This week’s Thursday Gathering is all about taking the next step - bridging the gap between promising ideas and real scale.
At the center of the evening is Bridge to Scale Demo Day, where startups from the 1991 Accelerator program will showcase their solutions and share the progress they’ve made on their growth journey. If you're curious about emerging ventures or looking to connect with ambitious founders, this is the place to be. Make sure you register your interest at Luma, as number of seats is limited.
Alongside the demo pitches, founders will have the opportunity to join VC Speed Dating sessions for quick, focused conversations with investors. The program also features discussions on building collaborations that actually work, reflections from the Pitch2Tokyo experience, and a session on mastering storytelling as a powerful tool for aligning teams, partners, and stakeholders.
Join us for an evening of ideas, connections, and opportunities to help founders move from building to scaling.
Make sure you register for this session via Luma: https://luma.com/l50o2lgm as participants without confirmation may not join the Demo Day audience!
Join us for the Bridge to Scale Demo Day and witness the next generation of Ukrainian innovation.
After 12 weeks of intensive preparation, the cohort of 15 high-potential Ukrainian startups is ready to take the stage. Having refined their market entry strategies and investment readiness through the Bridge to Scale programme, these founders are now poised to scale across the EU.
Whether you’re looking for your next investment or a strategic partnership, this is where you can find one!
The pitching sessions are organized into three core clusters: Infrastructure & AI, Human Capital, and Market Solutions. Once the pitches conclude, please stay for a networking session to keep the momentum and conversations going!
17:00 Registration & Networking
17:30 Opening by EBRD & 1991
17:45 Panel Discussion: The Polish Gateway
Moderator: Viktor Gurskyi (1991)
Speakers & Key Topics (TBA)
18:30 Pitching, Cluster 1: Infrastructure & AI
CloudBlocks — AI Agent for designing and deploying scalable cloud architectures.
HYPERSHADOW — White-label AI-copilot builder for SaaS platforms.
Actual Armor — Specialized protection and security systems.
Object Control — AI-powered SaaS for digital transformation in Fintech & Insurance.
Convinco — AI-powered pitch coach for founders and sales teams to ensure impact.
18:45 Feedback Panel: VCs deconstructing the first 5 teams' pitches.
19:15 Pitching, Cluster 2: Human Capital
Wild.Codes — Global marketplace connecting employers to pre-vetted tech talent.
Careerswift — AI-powered hiring platform automating interviews and screening.
Kadrowy — Specialist HRM system for businesses with high staff turnover.
Karpatia Benefits — Platform for personalized and managed employee benefit programs.
Mentflo — AI wellness platform aggregating data from Health & Wellness wearables.
19:30 Feedback Panel: VCs deconstructing the second 5 teams' pitches.
20:00 Pitching, Cluster 3: Market Solutions
GreatCatalog — 3D and AR platform connecting furniture brands with consumers.
SuoQ — AI customer journey platform optimizing virtual queuing and wait times.
MeGoElectric UA — Accessible EV platform for wheelchair users and logistics fleets.
FitNow — Mobile marketplace connecting users to fitness and wellness studios.
MaiCall — Voice AI platform automating ethical loan management and collections.
20:15 Feedback Panel: VCs deconstructing the third 5 teams' pitches.
20:35 Closing Remarks, Networking Session
More about programme:
https://www.1991.vc/accelerator/en/bridgetoscale
About organizers:
🔸Bridge to Scale is an equity-free acceleration programme by 1991 Accelerator and EBRD for Ukrainian-led early-stage startups.
🔸The Demo Day is hosted as a special track within Thursday Gathering #252 by Venture Café Warsaw.
W ramach Nano Business Lab projektu International Rescue Committee Polska (IRC), który wspiera w zakładaniu i rozwijaniu mikro i nano biznesów w Polsce zapraszamy na sesję poświęconą marketingowi dla małych i średnich firm usługowych.
Zapraszamy na sesję z Yuliią - przedsiębiorczynią, która przeszła drogę od niewielkiego studia w piwnicy do dwóch prężnie działających salonów w Warszawie. Podczas spotkania podzieli się strategiami rozwoju biznesu, które sama przetestowała w praktyce.
Porozmawiamy o tym, jak dzięki partnerstwom docierać do nowych klientów, wykorzystując to, co już masz: swoją społeczność, wartości oraz gotowość do współpracy.
Podczas sesji dowiesz się:
• gdzie szukać partnerów, którzy mają Twoją potencjalną grupę klientów,
• jakie są kluczowe kroki w budowaniu skutecznej kolaboracji,
• jakie alternatywne sposoby promocji biznesu działają bez dużych budżetów reklamowych,
• jak utrzymać klientów po zakończeniu kampanii promocyjnej.
Sesja skierowana jest do przedsiębiorców, właścicieli firm oraz specjalistów kreatywnych, którzy chcą rozwijać swój biznes poprzez mądre partnerstwa i współpracę.
Monika from Ecobean is back, and she’s bringing the vibes from Tokyo straight to you! Join us for a casual fireside chat as she shares her 'Postcards from Japan' - a personal, behind-the-scenes recap of her journey to the Pitch2Tokyo finals during Global Gathering 2026.
Instead of a formal presentation, we’re sitting down for a candid conversation about the real highlights: what surprised her about the Japanese startup scene, the energy of the global finals, and the honest lessons learned along the way. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to represent the local ecosystem on a world stage or just want to hear the inside scoop on the Global Gathering 26 experience, pull up a chair and join the talk. See you there!
Are you ready to learn the secrets of successful storytelling that captivate an audience and drive collective alignment?
Join us for an engaging session led by experienced Broadway professional, Andrzej, as he takes participants on a journey through the power of storytelling in various high-stakes environments. Discover why some ideas effortlessly resonate with listeners while others fall flat, and gain valuable insights into how to craft compelling narratives that leave a lasting impact. During this dynamic presentation, Andrzej will share practical storytelling rules and techniques that can be implemented immediately in your pitches, presentations, and conversations. By mastering these storytelling strategies, you'll equip yourself with the tools needed to transition a group from individual attention to shared belief and decision-making. Whether you're looking to win over a tough audience, secure buy-in from stakeholders, or simply strengthen your communication skills, this session is guaranteed to provide you with the knowledge and inspiration you need to succeed. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock the potential of storytelling as a powerful catalyst for collective alignment.
Sign up now and elevate your storytelling game to new heights!












