Poland & CEE Tech — 2026-05-22
This week's top story is Czech-led cybersecurity startup Exaforce raising over €100M, marking one of the largest funding rounds in the CEE region this year. Warsaw's office market is showing growing polarization between central and non-central zones, reflecting the city's evolving tech and business landscape. The CEE startup ecosystem continues to demonstrate resilience despite moderating headline investment volumes in Q1 2026.
Poland & CEE Tech — 2026-05-22
Key Highlights
Exaforce Breaks CEE Funding Records
Czech-led cybersecurity startup Exaforce has raised over €100M, according to The Recursive's latest CEE weekly roundup — making it one of the most significant funding rounds seen in the region this year. The raise underscores the growing investor appetite for deep tech and security solutions emerging from Central and Eastern Europe.
Warsaw Office Market Splits in Two
Warsaw's commercial real estate market is becoming increasingly polarized in Q1 2026, with stark differences emerging between central and non-central office zones — both in terms of supply quality and developer activity. In practice, analysts describe it as a market that has split into two distinct segments, a dynamic that also reflects broader patterns in where tech companies are choosing to locate.
Warsaw's Praga District Eyes High-Rise Development
High-rise developments may soon appear near Warsaw's National Stadium metro station in the Praga district, as the city's spatial policy aims to break down the historic division between the left and right banks of the Vistula River. The opening of the new pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the Vistula has already begun reshaping the area.
therecursive.com
eurobuildcee.com
CEE Startup & Tech Weekly: Czech-led Exaforce Raises Over €100M
eurobuildcee.com
eurobuildcee.com
therecursive.com
Top Funding Rounds Raised by Polish Startups in 2025
Analysis
Why CEE Is Becoming a Tech Powerhouse
The Exaforce mega-round is the latest signal that CEE-bred startups are capable of competing at a European scale. The region entered 2026 with continued investor engagement — a total of EUR 2.1 billion was recorded in Q1, following an exceptionally strong 2025, according to data from Colliers cited by EurobuildCEE. Poland and Hungary led the region in attracting investment.
Warsaw's bifurcating office market tells a parallel story: premium, centrally-located tech hubs are pulling ahead, while peripheral areas are being left behind. For startups, this creates both opportunity (competitive rents outside the core) and pressure (talent gravitates toward prestigious central addresses).
Poland's broader tech ecosystem also benefits from a maturing public market for game developers and software companies. Poland has nearly 100 publicly listed gaming companies, with CD Projekt remaining the only game developer in the WIG20 index, alongside 11 Bit Studios, Ten Square Games, Huuge, and CI Games in the WIG.Games index.
What to Watch
- Exaforce's deployment of capital: With €100M+ freshly raised, watch for Exaforce's expansion moves into Western European and US markets — a pattern commonly followed by CEE cybersecurity leaders.
- Warsaw real estate for tech: As Praga prepares for high-rise development near the National Stadium metro, early-mover tech companies could benefit from below-market rents before the area gentrifies.
- Q2 CEE funding data: After EUR 2.1B in Q1 2026, the pace of deals in Q2 will indicate whether investor sentiment is accelerating or consolidating. Poland's dominance in CEE startup hubs — as previously recognized by the Financial Times — positions it as a bellwether for the region.
- Polish gaming sector results: CD Projekt, 11 Bit Studios, and peers are approaching mid-year reporting periods; watch for guidance on upcoming titles and international licensing deals.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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