Huge Thing, a key operator in Poland’s technology landscape, has announced the opening of applications for a new edition of its prestigious Huge Thing Startup Booster acceleration programme. This initiative functions as an official call for innovative enterprises to secure substantial financial and strategic backing aimed at enhancing their technological maturity and rigorously validating their business models.
This major opportunity is made possible through dedicated public funding. The entire endeavour, formally named “Huge Thing Startup Booster”, is rigorously supported and co-financed by the European Union through the European Funds for a Modern Economy (FENG) 2021-2027 programme. The sheer scale of the project is evident in its total value of PLN 15,780,300.00, with over PLN 15 million dedicated to co-financing, targeting support for 41 innovative startups that are micro-enterprises or small enterprises.
Background on Huge Thing Startup Booster
The Huge Thing Startup Booster is recognised in the European ecosystem as a fully equity-free acceleration programme. This model is immensely valuable, meaning founders can receive development capital and intensive strategic support without relinquishing ownership or equity stakes in their ventures.
The core mission is clear: to upgrade the technological capabilities of participating companies. Since startups experience varying challenges based on their Technology Readiness Level (TRL), the programme is structured into three specialised paths. This ensures that the mentorship, workshops, and partner connections are perfectly tailored to the current situation and shortcomings of each business.
The acceleration process runs for a maximum duration of six months. During this period, participants adhere to a tailor-made Individual Acceleration Plan (IPA), which includes specific, measurable milestones. It’s worth noting that the entire programme operates 100% remotely, minimising logistical stress for founders, especially those based internationally.
Funder Information
The programme is expertly managed by Huge Thing limited liability company, based in Poznań, Poland. Huge Thing established itself early, operating as one of the first acceleration programmes in Poland, starting in 2012. This long-standing history makes responsibility for the growth of the innovation ecosystem part of its organisational DNA.
Huge Thing also leverages its strong network by being part of the SpeedUp Venture Capital Group, recognised as one of the leading VC funds in the region. This connection provides programme alumni with potential access to follow-on financing and “Smart Money” resources. The actual grant funds are provided through co-financing from the European Union’s FENG programme, implemented via a financing agreement with the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP).
Grant Value
The financial awards are substantial, delivered as de minimis aid development grants, making them non-dilutive. The specific grant value depends on which acceleration path the startup is accepted into.
Maximum grants available:
- Industry Test Path: Up to PLN 350,000 (approximately €80,000).
- Go Global Path: Up to €80,000.
- Sector Agnostic Path: Up to PLN 200,000 (approximately €46,000).
That said, potential recipients must strictly adhere to European regulations governing de minimis aid: the total cumulative value of such aid received over three years (including this grant) cannot exceed EUR 300,000. It’s easy to overlook how this cumulative cap affects eligibility, so founders must track prior grants carefully.
Who Can Apply
The accelerator targets innovative entities that meet specific legal and developmental requirements.
Applicants must be:
Micro-entrepreneurs or small entrepreneurs. This classification applies to enterprises that haven’t been listed on the stock exchange within five years of registration, haven’t yet distributed profits, and weren’t formed through a merger.
TRL Aligned: Eligibility is strictly tied to the technology’s stage:
- Industry Test: TRL 6–9. The technology must be market-proven and ready to test on corporate infrastructure.
- Go Global: TRL 8–9 or TRL 9. Requires a finished product or service ready for expansion.
- Sector Agnostic: TRL must be under 5. This path is dedicated to research-based ideas and experimental prototypes.
In most cases, the application can be sent by an existing startup conducting business legally. Crucially, Huge Thing reserves the right to make the final Acceleration Agreement conditional on the establishment of a Polish capital company by the startup members. Furthermore, startups must have no personal or financial relationship with Huge Thing, the technology recipient, or the programme partner.
Areas of Interest
The programme’s three tracks are designed to address topical problems faced by CEE startups, which often include high operational costs, difficulties securing subsequent funding, and challenges with international expansion.
Industry Test Path
This track is a game-changer for mid-to-late-stage solutions (TRL 6–9). The main objective is the verification of the possibility of implementing the solution on corporate infrastructure in a real-life business environment. It targets solutions across critical sectors, including:
Energy & Environment
Partners like Veolia (seeking solutions for water quality analysis, plastic recycling, and hazardous waste neutralisation) and ORLEN (focusing on thermal energy storage and intelligent sensor technologies for precision farming).
Financial Services
Includes partners like PKO Bank Polski (digital banking, open banking), BNP Paribas (tool for personalising communication, recording analysis), and PZU Group (insurtech, mass process optimisation, underwriting).
Retail & Construction: Partners like Rossmann, Żabka Group, and Saint-Gobain.
Go Global Path
Targeting TRL 9 scale-ups, this path prepares companies for international expansion, specifically into markets like Germany, the USA, or Asia. Support includes market entry strategies, establishing business contacts, and adapting products to local specifics for effective international scaling.
Sector Agnostic Path
Designed for innovations under TRL 5, this track primarily assists scientists and technical founders in transitioning research-driven innovations from the lab to a market-ready product. Workshops here focus on fundamentals like upgrading the business model, market research, team development, and basic knowledge on fundraising. Support includes market entry strategies, establishing business contacts, and adapting products to local specifics for effective international scaling.
Project Requirements
The application process requires careful attention to detail, especially regarding the feasibility of your project within the acceleration window.
Applicants must submit a complete application form (model annexes detail the required information) and must attach their pitch deck (PDF) or other relevant documents. The form asks for general details (company name, country, founders, industry) but focuses heavily on:
Problem and Solution
A brief description (no more than 10 sentences) outlining the problem, how the solution works, its main features, and the level of innovation.
TRL and Roadmap
Stating the current TRL and, importantly, the basis on which that TRL was evaluated. You must detail how you plan to develop the solution and what resources are needed.
Monetisation/Competition
Describing your monetisation model (for the Agnostic Path) and your competitive advantages—your “magic sauce”.
The Acceleration Goal
You must articulate the specific goal you want to achieve during the programme. For the industry test, you must also select a potential partner and challenge and explain how your product solves it.
The successful outcome is tied to the Individual Acceleration Plan (IPA), which outlines goals and milestones. For industry test startups, the budget and IPA schedule require agreement and approval from the technology recipient.
Application Process
The recruitment process is defined by both formal checks and three rigorous stages of substantive evaluation.
Application Submission
Submit the complete application online during the recruitment period. Only the first complete application sent will be assessed.
Formal Assessment
Applications are checked for timeliness, completeness, singularity of submission (only one per round is allowed), and compliance with de minimis exclusions.
Substantive Evaluation – Stage 1 (Preliminary Review): The Huge Thing Committee and an expert score the applications based on criteria like innovation and market potential.
Substantive Evaluation – Stage 2 (Online Interviews): Shortlisted startups participate in interviews. For the industry test, representatives of the technology recipient will be present. This stage ends with a list of startups qualified for Bootcamp.
Substantive Evaluation – Stage 3 (Bootcamp): This working and workshop stage assesses commitment and viability. For the industry test, final selection depends on the continued willingness of at least one technology recipient to cooperate.
Verification and Agreement
The highest-rated startups are selected. Before signing the Acceleration Agreement, Huge Thing verifies the startup’s SME status, confirms the IPA budget and schedule, and checks the current use of de minimis aid.
Important Conditions
Given that this is publicly backed by European funds, strict adherence to compliance rules is mandatory.
Grant Usage
The grant funds must be used for necessary, justified, and reasonable expenses related to the IPA milestones, such as employee remuneration, purchased services, fixed assets, and promotion.
Ineligible Costs
VAT on costs incurred is an ineligible cost and cannot be included in the grant amount, regardless of the startup’s eligibility for a VAT refund. You must prepare the IPA budget using net amounts.
Milestone Approval
Grant instalments are paid upon approval of a milestone. For the Industry Test path, the milestone acceptance protocol must be signed not only by Huge Thing and the Startup but also by the Technology Recipient.
Commitment
Startups must maintain an attendance rate of 80% in the mandatory substantive path. Failure to comply can authorise Huge Thing to suspend acceleration or withhold grant instalments.
Confidentiality
Parties must maintain the confidentiality of all information learnt during the Project (including the content of the agreement and other startups’ ideas) for a period of 5 years after completion. For certain know-how and business secrets, this obligation is indefinite. Violating confidentiality carries a contractual penalty of PLN 20,000 for each instance.
Grant Security
A huge thing may condition the signing of the Acceleration Agreement or the disbursement of grant instalments on the startup providing financial security, such as a blank promissory note, bank surety, or bank guarantee, to ensure repayment if required.
Timeline
The Acceleration Programme has a fixed maximum duration of six months. Huge Thing typically runs recruitment in batches.
For the Industry Test path, for example, Huge Thing plans to launch three batches in 2024, 2025, and 2026, with eight startups in each batch. Earlier recruitment periods have shown a fast pace: for one batch, applications were due July 28th, interviews followed on August 16th, and the programme launched on September 16th.
Have you checked out the USDA REAP grant?
How Proposals Are Judged
The selection process is governed by principles of transparency, fair competition, and impartiality. Evaluation is structured around two sets of scoring criteria.
Common Substantive Criteria: Focus on:
- Innovativeness of the solution: Scored higher if innovative on a global scale (up to 2 points).
- Planned goal of participation: Consistency with the program’s purpose (1 point).
- Market potential of the solution: scalability potential and market size (up to 2 points).
Path-specific criteria require mandatory TRL compliance:
- Industry Test requires TRL 6–9; evaluation stresses the team’s readiness to cooperate and the solution’s adaptation to the technology recipient’s challenges.
- Go Global requires TRL 9; evaluation focuses on potential for international expansion (often assessed by a foreign partner).
- Sector Agnostic requires TRL 5; evaluation looks at the effectiveness of the monetisation model and the definition of strong competitive advantages (“magic sauce”).
It’s worth noting that the startup has no right to appeal against the evaluation results. However, if you’re not selected, you’re free to apply for subsequent recruitments, even under different acceleration paths.
Expert Tips for Application
An experienced professional who has evaluated hundreds of pitches offers critical insider advice for navigating the interview stage.
Respect the Time
Recruiting meetings can be incredibly tight, sometimes only 25 minutes. Arrive early, have your presentation cued up, and bring your own adapters. You don’t want to lose precious minutes fiddling with technology.
Keep the Pitch Concise
The presentation should not exceed five minutes. More importantly, limit the “meat” of your solution—what it is and how it works—to no more than 30 seconds. They should be listening, not reading bullet points.
Visualise the Pilot
The most crucial question is, “What is your idea for acceleration, and what would you like to do with your partner?” Don’t say, “It depends.” You must be prepared to precisely visualise the specific project or test you intend to implement with the corporate partner during the programme. That requires thorough homework.
Professional Presence
If you have a heavily technical team, designate an extrovert to lead the pitch for clear communication. Use professional names (Bartholomew, Elisabeth, not Bart or Ellie). And always greet everyone with a confident step and a handshake.
Stay Professional Under Pressure
Don’t complain about time limits. One expert recounted being told a 30-minute meeting was suddenly cut to 5 minutes and responding, “That’s great because I don’t need more than 3 minutes to convince you.” That confidence worked. It’s about being concise, understandable, and professional.
Examples of Past Winners
Success Stories: Alumni testimonials confirm that the programme delivers concrete results and critical networking opportunities.
MY OVU met the VC fund that now supports the company through a VC speed dating session organised during the programme.
Tripso.ai reported “immediate, tangible results,” including implementing an AI/travel pilot at a bank. They emphasised that the mentors’ practical, international experience allowed them to target the market more precisely, resulting in significant growth.
Astrolayers used the acceleration to “speed up [their] work on ongoing projects”, successfully building a prototype for a new mechanism, expanding their lab, and gaining valuable insight into the investors’ perspective.
RIFFSEC praised the accelerator’s flexible approach, confirming that Huge Thing provided support and guidance where needed while allowing them full operational freedom where they were already confident. That’s exactly how a strong support system should work.
Official Link
The application forms and all required documents, including the official regulations and model acceleration agreement, are available on the project website. Access documentation and application links here: hugething.vc/booster.
Contact
For any questions regarding the Acceleration Programme, applicants should feel free to reach out via email.
- Email: booster@hugething.vc.
- Acceleration Lead: Maria Tyka-Majewska.
- HQ Address: ul. Św Marcin 11, 61-803 Poznań, Poland.
Commonly Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the most critical legal and operational questions about the programme:
Q. Is this an equity-free programme?
A. Yes, it is explicitly an equity-free acceleration programme.
Q. What is the maximum grant amount?
A. Up to PLN 350,000 (€80,000) for the Industry Test and Go Global paths, and up to PLN 200,000 (€46,000) for the Sector Agnostic path.
Q. Is VAT an eligible expense?
A. No. VAT is an ineligible cost and cannot be included in the grant amount.
Q. How long does the programme last?
A. No longer than six months.
Q. Do I need to be a Polish company?
A. You can apply as an existing startup, but Huge Thing may require the establishment of a Polish capital company before signing the final agreement.
Q. What happens if I miss mandatory sessions?
A. You must maintain an 80% attendance rate in mandatory substantive activities; failure to do so can lead to suspension of acceleration and grant withholding.
Key Takeaways
The Huge Thing Startup Booster provides a critical, reliable injection of equity-free capital for innovative enterprises across Poland and the CEE region. Supported by the EU, this programme establishes high standards of authority and trustworthiness.
The dedication to specialised support based on TRL is what makes this accelerator so effective. Whether you’re a technical founder needing to formalise a business model (TRL 5) or a scaling venture ready for high-level corporate validation (TRL 6–9), the structure ensures maximum relevance. The mandatory milestone achievement through the IPA, combined with direct access to corporate partners for testing solutions, creates a rapid, results-orientated path to market.
Remember that preparation—especially nailing the precise goal for acceleration—is vital to securing this opportunity. This programme is fundamentally designed not just to give funding but to provide a structured, strategic springboard for further development.
Source Link
- Huge Thing. (n.d.). Booster – Huge Thing. Retrieved October 26, 2025, from https://hugething.vc/booster
- Funds for Companies/Funds for NGOs. (2025, September). Entries open for Huge Thing Startup Booster Acceleration Programme (Poland). Retrieved from https://fundsforcompanies.fundsforngos.org/training-and-mentorship/entries-open-for-huge-thing-startup-booster-acceleration-programme-poland/ fundsforcompanies.fundsforngos.org
- Huge Thing. (n.d.). For startups – Huge Thing. Retrieved October 26, 2025, from https://hugething.vc/for-startups/ Huge Thing
- Tupikov, K. (2024, July 26). Huge Thing starts its Startup Booster – A three-track acceleration program for different stages of development. ITKeyMedia. Retrieved from https://itkey.media/huge-thing-starts-its-startup-booster-a-three-track-acceleration-program-for-different-stages-of-development/ ITKeyMedia
- Huge Thing. (2024, June). Regulations of the “Huge Thing Startup Booster” Acceleration Programme. Retrieved from https://hugething.vc/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Program-Regulations-ENG.pdf Huge Thing