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Friday, 08 January 2010 20:30 |
The top-ten best start-ups of 2008:
1. Apeiron - ABI at the Warsaw University of Technology

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Apeiron is an exemplar start-up enterprise offering cutting-edge solutions in the field of applied chemistry and in particular in the field of olefin metathesis, which prof. Karol Grela's (research worker in the Institute of Organic Chemistry in the Polish Academy of Sciences and in the University of Warsaw Faculty of Chemistry) team started creating a few years ago. The idea for this project originated in the mind of dr Michał Bieniek, who decided to establish his own enterprise due to a growing interest of the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors in using the metathesis reaction in high-tonnage production. The global catalyst market in the "fine chemical", pharmaceutical and polymer industries is estimated to be worth approx. $ 1,5 billion with an annual growth pace of about 9-10%. According to Chemical & Engineering News, olefin metathesis, which until now had been limited to academic research, displays the most growth potential.
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The industry had started applying this technology on a larger scale only in recent years after the 2005 Nobel Prize. One should bear in mind that this sector is still in its formative stage and offers room for new, specialised players. Apeiron is determined to play a crucial part on this very attractive market and is definitely up to the challenge due to its strong and competent team and its perfect and extremely effective ruthenium catalyser for olefin metathesis. Apeiron's devotion is also reflected in its business strategy, which will focus on the production and sales of such catalysers for pharmaceutical, chemical and other companies.
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2. Pixnet - ABI at the University of Gdańsk
| Pixnet is the owner of one of the largest social networking websites: PhotoBlog.pl. |
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3. Akonda - ABI at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences
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Akonda provides digital tuners and cutting-edge solutions for bookbinder workshops and is a direct vendor of several foreign brands: Graphic Whizard (Canada), Caslon (Great Britain), Superfax (Germany), Champion (China) and Baum (USA). Furthermore, Akonda is an authorised partner of the brands Duplo, Royal Sovereign and Konica Minolta.
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4. Sunshine Profits - ABI at the Warsaw School of Economics
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SunshineProfits.com is an English language web-portal providing investment analyses on precious metals. Apart from publishing weekly investment commentaries, Sunshine Profits facilitates its clients' financial management by offering software tools designed with the precious metals sector in mind and graphs with unique index numbers.
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Free-of-charge versions of Sunshine Profits articles are published, among others, on the largest global web-portal on precious metals - kitco.com and its Chinese counterpart - kitco.cn
www.SunshineProfits.com
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5. SolEx - ABI at the Częstochowa University of Technology
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SolEx is an IT company undergoing dynamic development which targets middle-sized enterprises seeking cutting-edge IT solutions. Its main fields of operation are:
- Internet wholesale systems fully integrated with clients' accounting systems.
- Warehouse systems automating and supervising the circulation of products in magazines. We are in a partnership with Motorola Symbol - a Polish distributor of portable terminals.
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- Internet stores.
- Internet TV stations - we have created the first commercial Polish internet TV station www.Kolter.tv
- Developing advanced dedicated applications
- Management software for franchise networks
http://www.solex.net.pl |
6. Konsoleigry.pl - ABI at the Warsaw University of Technology

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The idea for konsoleigry.pl originated two years ago and has been the result of its owner's longstanding fascination with computer games and Computer Entertainment Systems. Those hobbies turned into a passion, which with time became the desire to share the gamer lifestyle with others. Thus the konsoleigry.pl Internet store was born.
"To operate a legal business venture, I needed to obtain a legal personality or to establish a private enterprise and I turned for help to the Academic Business Incubator at the Warsaw University of Technology, with which I've since been in a partnership for over a year. When my profits reached 100 thousand PLN, I also decided to invest in a physical store, to which every gamer is invited to test console systems and games from my very extensive collection before purchase." - says the man behind the idea - Kamil Puchowski, a student of the Warsaw University of Technology Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology.
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"Our enterprise sells consoles, accessories, games and blu-ray movies. At present we support Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft x-box 360, Nintendo Wii, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS and Sony Playstation 2. We offer the lowest prices in Poland and our staff is professional and efficient. Products available directly from our magazine are shipped within 24 hours. In the near future we plan to establish a nationwide network of console gaming stores and provide wholesale services.
www.konsoleigry.pl
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7. Butango - ABI at the University of Warsaw
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The only store in Poland dealing in Argentinian stilettos and men's tango shoes. Ran by a 21-year-old female student, the store is located in the former 19th-century "Koneser" ("Connoisseur") Vodka Distillery in the Warsaw Praga district.
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www.butango.pl |
8. Mediates - ABI at the University of Computer Science and Economics in Olsztyn
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Mediates provides solutions pertaining to outsourcing sales and telemarketing forces. We develop full-scale solutions for the sales process on the basis of our clients' specifications, which enable our clients to reach their intended business goals.
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We also support our clients in selecting target groups, evaluating sales contracts and signing agreements with their clients on their behalf.
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9. Ultra Propaganda - ABI at the Płock Industrial and Technological Park
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Ultra Propaganda is an advertising agency ran by two ambitious, young entrepreneurs who decided to make use of their expertise in marketing to start a business which would provide full-scale support services for companies in the scope of working clothes, merchandise-related outfits and advertising gadgets. Furthermore, Ultra Propaganda supports individual clients by developing custom promotional strategies tailored to their needs.
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Its main output market is Płock and its region, although it's also able to reach entrepreneurs all around Poland by means of Internet sales. The clients of Ultra Propaganda are renowned companies from Płock, individual clients (inluding students) and even sports fans from all around Poland.
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10. K1-Software - ABI at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University

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K1-Software designs and develops Internet websites ranging from simple business websites to complex web-portals. In addition, it develops dedicated applications. Once a client signals their need, K1 will analyse it, provide the necessary tools and technology and create the required website. K1-software is also the developer of the online game Vis Arcana
Vis Arcana is a nonlinear fantasy MMORPG which offers its players extensive capabilities in deciding the fate of their characters. The player can choose from a broad variety of races and classes.
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The world of Vis Arcana is abundant with game objects and artifacts helping the characters on their quest, although for the most part victory is still in the players' hands and relies on their tactics and skills in character development and realm management. Players should also make good use of their diplomatic skills, as well as forge alliances and establish trade connections, which could prove to be essential in reaching the highest echelons of Vis Arcana's hierarchy.
www.visarcana.pl |
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