Bydgoszcz entrepreneurship accelerator

In Bydgoszcz's dynamic business scene, innovation flourishes. Successes of companies like RevDeBug, KDR Solutions, and medical startup Grydsen LAB, along with local entrepreneurial support, highlight the city's appeal for ventures. It is a place where launching a business is not just advantageous but also highly rewarding.

RevDeBug’s “BLACK BOX”

Originating from the Bydgoszcz company T Komp – RevDeBug startup, created a technology, patented in the United States, that facilitates the identification and repair of software errors. It works on a principle similar to the “black box” in an aircraft – it records the code being executed, allowing technical teams to reproduce the events that led to the error within a few minutes. Thanks to this, companies that create software no longer have to guess the causes of the failure and can shorten the repair time from a few hours, days or months to a few minutes. RevDeBug also allows to reduce software testing time and significantly facilitates communication between testers and developers. The solution is used by companies from all over the world. RevDeBug was founded in 2017 by brothers Tomasz and Adam Kruszewski.

The startup spun off from T Komp – a manufacturer of DMS (Documentation and Information Management System) software for corporations that provided solutions for more than 200 corporate clients, including ArcelorMittal, Ikea, KGHM, Philips Lighting Poland and RUCH.

New generation HR

KDR Solutions is also among the companies focused on innovation and the use of the latest technologies. It was created thanks to the combination of practical knowledge in the field of IT and HR and has been associated with Bydgoszcz since the beginning of its ten year activity. – Bydgoszcz is a sort of IT hub of Poland. There are good technical universities and secondary schools with which we cooperate with in the area of internships. People with the greatest potential and skills find employment with us. There are also industrial and technological parks in the City and the surrounding area, with which we directly cooperate – explain the owners of KDR Solutions.

By creating the VR Solutions brand, the company focuses on the use of technologically advanced solutions, designed in its own R&D lab, which use virtual and augmented reality to comprehensively support HR processes in enterprises. Currently, the main product of the company is the SkillBox Competence Matrix, which supports the preparation of individual development strategies tailored to the unique skills and talents of employees. This translates into quick and accurate personnel decisions based on full knowledge of the potential of employees. The system supports many HR processes, such as employee assessment, management of skills, competences, qualifications and documents, which ultimately allows for the development of the Human Capital Balance Sheet.

VR + PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY = GRYDSEN LAB

Among the best Polish startups dealing with virtual reality, the editors of MY COMPANY POLSKA mention the Grydsen LAB in Bydgoszcz. Grydsen is an innovative project using virtual reality for psychological therapy. The product is addressed primarily to entities dealing with the care of seniors and is intended for the implementation of therapy under the care of a specialist. The patient puts on a VR headset and performs exercises in full immersion in virtual reality (similar to popular computer games using VR), following the directions that appear on the screen. A specialist conducting the therapy observes the patient’s exercises on the screen and intervenes if necessary.

– Our tools slow down the progression of elderly dementia (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease). The effect of therapy is to keep elderly people in good physical and cognitive condition, which translates into their independence and maintaining a high level of mental well-being – says Michał Majcherek, President of the Management Board.

Grydsen LAB is an interesting combination of willingness to help, business experience and innovative scientific thought. It is a spin-out company in which employees of Kazimierz Wielki University and Collegium Medicum of Nicolaus Copernicus University work on the commercial application of their scientific experiences. The Bydgoszcz product won, among others, Gold Medal for innovation and the title and promotional emblem of the INNOVATION LEADER®2022 at the INTARG International Invention and Innovation Show in the Innovation Manager category.

Stimulate the spirit of entrepreneurship – “acceleration action!”

Is an idea for a business and a product enough to become an entrepreneur and stay on the market? Although setting up startups and own companies is becoming more and more popular in Poland, many people are still afraid to take the first step in business. The respondents answer that they do not feel that they have the re quired knowledge and entrepreneurial competences. As a result, they do not want to take risks and make decisions about starting a company.

– Based on our many years of experience, we saw the need to create an instrument that includes support for people who are just planning to start their own business, enabling them to gain inspiration, necessary knowledge or contacts so important in business – says Edyta Wiwatowska, President of the Bydgoszcz Regional Development Agency. – Our observations showed that while the mere registration of a company is not a major problem, proper preparation for starting a business, proper definition of a business idea and development of a business plan, exploration of formal and legal issues or further effective management of the company, still remains a considerable challenge for many – she adds. Hence the idea to expand the already proven “Business School” with “Acceleration Action!” program, i.e. a comprehensive path of support for those who want to better prepare for the role of an entrepreneur.

Active participation in the “Acceleration Action!” is an opportunity to systematize and improve this complex process, and thus increase its efficiency. This program is also a networking platform for the exchange of knowledge, business experience and good practices, networking, as well as building a local community of startups.

About business step by step

“Acceleration Action!” consists of three steps. The first one is participation in the “Meeting with entrepreneurship – how to start and develop your own company”, during which you can find out where to look for support for your own business on the local market. These meetings are organized by BARR in partnership with other business environment institutions from the region, thanks to which the participants have the latest information on the available “firsthand” instruments.

The second step consists of gradually acquiring competences useful in running a business. By participating in the training, participants have the opportunity to generate their own business idea, develop its model, create a business plan and learn how to complete the formalities related to registering a business.

The last element of the program are the “Start-Up Bydgoszcz!” conferences. This series of events is aimed at people with innovative business ideas and those who already run their company and want to share their experience or inspire further development.

The meetings expand participants’ business knowledge, provide examples of good practices, facilitate networking and help build a local community of young entrepreneurs. This is also an opportunity for more experienced business people to present their ideas and achievements or share valuable tips.

Each edition of the conference “Start-Up Bydgoszcz!” builds on a different topic. So far, conference participants have discussed, among others, the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic for business, soft skills useful in running a business, various forms of promotion of their company, opportunities for the development of the local IT industry, artificial intelligence, or modern trends used in the HR industry.

Maciej Górecki, Head of the Entrepreneurship Support Department at BARR, talks about the practical side of the Action: – We comprehensively guide everyone, step by step, through the subsequent stages of developing their business idea. Participants are encouraged to complete the full sup- port path and attend all events in a given training cycle. We organize a full “package” of events as part of the Action every quarter, and we cooperate with the following partners: the Bydgoszcz Career Offices, the Voivodeship Labour Office in Toruń, Career Information and Planning Centre in Bydgoszcz.

Since April 2019, 497 participants attended 65 trainings organized as part of the “Acceleration Action!”, 1,088 participants and 66 speakers took part in 19 editions of the “Start-Up Bydgoszcz!” Conference, and 681 participated in 24 “Meetings with entrepreneurship – how to start and develop your own business”. This proves the uninterrupted interest in the initiative and the constant need to educate society in running its own business. In 2023, the first edition for the Ukrainian community was also organized.

This article comes from magazine:
FOCUS ON Business #15 March-April (2/2024)