The key to the success of startups is not only innovative technology, but above all the intellectual capital of their founders – this is the main conclusion of the report prepared on the initiative of Sebastian Kulczyk, creator of the InCredibles program, by Mentors4Starters.
The report “Competence Portrait of a Polish Tech Entrepreneur AD 2025” was based on the analysis of competences of 125 startup founders who answered several dozen questions, and 40 of them were interviewed in-depth. It provides valuable tips for entrepreneurs, investors and institutions supporting the development of innovation in Poland.
Intellectual capital is the foundation of startup value
The study shows that intellectual capital accounts for 85% of the total value of startups. What's more, companies with strong intellectual capital are 70% more likely to survive their first five years of operation.
– Intellectual capital is the foundation of a startup's success. It is what determines the survival and development of young businesses – emphasizes Sebastian Kulczyk. In an era where access to technology is no longer a key competitive advantage, it is the knowledge, experience and creativity of teams that determine success.
Strengths and competence gaps of Polish startupers
Polish technology entrepreneurs are very well educated – over 91% of respondents have a higher education. At the same time, as many as 73.6% of them believe that Polish formal education does not provide them with the skills necessary to run a business. Therefore, as many as 65% of respondents have taken additional studies or courses in the last two years to supplement their qualifications.
The most effective source of competence development is practical experience in running a business (34.5%) and mentoring (21.7%). Acceleration programs also enjoy great trust – they are used by over half of startups (58.4%), and 25.2% of respondents consider them an effective tool for knowledge transfer.
Despite this, Polish entrepreneurs point to the lack of sufficient support from supervisory boards (only 40% believe that they receive real support) and investment funds (only 13%).
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Competence
In the era of dynamic development of artificial intelligence (AI), entrepreneurs face the challenge of automating many processes. As many as 52% of respondents believe that AI will replace competences in the field of programming and knowledge of technology, and 50% point to the area of marketing and communication. At the same time, only 5% of respondents assume that AI will be able to replace soft skills, such as building relationships, teamwork or leadership. Moreover, as many as 94% of entrepreneurs emphasize that soft skills are as important as hard skills, which confirms the importance of the human factor in building business success.
– Investors increasingly focus on teams, not just ideas or technological solutions. Even the most innovative product without the right team can remain an unfulfilled dream – says Dr. Maria Belka, co-founder and president of Mentors4Starters.
Recommendations for the startup ecosystem
The report not only diagnoses the competences of Polish startupers, but also presents practical recommendations for the development of the entire ecosystem. One of the key recommendations is the transformation of the support model – from traditional financing to the concept of “smart money”, which assumes not only financial investments, but also the provision of knowledge, mentoring and resources necessary for the development of key competences.
Another important postulate is to strengthen cooperation between the world of science and business. Integration of technical departments with business schools could create solid foundations for innovative projects.
People are the greatest competitive advantage
The most important message of the report is the conviction that in the era of technology accessibility, it is people, their competences, commitment and ability to adapt that constitute the greatest and most lasting competitive advantage. – It is people who decide about the success of startups. Their knowledge, experience and ability to cooperate are irreplaceable – sums up Sebastian Kulczyk.
Prepared by TGS
