The Growth Journey: From Hashtag to Ecosystem Developer
2013–2017: Ecosystem Roots
Krakow’s fertile innovation ground began taking shape — strong STEM talent, a growing IT scene, and a rising entrepreneurial spirit. In 2013, the hashtag #OMGKRK emerged from a community-driven startup event as a symbol of Krakow’s digital awakening. By 2016, this grassroots movement formalized into the Foundation Supporting #OMGKRK, with a mission to champion tech entrepreneurship and cultivate a thriving local innovation ecosystem.
2018: Pre-Seed Stage – Events-First Approach
Acting like a startup, the Foundation launched its mission through a series of accessible, grassroots events. With early champions like Richard Lucas, Paweł Nowak, Bartosz Józefowski, and Sunny Vashishta, and early-stage support from the City of Krakow and the Małopolska Region, OMGKRK began activating the ecosystem:
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Open Coffee – Morning networking meetups
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OMGKRK Academy – Tech entrepreneurship education
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Entrepreneur Club – Creative business event series
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Summer Jam 2018 & Krakow Startup Week – Celebrating ecosystem momentum
Our website launched with an ecosystem database and bold design language. From the beginning, the message was clear: a world-class innovation ecosystem in Krakow requires strong community roots.
2019: Seed Stage – Membership and Matchmaking
As engagement deepened, the Foundation introduced an experimental B2B membership model — a way to offer clear value while holding ourselves accountable to our stakeholders. The model focused on matchmaking, talent pipelines, and direct support for member organizations:
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Launch of Jobs Page – a two-way platform for tech talent discovery
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Dedicated support channels, matchmaking facilitation, and Slack access
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Member contributions included mentorship, content, and event participation
Major initiatives during this period included:
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Cracow Tech Week 2019
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Innovative Krakow Forum
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Summer Jam 2019
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Wawel Dragons Cave Pitch
We emerged as a trusted voice and partner for national and international ecosystem players.
2020: Digitization During COVID
The pandemic catalyzed our shift to digital — and OMGKRK responded by developing internal tools and new formats that kept the community connected:
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Member Dashboard: A custom-built system to automate job listings, content submissions, and communication
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Virtual Founders Breakfast – Digital meetups for advanced founders
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Hybrid Dragons Cave Growth Program
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Girls Up Mentoring – Empowering women in tech through curated mentorship
2022 & 2024: Thought Leadership and Reporting
To drive data-informed ecosystem development, the Foundation published the Krakow Startup Report in both 2022 and 2024. These landmark reports benchmarked the region’s growth and became reference points for founders, investors, institutions, and policymakers.
This marked OMGKRK’s deepening role as not just a convenor — but a credible voice in the national innovation narrative.
2021–2025: Community Consolidation and New Leadership
Post-pandemic, the Foundation introduced Hangout — a monthly community event designed to lower barriers, increase visibility, and foster informal collaboration. These gatherings have become essential to Krakow’s tech rhythm.
During this phase, President Dominika Walec led the Foundation through key strategic growth and digital transformation. In 2024, she transitioned to the City of Krakow, where she now works to enhance public-private partnerships in the innovation space.
In 2025, original founder and first president Paul Kulon returned to lead OMGKRK, bringing renewed energy and a future-oriented vision aligned with the Foundation’s newest campaign — Krakow Connect.
