Top angel clubs and investment networks in Poland

Angel investors are playing a bigger role than ever in fueling Poland’s startup boom. According to the latest report by Startup Poland, a remarkable 21% of the money raised by Polish startups came from angel investors in 2024. What makes the Polish scene especially exciting is the profile of these angels: many are founders who previously raised capital themselves, from success stories like ElevenLabs and Ramp. 

In this article, we’ll introduce you to the most active angel groups and networks in Poland that are supporting the local ecosystem. From structured business angel associations to global investment clubs with a local presence, these communities are shaping how early-stage startups get their first backing. 

1. APER Angels 

APER Angels is a co-investment network for business angels, deeply rooted in the deep-tech and hardware sectors. The network was founded in 2014 and operates under the APER Ventures fund.

The group connects private investors with venture capital funds to support innovative startups, providing not only capital but also know-how and professional guidance. Their typical investment ticket ranges from PLN 250,000 to PLN 5 million, and since their launch, they’ve backed over 24 startups, deploying a total of over PLN 50 million.

2. SMOK Angels

SMOK Angels is an investment network based in Poland and an initiative led by Borys Musielak, Managing Partner at SMOK Ventures. The network encourages founders to apply directly or to be introduced by an existing angel within the group.

The group is focused on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and already has more than 160 successful founders and investors from the region. They back early-stage teams, from idea through Series A, with ticket sizes generally between $5M and $10M in total capital raised.

2. COBIN Angels

COBIN Angels is Poland’s largest and most professional business angel community. The group brings together individual investors and business professionals who are passionate about supporting early-stage and high-tech startups. 

Since its founding in 2015, COBIN Angels has facilitated investments primarily in Poland and the broader Central and Eastern European region, with a focus on pre-seed and seed-stage startups.

ESIL is a pan-European initiative that supports business angels and early-stage investors through awareness-raising and capacity-building efforts. Focused on boosting innovation in countries where angel investing is still developing, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Romania, Poland, and Hungary.

3. Pomerangels

‍Pomerangels is a Polish venture capital fund built to invest alongside business angels and syndicates. They focus on supporting high-potential, post-revenue SMEs across Poland, especially those operating in ICT, autonomous technologies, electronics, new materials, biotech, and innovative services. 

Initial co-investments can reach up to €4 million. Companies must already have a strong syndicate of angel investors to qualify, and Pomerangels taps into a network of over 100 angels to facilitate this.

4. Polonia Angels 

‍Polonia Angels is the first and only U.S.-based angel investor network dedicated solely to early-stage startups founded by Polish or Polish-American entrepreneurs. 

They connect angel investor members, mostly accredited investors, with promising startups sourced through Polish VC funds, angel networks, universities, and direct applications from Polish or Polish-American founders. Essentially, they act as a bridge, helping startups access investment opportunities before or instead of approaching U.S. venture capital communities.

5. Sterling Angels

‍Sterling Angels, also known as the Polish Business Angel Network, is a community made up of private individuals and VC funds who invest their own capital into early-stage startups. 

This Kraków-based association supports entrepreneurs not only with financial backing, but also with mentoring and valuable business connections to help them succeed in today’s competitive ecosystem.

Stay connected! 

This article is part of a series that presents the top angel networks across Europe, including countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Romania and more. Stay tuned as we continue to cover more European countries!