EkSoc StartUP! is a competition addressed to creative students and doctoral students of all universities from the Voivodeship of Lodz, in which the best startup/business idea wins. It is organised by the Faculty of Economics and Sociology of the University of Lodz, together with its Business Council and business partners.
Students who participate in the competition individually or in groups of a maximum 5 people submit their ideas, and those who make it to the finals, thanks to the training and received mentoring support, refine these ideas and present them in front of the jury and the audience at the final gala of the competition.
There are cash prizes to be won:
- the main prize – not less than PLN 25 thousand
- distinctions – approximately PLN 1000
Being a finalist of the EkSoc StartUP! offers huge benefits to people thinking about running their own business: several months of support from two mentors (business practitioners from two different companies and institutions), a business training package, as well as contacts that will pay off in the future. Students develop their creativity and entrepreneurship.
Thirty six student startup ideas were submitted to the 5th edition of the competition. Twelve of them entered the finals, but ultimately during the final gala the authors of 11 business ideas will compete for the prizes (in alphabetical order):
- AliVa – a clothing designer who will save the planet and your boring wardrobe
- BuildUp – allows the transfer of leftover materials from renovation and construction works to people who need them
- EcoBuildTech – modular houses that grow with you
- Empatia – a platform that uses AI to quickly diagnose current mental and social health problems, enabling contact with appropriate specialists
- Evencik – an application promoting local cultural and entertainment events. Your personal guide to events in the immediate area. Currently, it operates in Wrocław.
- GigaHorns Sensing – microwave/radio sensor, integrated with the 3D printer, allowing the detection of defects in prints invisible to the eye
- OnBeer – fast and safe online tips for waiters and restaurants
- SensoryCycle – innovative, participatory approach to the design of public spaces
- The M Expiration – an application that enables customers to buy discounted food products with a short expiry date
- Vestimenta – a virtual wardrobe, which is an application that allows you to manage your wardrobe
- WorkTalkHub – a platform that connects people at the beginning of their career path with experienced people who want to share knowledge.
You can find more information about the projects, finalists, mentors supporting them and the training sessions on the competition fan page on Facebook.
The Final Gala will be broadcast live on the FB fan page of the competition!
The final projects will be evaluated by the jury according to the following criteria:
- business potential of the project
- its uniqueness
- level of advancement
Moreover, in the 5th edition, the jury will reward the projects that:
- respond to environmental and climate challenges;
- respond to social challenges;
- are consistent with the smart city concept.
The finalists have been selected from among the submitted projects by the Expert Panel composed of:
- Alicja Dobrska, UNI-Lex Group
- Tomasz Dorożyński, University of Lodz
- Ewa Grabowska-Pałęga, Lodz Special Economic Zone
- Maciej Kokotek, Łódzki Dom Biznesu
- Michał Zawisza, ZPI Family Office.
The jury that will select the winners of the 5th edition of the competition during the gala includes:
- Bartosz Skuza, ING Bank Śląski
- Tomasz Dorożyński, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz
- Tomasz Dominiak, Łukasiewicz – Łódź Institute of Technology
- Andrzej Górecki, CERI International
- Ewa Grabowska-Pałęga, Lodz Special Economic Zone
- Michał Zawisza, ZPI Family Office
- Łukasz Koprowski, PwC.
Mentors supporting the finalists of the 5th edition of the competition:
- Ewelina Barylska, Salve Medica, Director of the hospital
- Agnieszka Belowska-Gosławska, Nordea
- Konrad Futera, AOMB Polska
- Paweł Golec, Geis PL
- Sebastian Górecki, Łukasiewicz – Łódź Institute of Technology
- Piotr Grocholiński, Klientocentryczni
- Piotr Kałuża, ING Bank Śląski
- Szymon Kapturkiewisz, InterSynergy Software House
- Łukasz Kielan, Foundation for Promotion of Entrepreneurship in Łódź
- Łukasz Klab, Animalhotels.com
- Arkadiusz Klej, The Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Krakow
- Przemysław Krawczyk, Show4
- Piotr Kruszyński, FEYENALLY
- Paweł Lont, Energy Trades Europe/ Correggio Consulting/ Uniwersytet Łódzki
- Dominik Majewski, FlightLevel
- Adam Mikołajczyk, Best Place - European Place Marketing Institute
- Zuzanna Mikołajczyk, Know.How.Match.
- Małgorzata Misiak, Łódź Voivodeship Marshal's Office
- Agnieszka Nalewajko, EY
- Przemysław Nowakowski, Lodz Special Economic Zone
- Kamil Porembiński, Qlos
- Anna Tumidajewicz, Infosys.
Training sessions with the finalists of the 5th edition were carried out by:
- Jan Bocian, RDS Fund/ 22@SENSE Partners/ POSTLAB
- Piotr Chimko, Philips Polska
- Konrad Futera, AOMB Polska
- Patryk Kempiński, WeMakeIt Agency/ Wymienbitcoina/ DevDream House - Game Studio
- Łukasz Klab, Animalhotels.com
- Maciej Kokotek, Łódzki Dom Biznesu
- Wojtek Kołodziejczak, Life Networker
- Łukasz Koprowski, PwC
- Agnieszka Kurczewska, University of Lodz
- Piotr Marciniak, TPnets.com / INP PAN
- Mateusz Szerszenowicz, Wynajmijmuzyka.pl
- Marcin Wasiak, Startup Poland
Sponsors of the 5th edition of the competition:
- Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz
- ING Bank Śląski
- Łukasiewicz – Łódź Institute of Technology
- CERI International
- Lodz Special Economic Zone
- ZPI Family Office
You can find more information on the website of the competition.
Source: Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz
Edit: Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz