Grants for start-ups from Eastern Poland: Platformy Startowe (Start-up Platforms) 2a and 2b – deadlines, budgets and conditions

In 2026–2027, start-ups from Eastern Poland can benefit from further calls under components 2a and 2b of the Platformy startowe (Start-up Platforms) programme. Check the exact deadlines, budgets and support conditions.

For start-ups developed in Eastern Poland, the programme Platformy startowe dla nowych pomysłów (Start-up Platforms for New Ideas), financed from the European Funds for Eastern Poland 2021-2027, remains one of the most important financing instruments at the stage of market entry and further scaling of the business. From an entrepreneur's perspective, two components are key today: 2a and 2b, i.e. two successive levels of support for young, innovative companies.

Put simply, component 2a serves to finance a start-up's market entry after completing incubation, while component 2b is intended for companies that have already completed stage 2a, have a product on the market and need more capital for further development.

Component 2a – for start-ups after incubation that want to enter the market

Component IIa is aimed at start-ups that have completed the incubation programme under component I and have an incubation report confirming their readiness to start market activities. The aim of the call is the development of an innovative product and first sales. The maximum funding in the current call is PLN 600,000.

In practice, this means that 2a is a transitional stage between incubation and market entry. It is an instrument for a start-up that is no longer just an idea but has not yet reached full commercial scale. Financing may cover, among other things, fixed assets, intangible assets, external services, project staff salaries, raw materials and supplies, and indirect costs.

From a business point of view, 2a is particularly attractive for start-ups that want to finance their first market roll-out, organise their sales model, build an initial customer pipeline and begin commercialising their solution.

Component 2b – for start-ups ready to scale

Component IIb has been designed for more mature start-ups. The support is intended for micro and small enterprisesthat operate as a capital company, have completed a project under component IIa and are implementing the project in at least one voivodeship of Eastern Poland. The aim of component IIb is to obtain additional support for the development of an innovative product that was prepared under the Platformy startowe programme and launched on the market under component IIa.

The maximum funding amount is PLN 2 million, and the maximum support rate is 85% of eligible costs, which means a minimum own contribution of 15%.

It is an instrument for start-ups that are already past their first commercialisation and are entering a more capital-intensive stage: product development, certification, registrations, accreditations, preparation for larger-scale production or scaling sales. PARP explicitly states that 2b is intended for ventures requiring greater outlays and a longer implementation period, among other things due to certification or registration requirements or the scale of investment. (PARP)

In practice, this means that if a start-up has already built an MVP, gone through the market entry stage and has grounds for further growth, 2b may be the right tool to finance its next development leap. Funding can be used, among other things, for the purchase of services supporting business development, project staff salaries, fixed assets, raw materials, supplies and intangible assets.

Call deadlines for 2a and 2b – 2026–2027 schedule

According to the call schedule the following rounds are planned:

How to understand the difference between 2a and 2b?

The biggest mistake start-ups make is usually treating these two calls as the same. In fact, they are two different stages of financing.

In 2a the start-up has already completed incubation and has a product ready to enter the market. It needs funds to launch sales activities and achieve its first commercialisation. In 2b the start-up has already completed component IIa and is looking for larger financing for development, scaling and more capital-intensive growth stages.

For the start-up's management board, this means the need to plan the financing path properly. If the company has only just completed incubation, it should think about 2a. If it has already completed stage 2a, the product is on the market and larger development funds are now needed, the logical next step is 2b. This distinction has a direct impact on the project strategy, budget structure and schedule of activities. (PARP)

Why is it worth preparing early?

In both components, what matters is not only the idea itself, but also the company's project readiness. In 2a, you need to show convincingly that the start-up is ready to enter the market and will use the funds to build its first sales. In 2b, you also need to justify that the project has scaling potential and requires greater investment or development outlays. The official criteria and programme descriptions indicate that both instruments are aimed at start-ups that have already been partially validated, not at projects at a very early idea stage. (PARP)

From a practical perspective, preparing the documentation, financial model, project logic and business case in advance usually improves the quality of the application. This applies in particular to technology, deep-tech, medtech or hardware start-ups, where some expenditure requires particularly precise justification.

For whom are these grants particularly interesting?

The greatest potential in 2a and 2b is usually held by start-ups that:

• have completed incubation on one of the start-up platforms,
• are developing a product innovation,
• want to enter the market or scale up their operations,
• want to reduce the need to rely solely on investor capital for financing.

The programme covers Eastern Poland, i.e. the following voivodeships: Lubelskie, Podlaskie, Podkarpackie, Świętokrzyskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie and the Mazowiecki Regionalny region.

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If you are developing a start-up after incubation or are planning further growth after completing component IIa, it is worth planning your financing path for the next 2026–2027 rounds now.

In practice, the quality of an application is often determined not by simply completing the form, but by correctly matching the project to the right component, structuring the budget properly and justifying the company's stage of development.Contact us