The programme created by PAIH, CIC, Venture Cafe Warsaw and EY is addressed, among others, to Belarussian start-ups that would like to develop their business in Poland, gain knowledge in the area of migration and tax law, as well as establish and strengthen the relations with the Polish business environment. The offer for Belarussian companies is free-of-charge. It is possible to apply for the programme by December 31st, 2020, using a form available at https://softlanding.pl/

When launching the Poland. Business Harbour programme to support Belarussian entrepreneurs, we put a strong emphasis on the importance of close cooperation between Polish and Belarussian companies and specialists from the IT sector. We hope that the soft landing programme offered as part of this endeavour will be received positively by Belarussian entrepreneurs choosing Poland as a country where they intend to undertake business activities -  stresses Tomasz Salomon, from the Department of Commerce and International Cooperation in the Ministry of Development, Labour and Technology. 

 

Four steps to success

Part one of the programme, the so-called Prelanding package, considers support in registering business and familiarization with basic legal and organizational issues. The package contains interactive materials, free-of-charge information leaflets and a possibility to participate in webinars. Part two is called New Entity. It encompasses professional aid in company registration. The third step to success is First 30 Days. At this stage, the organizers provide the programme participants, among others, with workshops and group consultations with experts who will share their knowledge of how to establish a company or operate on the market.

The first 30 days of the company’s activity may be decisive for its success or failure in expansion to a new country. Therefore, we want to provide the companies with all they need for a very quick development path on a new market. The Soft Landing programme is an offer for start-ups willing to launch their business in Poland – stresses Ewa Geresz, CEO of Innovation Visitors Bureau in Venture Cafe Warsaw.

Thanks to the programme, five enterprises selected in a competition will be given access to individual sessions with experts and to a co-working space in the centre of Warsaw. The criterion of the competition is the highest positive social or environmental impact.

The companies that will join the Soft Landing programme will receive our support, among others, in the process of entering the innovative ecosystem in Poland and establishment of valuable contacts with key people, organization and institutions. The spaces of CIC Warsaw are designed to strengthen creativity and create efficient working environment – explains Izabela Górska, co-founder of CIC Poland, Sales Lead in CIC Warsaw.

 

Part four of the project, Scaling-up, provides additional support for entrepreneurs who want to develop their companies on new, global markets.  

Poland. Business Harbour – aid for entrepreneurial Belarussians from the ICT sector

Polish government supports Belarussians in the development of their companies in Poland, implementing the Poland. Business Harbour project since September. The coordinators are: the Ministry of Development and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, in cooperation with GovTech Polska at the Prime Minister’s Office, Polish Entrepreneurship Development Agency (PARP) and Startup Hub Poland.

The Poland. Business Harbour programme is still gaining much interest. Over the three months of its operation, PAIH received more than 1200 applications via-e mail and nearly 1000 applications by phone. Currently, at the Investment Centre, we process 40 Belarussian projects. The vast majority (more than 30) concerns IT companies, and there are also two gaming projects – says Katarzyna Jedlińska, press spokesperson of PAIH.

As part of Poland. Business Harbour, Belarussians can find out about how to quickly and efficiently launch a business in Poland, seek help when relocating employees and their families, and also receive assistance in legal and visa matters, in the business concierge formula. Individuals and companies from Belarus may count on facilitations in contact with local governments or Special Economic Zones which actively participated in preparation of the offer, creating a temporary office and accommodation space. One of the elements of the package is support in the form of establishing contacts between entrepreneurs and investors, as well as grants for R&D activity. Individuals with engineering degrees or experience in the IT trade may, in turn, use a facilitated visa procedure. Moreover, several dozens of tech companies from all over Poland have prepared special job offers for the newcomers.

About Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH)

Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) is a consulting institution and a part of the Polish Development Fund (PFR) Group. A primary contact point for exporters and investors. It operates both in Poland and worldwide, via Foreign Trade Offices (ZBH).

It strengthens the Polish brand recognition on international markets, promotes domestic products and services, as well as tech solutions made in Poland. The Agency helps entrepreneurs select an optimum path of development abroad. It also supports the inflow of direct foreign investments into Poland, as well as implementation of Polish investments in Poland.