event side: AI is bossing the business world, marketers are unleashed at Imagination Day, and the Homo Creatore crew is rewriting economics like the old rules were just vibes. Which, let’s be honest, they kinda were.

Tune in, because whether you’re raising, scaling, or just wondering what a VLP cancer vaccine is, this week’s pod is your cheat code to sounding smarter at your next pitch or panel.

And with that, let’s dive in.

Last Week's NEWS

💎 European space‑tech firm Infinite Orbits secures €40 million to expand GEO satellite servicing and open office in Poland

Infinite Orbits raised €40M from Wind Capital, Matterwave, Balnord, and EIC Fund to scale its GEO satellite life‑extension and inspection platform Endurance™. The funding supports a €150M order book and expansion into Luxembourg, Spain, the UK, Germany, and Poland. With SES already preparing Europe’s first commercial GEO life‑extension mission in 2027, the investment marks a major step for European space sovereignty and Poland’s growing role in deep‑tech aerospace. Read more. [space, deep tech]

💎 Allegro strengthens capital structure with €1.24 billion refinancing amid strong investor demand

Allegro completed a PLN 6 billion (€1.24B) refinancing through a term‑loan and multi‑currency revolving credit facility with maturity to 2030–2035. The deal drew 18 top financial institutions, boosting liquidity and long‑term financing flexibility. Backed by strong revenue and EBITDA growth, Allegro continues scaling logistics, payments, and fintech services, including a partnership with PKO Bank Polski, enabling up to €68,000 in financing per merchant. Read more. [e‑commerce, finance]

💎 Auxilius secures €3.3 million to advance once‑daily therapy for chronic angina and accelerate US market entry

Auxilius raised €3.3M from NanoGroup and NCBR to support clinical development of AUX‑001, a once‑daily chronic angina formulation engineered to improve adherence by reducing dosing frequency. The virtual‑biotech model enables lean R&D while preparing NDA submission via the 505(b)(2) pathway in the US by 2028. Controlled‑release delivery aims to enhance therapeutic outcomes versus multi‑dose regimens, positioning Auxilius for early commercial partnerships in cardiovascular care. Read more. [biotech, healthcare]

💎 BGK allocates over €20M to fuel climate‑tech innovation through Future Energy Ventures

Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) has committed €20M to the Future Energy Ventures fund to help scale climate‑tech startups driving energy transformation, urban sustainability, and environmental solutions. The move aligns with BGK’s 2025–2030 equity strategy and positions Poland as a contender in sustainable technologies, connecting local innovators with global markets across the fund’s hubs in the US, Europe, and Israel. Read more. [climate, investment]

💎 Pikralida secures €2.8M to accelerate clinical trials in neuroprotection and venom response therapies

Warsaw‑ and Poznań‑based biotech Pikralida has raised PLN 12.5M (€2.8M) from Hard2Beat, iif.vc, Altamira VC, N50/Manawa, and angels to advance PKL‑021 for brain trauma and a portfolio of snakebite‑related therapeutics. Operating under a hybrid R&D and CRO model, the startup is moving toward first product launches by 2027/2028, supported by a research team where over 30% hold PhDs. Read more. [biotech, therapeutics]

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💎 FormalFoundry.ai selected as Milipol Innovation Awards finalist for CodexScribe AI verification platform

FormalFoundry.ai has been named a Milipol Innovation Awards 2025 finalist for CodexScribe, a formal verification platform that enables mathematically provable and auditable AI decisions for critical industries. Rather than interpreting black‑box outputs, CodexScribe converts policies and rules into formal, proof‑assistant specifications to ensure compliance, explainability, and trust across security‑sensitive sectors. Read more. [AI, cybersecurity]

💎 VAXiCAN raises PLN 10.5M seed round to advance virus‑like particle cancer vaccines

University of Gdańsk spin‑off VAXiCAN has secured PLN 10.5M (€2.4M) led by DeepTech Capital to accelerate next‑generation therapeutic cancer vaccines based on virus‑like particles (VLPs). Engineered for targeted immune activation and reduced toxicity, the platform aims to become the backbone for customizable oncology immunotherapies across solid and hematologic tumors. Read more. [oncology, deep tech]

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