Huge Thing has over 10 years of experience in supporting the development of startups in acceleration programs and supporting them in cooperation with corporate partners.
We have been working with global and local organizations since 2012 when Huge Thing created as one of the first acceleration programs in Poland. Since then we have successfully implemented several editions of acceleration programs for various business partners.
Collabor8 to autorski, modułowy program Huge Thing, który łączy startupy z korporacjami, pomagając obu stronom skuteczniej współpracować i szybciej wdrażać innowacje.
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Startup Booster by Huge Thing is a unique equity-free acceleration program designed to support 41 startups on different stages of development in upgrading their technology.
Sponsored by
Together with PFR Ventures, we have developed a map of large organizations and corporations that operate in Poland and are actively looking for innovations. We are constantly extending our map! If you are actively looking for innovation, join our Huge Innovator’s Map! MamStartup is the media sponsor of the map.
Sponsored by
We bring together perspectives of startups and large organizations to show how to create and grow solutions that truly work. Our guests: founders, innovation leaders, and experts from various industries, share tools, experiences, and stories you won’t hear on a conference stage.
It’s a space for those who want to understand trends, avoid common mistakes, and successfully drive change in their companies.
A comprehensive educational program that prepared participants to manage innovation in a dynamic business environment. It combined expert knowledge, practical tools, real case studies, and personalized mentoring.
The program equipped leaders to measure impact, engage teams, foster a culture of innovation, and connect with a community of innovators and change-makers.
Partners:
The CVC Academy is an ongoing educational program for corporate and large-organization leaders preparing to invest through Corporate Venture Capital funds. Over seven modules, participants gain knowledge on building strategies, defining ticket size, and allocating capital.
Two successful editions have already been completed, supporting companies in strengthening innovation and long-term competitiveness.
Partners:
The Female Founders Fundraising Academy (FFFA), supported by Visa Foundation, was an 8-week journey for Polish and Ukrainian female entrepreneurs.
Across three editions, the program combined expert-led workshops with personalized mentorship, helping founders refine their vision, strengthen fundraising skills, and prepare their startups for global growth.
Program alumni:
Partners:
The Female Startup Pre-accelerator, supported by Visa Foundation, was an 8-week program empowering Polish and Ukrainian female founders at idea and pre-seed stages.
Through expert-led workshops, mentorship, and 1:1 guidance, participants gained vital skills to grow their startups, with selected projects awarded $10k grants for further development.
Program alumni:
Partners:
Collabor8 powered by Huge Thing is an innovative modular training program designed to empower startups to effectively cooperate with corporates and venture capital funds.
Through this comprehensive program, startups gain the knowledge and resources necessary to identify, negotiate and execute successful partnerships with larger entities.
Program alumni:
Partners:
Żabka Future Lab is the flagship acceleration program of Żabka Group, the ultimate convenience ecosystem in Poland, with more than 3 million consumers using their services every day.
We partnered with Żabka Group in organizing 2nd program edition.
Program alumni:
Partners:
The 13th edition Poland Prize powered by Huge Thing aims to attract startups to Poland and help them validate their business models with dedicated partners.
We partner with Veolia, Coca-Cola HBC Poland & Baltics, Żabka Polska, EIT InnoEnergy, Black Pearls VC, Innovation Nest, Market One Capital, CofounderZone, Enterprise Singapore.
Program alumni:
Partners:
Huge Thing Pre-acceleration Online Program is the fourth edition of the program run in partnership with Google for Startups. 20 pre-seed and seed-stage startups from CEE developed a draft version of MVP or first version of product together with mentors.
Program alumni:
Partners:
Huge Thing Pre-acceleration Online Program is the third edition of the program run in partnership with Google for Startups. 15 pre-seed and seed-stage startups from CEE developed a draft version of MVP or first version of product together with mentors.
Program alumni:
Partners:
The 10th edition of Huge Thing was carried out as a part of Poland Prize Initiative. It aimed to bring start-ups to Poland, and help them validate their business models with dedicated partners.
We partnered with Black Pearls VC, Coca-Cola HBC Poland & Baltics, Veolia, Market One Capital, InnoEnergy and Innovation Nest.
Program alumni:
Partners:
Huge Thing Pre-acceleration Online Program is the second edition of the program run in partnership with Google for Startups. 13 pre-seed and seed-stage startups from CEE developed a draft version of MVP or first version of product together with mentors.
Program alumni:
Partners:
Huge Thing Pre-acceleration Online Program in partnership with Google for Startups was dedicated to a pre-seed and seed-stage startups from CEE with a draft version of MVP or the initial version of product.
Program alumni:
Partners:
The 6th and 7th edition of Huge Thing was carried out as a part of Poland Prize Initiative. For this edition, we partnered with Santander Bank Polska, Procter and Gamble and SpeedUp Venture Capital Group.
Program alumni:
Partners:
The 4th and 5th edition of Huge Thing was carried out in cooperation with Alior Bank within the ScaleUp program – supported by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development. This edition of Huge Thing was addressed to startups from CEE which have a MVP (minimum viable product – a basic form of a product/solution) that passed its first market testing.
Program alumni:
Partners:
The third edition of HugeThing.vc was carried out in cooperation with Aviva which is one of the largest insurance companies in Europe. We selected the best startups from CEE that had the potential not only to improve Aviva’s market competitiveness, but also its operational activity as an organization.
Program alumni:
Partners:
Huge Thing Pre-acceleration Online Program in partnership with Google for Startups was dedicated to a pre-seed and seed-stage startups from CEE with a draft version of MVP or the initial version of product.
Program alumni:
Partners:
The program’s goal was to create a basic version of a startup with a global potential as well as to develop its business model.
Program alumni:
Partners:
We constantly grow our business network.
Join the group of many companies and organizations that already trusted us.
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Veolia Poland - challenges
PZU - challenges
1. Mass process optimisation
Optimisation and automation of mass processes (e.g. claims settlement, underwriting, automation of back office processes, customer relationship management).
2. Pricing excellence
The challenge can be solved by a tool to better estimate and price insurance risks, both for individual and corporate clients, or by increasing the dataset for estimation or adding new variables to assess the risk of an event.
3. Underwritting
The challenge concerns the inefficiencies of insurance processes, which involve time-consuming manual data collection and analysis, leading to errors. The goal is to automate underwriting to enhance process standardisation, faster decision-making and better use of data in risk assessment, particularly in individual life and property insurance for SMEs.
4. All insurtech startups
BNP Paribas
1. Tool for personalizing communication
We are looking for a solution that will personalize internal communication to different groups of the Bank’s customers and then coordinate the preparation of this communication at the right time.
2. Recording analysis
We are looking for solutions that will automatically create transcripts of anonymized customer audio conversations and analyze customer satisfaction levels.
3. Customer support in setting up a bank account
We are looking for a solution that will assist future customers in real time in the process of setting up an account via website or app and provide guidance in case of doubts, without referring them to Bank consultants.
SpinLab
The HHL Accelerator is a leading startup accelerator based in Leipzig, Germany, supporting innovative and scalable ventures from across Europe.
The program provides hands-on guidance, mentoring, and access to a strong network of investors, corporates, and industry experts. SpinLab is helping startups from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) expand into the DACH region by connecting them with relevant partners and market opportunities. Startups benefit from infrastructure, tailored coaching, and direct links to potential customers and investors in the German-speaking markets.
SpinLab has consistently ranked among the top accelerators in Germany and Europe.
Orlen
1. Tools for econometric analysis in the MarTech
We are looking for a solution that will enable econometric analyses in the context of planning marketing campaign activities. The system should have the capability to create econometric models (automatically, manually, inference systems based on distributed databases)
2. Electricity management in pilot energy community to to increase efficiency
We’re seeking a new energy billing model and compatible control system for a 50 kWp PV and 120 kWh energy storage project within an energy community. The solution must optimize electricity management based on dynamic pricing, enable monitoring, forecasting, and flow control for maximized self-consumption and adaptation to local energy needs. Scalability for future offerings is important.
3. Innovative technologies to improve the energy efficiency of process steam production
We are looking for a technology based on the cascade conversion of energy from hot air to improve the efficiency of steam production processes and generate additional electricity from previously unused thermal resources.
4. Tools to detect potential irregularities/frauds in the handling of transactions at petrol stations
We are looking for a solution to increase the level of detection and prevention of activities that may occur in transactions at service stations. The solution should use self-learning mechanisms.
5. Tools to optimise the management of the vehicle fleet (forklifts and tractors) on the production site
We are looking for a tool to coordinate the movement of vehicles (forklifts, tractors and semi-trailers up to 12 tonnes) within the company to enable the automation of company intralogistics.
6. Tools for measuring process steam flow using non-invasive techniques
We are looking for non-invasive tools to improve the accuracy of steam measurements on production facilities.
BNP Paribas
1. We are looking for an AI tool (agent) that will support BNP Paribas in a quick analysis of sme companies using available and up-to-date online sources for banking products.
2. Anti-fraud and KYC tool
We are looking for tools to support anti-fraud, anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) processes. These tools should demonstrate an innovative, proprietary approach to detecting fraud and money laundering patterns. We expect them to provide functionality to detect dormant accounts used for cybercrime, significantly speed up and simplify KYC activities, and effectively cross-check information between different data channels.
Carslberg Polska
Complaints and inquiries module in Hoppy application
We’re looking for a solution applicable in the Hoppy application which will support users in sending complaints. On the other hand the solution should support admin in effective management of reported complaints and inquiries.
PM3D
Data aggregator
We are looking for solutions that allow aggregation of data from different municipal systems. Current municipal systems are fragmented and poorly integrated due to disparate technologies and vendor lock-in, hindering public service and data management. This lack of a universal platform prevents efficient data exchange between key services.
The business need is an open, secure, and scalable integration platform to unify systems, improve management, and enhance citizen service.
Saint-Gobain
1. AI Agent
We are looking for an AI tool that will function within the website and, based on the company’s data resources, answer customer questions and create personalized recommendations for the use of Saint-Gobain materials and services. The agent must understand project requirements, suggest optimal materials and ensure compliance with sustainability and construction standards. His main task will be to provide Investors, Contractors and Designers with reliable information on the company’s products and complete system solutions tailored to the client’s needs. The solution should be scalable to include data covering various brands and capable of being implemented across various websites.
2. Building analysis
We are looking for a sales tool that will allow an in-depth analysis of the client’s planned investment – construction or renovation of various types of buildings. The tool should take into account basic as well as advanced parameters, such as primary energy demand, CO2 emissions, the amount of renewable energy needed to balance CO2, energy demand for cooling, acoustic analysis, daylight comfort or fire safety.
The tool should analyze the various parameters of the building depending on the material used (from the company’s portfolio) and recommend materials whose use will improve the parameters of the building to comply with current legislation and meet the customer’s needs
PZU - challenges
1. Mass process optimisation
Optimisation and automation of mass processes (e.g. benefits processing, claims settlement, underwriting, automation of back office processes, customer relationship management), particularly through tools using GenAI.
2. Pricing excellence
The challenge can be solved by a tool to better estimate and price insurance risks, both for individual and corporate clients, or by increasing the dataset for estimation or adding new variables to assess the risk of an event.
3. Insurance prevention
We’re looking for startups providing technologies and tools such as digital customer service platforms, advanced risk analysis tools or artificial intelligence to help manage risk and improve safety. The area of interest includes solutions for both corporate and individual clients.
4. Emerging technologies supporting insurance customer experience management.
5. All insurtech startups
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Franek Domachowski
Junior Program Manager
At Huge Thing, Franek actively supports programme managers in running acceleration programmes. He is an innovation and technology enthusiast with a deep passion for fashion and fabrics.
He studied at the School of Innovations at SWPS University in Warsaw, where he gained valuable knowledge about cutting-edge solutions. During his studies, he also worked as a researcher, conducting interviews for various projects, including a collaboration with Sexed. He gained valuable experience as a junior insight specialist, where he was responsible for creating UX reports.
Franek is a true people person, always eager to start conversations and meet new people. In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors and unwinding with a good film.
Veolia Poland - challenges
5. Customer experince improvement
Rossmann - challenges
The main challenge for this batch is to support Rossmann customers in the independent purchasing process, which can be delivered due to:
PZU
We are looking for:
Żabka Group - challenges
1. PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (ONLINE AND OFFLINE)
New products & services to expand on our convenience ecosystem in areas of health, entertainment, betting, financial and insurance services.
Modern convenience foods such as: nutrition products (especially for school-aged children), nutritious snacks, dietary supplements, functional beverages & snacks.
2. FOODSERVICE & STREET-FOOD SOLUTIONS
Increase the attractiveness of our offer, improve the quality of service and increase operational efficiency in foodservice and our street-food offering. We are looking for innovations in: systems, processes, equipment, self-service facilities and food storage.
3. SALES AND MARKETING
Solutions aimed to: increase and optimise sales in-store, foster better business decision making and innovative in-store marketing. Mechanisms and products that support customer loyalty and influence positive daily habits and routines.
4. MOBILE APP/PHYGITAL
Engaging our customers in mobile app and physical stores. Creating & fostering community of dedicated customers through gamification and new technologies.
5. RETAIL TECHNOLOGIES
Disruptive solutions to transform the traditional retail with the help of new technologies i.e. AR/VR, IOT, blockchain, payment solutions, ESL.
6. NEW BUSINESS VERTICALS
Exploring and developing new business verticals that fit within our modern convenience strategy and further expand our ecosystem.