chris kowalczyk - gammarebels - poland - stanford engineering - mar 11 2013
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www.gammarebels.com [email protected] @kkowalcz
#gammarebels #hardgamma
Krzysztof (Chris) Kowalczyk
Founder & Managing Partner GammaRebels / HardGamma Ventures
European Entrepreneurship & Innovation (ME421)
Stanford Engineering School
March 11, 2013
www.gammarebels.com [email protected] @kkowalcz
• Studied in Poland and Germany (M.Sc. in Qualitative Methods and
Information Systems + Masters in International Management from
CEMS)
• Founded first company in the 90s (IT Support), joined Internet
startup in 2000 (ISP+Web) and launched current company 2005
(consulting) / 2010 (fund)
• Corporate experience: P&G (UK,US), PwC, Lycos, McKinsey&Co.
• Academic experience (2000-2008): WSE Assistant Professor,
WEMBA (CSOM, UoM) MIS Lecturer
About me
www.gammarebels.com [email protected] @kkowalcz
(2010)
(2011)
(2005)
(till 2011 as
UBIK Business Consulting)
(2013)
www.gammarebels.com [email protected] @kkowalcz
• A cash investment of up to $15,500 in return for 10% equity +
$80.000 worth of cloud services from Google and Microsoft Support
from 70 mentors (40% international) Office space in the center of
Warsaw (GammaFactory) Demo Days in Warsaw and London plus
‘digital mission’ to SV
• Part of HardGamma Ventures Fund (follow-up opportunity)
• 6 startups in GR1, 7 in GR2
GammaRebels
www.gammarebels.com [email protected] @kkowalcz
GAMMAFACTORY - creative tech space
Big ideas & innovation area
At Hoża 51 street, in the Centre of Warsaw, old and renovated cheese factory, special place bristling with creativity and innovation.
>8000 sqf (750 sqm)
Event space
Conference room ∼ 120 persons
Tech showroom
Co-working for ∼ 40 persons
HardGamma offices
Internal wine bar :)
Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft official technology
partners of GF
www.gammarebels.com [email protected] @kkowalcz
PORTFOLIO: 38 entries (24 PL, 13 UK, 1 US) / 31 active
Angel Advisorship
A
C
T
I
V
E
HGV Fund Accelerator
No
n-a
ctive
stealth
www.gammarebels.com [email protected] @kkowalcz
Among most recognized in Europe
•(2013) GammaRebels shortlisted as "Best European Startup Accelerator/Incubator"
•(2011) GammaRebels Highly Commended as "Best European Startup Accelerator"(2011)
HardGamma Ventures Highly Commended as "Best VC of the Year 2011"(2011) Chris
Kowalczyk Highly Commended as "Best VC Partner of the Year"(2011) BusyFlow (portfolio)
nominated 'Best Startup Tool For Startups'(2010) Codility (portfolio) awarded 'Best Startup Tool
For Startups'
www.gammarebels.com [email protected] @kkowalcz
Early stage investment ecosystem in Poland
45 EU
backed
incubators
($70M)
14 govt.
backed VCs
($300M)
Funds with
only private
LPs
Accelerators
(YC-like)
www.gammarebels.com [email protected] @kkowalcz
• EU money = easy money => higher valuations
• lack of experienced, serial tech entrepreneurs
• Poland is mostly a “sales” market, no serious R&D (besides Google & Intel)
• No clear success story so far (i.e. no Polish Skype so far)
• No country branding (i.e. no “Estonian mafia” notion)
• Wrocław and Cracow became hubs for software development outsourcing,
draining the talent pool
Challenges
www.gammarebels.com [email protected] @kkowalcz
• Startups solving too narrow problems
• Dealflow drain
• Network effects?
• That’s why HGV invests in
Springboard / TechStars London
Doubts about acceleration model
www.gammarebels.com [email protected] @kkowalcz
#gammarebels #hardgamma
SELECTED PORTFOLIO
COMPANIES
Krzysztof Kowalczyk
HardGamma Founder +1.415.657.6616 (US) +48.602.366.675 (PL) [email protected]
@kkowalcz
www.gammarebels.com [email protected] @kkowalcz
Thanks for having us!
Magda Kwoska
GammaRebels Program Director +1.415.657.6434 (US) +48.501715538 (PL) [email protected]
@mkwoska