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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Core Objective: Support early-stage innovative businesses (startups, micro and small enterprises, foundations/associations) in developing solutions with positive social or environmental impact, focusing on scalability through new technologies and business models.
Target Recipient Type and Size: Startups, micro and small enterprises, and foundations/associations conducting business activities.
Designation: SECTOR-AGNOSTIC (with focus on social/environmental impact through technology).
Geographic Scope: Project implementation and territorial reach are limited to Poland.
Key Filtering Criteria: Focus on social/environmental impact, use of new technologies and innovative business models, early-stage development (not previously implemented), and operating for no longer than 5 years.
Grant Frequency and Context: Part of the 'Startup Booster Poland – Smart UP' program, offering funding in multiple application rounds over a two-year project duration.

Financial Structure

Budget Range: Maximum grant amount per startup is 400,000 PLN.
Total Project Budget: The overall 'Startup Booster for Social Impact' project has a budget of 10,000,000 PLN for financial support to startups over two years and five funding rounds.
Funding Rate: Up to 100% of eligible costs are covered, meaning no own contribution (matching funds) is required.
Eligible Costs:
Salaries of startup employees involved in the individual acceleration plan (including those on civil-law contracts).
Purchase of services necessary for achieving acceleration milestones.
Purchase of fixed assets.
Purchase of intangible assets and intellectual property.
Information and promotional activities.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type

Eligible: Startups, Micro-entrepreneurs, Small entrepreneurs, Foundations, Associations.
Definition of Startup: A micro-entrepreneur or small entrepreneur meeting conditions of Art. 22 of KE Regulation No. 651/2014, operating for no longer than 5 years from registration (or start of business/taxation for non-registered entities).
Additional Startup Criteria: Must not be listed on a stock exchange, must not have distributed profits, must not have taken over another enterprise, and must not have been formed as a result of a merger.
Foundations and Associations: Must be conducting business activities for no longer than 5 years.

Geographic Requirements

Project Implementation Location: Poland.
Territorial Reach: Poland.

Project Stage Requirements

Projects must be at an early stage of development, focusing on validation in real-world conditions or reaching the implementation stage.
Projects must not have been previously implemented.
Project duration cannot exceed 6 months.

Regulatory Requirements

Compliance with conditions defined in Art. 22 of KE Regulation No. 651/2014 for micro and small enterprises.

Application Process

Application Procedure: Applications are submitted through rounds. Applicants must fill out an online application form.
Submission Platform: The application is submitted via the SWPS University's Startup Booster for Social Impact platform.
Pre-application Requirements: Applicants must be selected and qualified for participation in an acceleration program (e.g., Smart Up program) and sign a grant agreement (acceleration agreement) with the program operator (accelerator).

Key Dates

Application Deadline for Round 4: 2025-06-25 23:59:59+01 (Start: 2025-05-26)
Application Deadline for Round 5: 2025-10-31 23:59:59+01 (Start: 2025-10-01)
This grant offers multiple application rounds, allowing flexibility for applicants.

Project Implementation

Project Duration: Projects receiving support cannot last longer than 6 months.
Post-Award Requirements: Successful applicants will engage in an acceleration program and are expected to develop solutions towards real-world validation or implementation.

Support and Assistance

Application Assistance: Contact information for PARP consultants and expert duty hours are provided for general program inquiries. Direct support for application content might be available through the accelerator.

Evaluation Criteria

The grant details do not provide a specific, detailed scoring system or explicit evaluation criteria for this particular 'Startup Booster for Social Impact' grant. However, based on the program's objectives, the selection process is expected to prioritize: Alignment with Program Goals

Innovation Potential: Assessment of the product, service, or process solution's novelty and innovative character.
Impact Focus: The extent to which the innovation contributes to positive social or environmental impact.
Scalability: Potential for the solution to scale, especially through new technologies and innovative business models.
SDG Alignment: Contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
National Intelligent Specializations: Alignment with Poland's National Intelligent Specializations.

Project Viability and Readiness

Project Maturity: The potential for the project to be validated in real-world conditions or brought to the implementation stage.
Feasibility: The project's ability to be completed within the 6-month timeframe and its readiness for acceleration.

Applicant Capacity

Selection into the Smart Up acceleration program is based on the accelerator's regulatory criteria and selection process.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Applicants must comply with the definition of micro and small enterprises as per Art. 22 of KE Regulation No. 651/2014.

Ethical and Impact Standards

Projects must focus on achieving a positive social and/or environmental impact.
Solutions should align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Innovation and Technology

Emphasis on innovation that is scalable through the use of new technologies and innovative business models.
The program offers three main development paths:
Industry Path: Focus on verifying implementation possibilities with technology recipients, including real-world validation.
Venture Capital (VC) Path: Aims to build investment readiness to attract capital from investors.
Sector Agnostic Path: Focuses on developing startups with market potential, without requiring immediate collaboration with a technology recipient or investor.

Project Maturity

Support is for early-stage development, spanning from pre-acceleration to post-acceleration phases.
Projects should not have been previously implemented before receiving support.

Partnerships

The program involves a network of industry partners, VC partners, and other collaborators who may offer additional support or opportunities.

Grant Details