The Story
In classic Krakow folklore, a ruthless dragon once terrorized the city. The legend goes that traditional thinking and classic methods that were predicted to destroy the beast had failed. The solution to successfully destroy the dragon required innovative thinking. There has been startup thinking in Krakow from its beginning. This legacy continues at the Dragons Cave Pre-Accelerator where instead of slaying dragons, the program intends to help you conquer the market.
The Dragons Cave Pre-Accelerator will develop 6 promising early-stage startups from Małopolska over the course of ten weeks with six workshops, extensive one-on-one mentoring sessions, testing concepts with partners and concluding with a Demo Day in front of the general public and invited angel investors. Founders of selected startups will develop an entrepreneurial mindest, learn tools and gain knowledge, find a product-market fit and create a roadmap for after the program finishes.
Startups
Lead Mentors
Program Timeline
May 23rd, 2019 – Dragons Cave Pitches At Cracow Tech Week
June 18th, 2019 – Dragons Cave Pre – Accelerator Info Day
June 23rd, 2019 – Deadline To Apply For Program
July 1st, 2019 – Selected Startups Announced
July 17th, 2019 – Workshop #1: The Tech Entrepreneur Mind
July 31st, 2019 – Workshop #2: Lean Canvas
August 6th, 2019 – Workshop #3: Powerful Pitching
August 13th, 2019 – Dragons Cave Office Hours
August 23rd, 2019 – Pitch at Summer Jam 2019
September 4th, 2019: Workshops #4: Project Management
September 20th, 2019 Workshop #5: Verifying MVP
October 2nd, 2019 Workshop #6: Are You VC Fundedable
October 16th, 2019 Dragons Cave Demo Day Pitch Practice
October 21st, 2019 – Demo Day during Krakow Startup Week 2019
Dragons Cave Workshop Program
Workshop #1
The Krakow Tech Entrepreneur Mind
Date: July 17th, 2019 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Led by: #OMGKRK Team, Szymon Janicki & Vincent Vergonjeanne
Description: The program opens by setting high expectations for founders and dispelling any illusions that entrepreneurship and startups will be easy. Here we outline the skills and approach founders need to be successful, especially in our Krakow setting.
Must Read:
Workshop #2
Business Model Canvas & Legal/Tax Bootcamp
Date: July 31st, 2019 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Led by: Project: People Team & JWMS Law Firm
Description: In the second session, founders will roll up their sleeves and get straight to the hard work developing their business plan along with the many back end requirements to operate a firm. Founders without a validated business model, a registered company and accounting capacity will be supported in achieving these needs.
Must Review:
Workshop #3
Storytelling, Pitching & Marketing
Date: August 6th, 2019 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Led by: Dominika Walec & Przemysław Stanisz
Description: In the third session, founders will begin crafting a message that will communicate their business to the world, develop a brand and expected to grow their marketing reach. Startups will all deliver a 3-minute pitch at the workshop.
Workshop #4
Operations & Project Management
Date: September 4th, 2019
Led by: Itamar Zabari
Description: Half way through the program, founders will refresh their strategic objectives, create KPIs, begin using a project management tool, forecast growth and push to sell their project to partners and potential clients.
Workshop #5
Achieving MVP
Date: September 20th, 2019
Led by: Bartosz Józefowski & Krakow Technology Park Team
Description: The operations team from Małopolska’s most respected accelerator KPT ScaleUp arrive to give startups a final push toward launching a functional MVP.
Workshop #6
Recruiting, Financing & Accelerators
Date: October 2nd
Led by: Innovation Nest Team
Description: Startups conclude what their goals are for the Demo Day and outline plans post program including review of full accelerator opportunities. We are joined by a Venture Capital firm and recruitment expert to guide teams into the future as the program concludes.
Dragons Cave Demo Day
Date: October 21st, 2019
Location: Plac Nowy 1
The Dragons Cave Pre-Acceleration Program comes to a grand conclusion at Wawel Dragons Cave Pitch during Krakow Startup Week 2019 on Monday, October 21st, 2019. The event takes places in Plac Nowy 1 where program partners, angel investors and the general public are invited to hear the startup final pitches. The event focus on both substance and audience experience that will create a memorable finish to an intense program. Startups are expected to fully leverage the Demo Day toward their goals.
Support Mentors
For Startups
If you want to be first to know about recruitment for the next batch for the Dragons Cave Pre-Accelerator, be connected with potential mentors and investors, access all Dragons Cave Pre-Accelrator Content, make sure to fill out the Matchmaker Form.
Past Batches
Wawel Dragons Cave Pitch 2017
1000 Realities | InMotion | Framewhere
Craftfinity | Aioria Studios | Spokoloko
Wawel Dragons Cave Pitch 2018
Locky | Rent And Lend | MyRest.io
Piloci Studio | Carrybear | Deko Eko
Full Recap Here
Organizer
Strategic Partner
Patron
This program is realized with the financial support of Małopolska.
Investors
These investment funds are recieving regular updates about the development of teams in the program.
All investors in the #OMGKRK network can be found in our Investors Database.
