Hard2beat

FAQ

Get straight answers to important questions with no fluff.

Use the form below. No warm intro needed – just a clear pitch, and we’ll take it from there.

We review every submission and aim to respond within a few days, whether it’s a yes, no, or “let’s talk more.”
Yes. We believe founders should understand the terms from day one.

Honestly? Earlier than you think.

We’d rather get to know you when you’re still figuring things out than come in too late.

We invest at pre-seed and seed — including:

  • Pre-revenue startups with technical validation
  • Post-grant, post-acceleration, or post-pilot
  • Early traction or clear PoC

If you’ve built something meaningful, we’ll recognize it – even if you’re not yet monetizing.

We look for signs that your idea is grounded in real-world demand. This could be:

 

  • Successful PoC or pilot with real users
  • Essential MVP traction among early adopters
  • Important tech KPI for breakthrough solutions (at least TRL 6)
  • Letters of intent or strong feedback from future customers
  • External validation (e.g., grant funding, academic or industry endorsements)
  • Technical proof (working prototype, benchmark, IP)

Validation ≠ revenue. We care more about substance than vanity metrics.

We’re focused on software-driven or hardware-enabled DeepTech – not everything fits that lens.

 

 

We don’t invest in:

 

  • B2C apps or marketplaces
  • Commodity SaaS or clones
  • Any ideas with no IP or defensibility

You need a Polish nexus, meaning:

  • You’re based in Poland
  • Or you’re an EU startup planning to spend our investment in Poland

We’re here to help build real value in the region.

Initial check: up to 3M PLN
Total per company: up to 8M PLN (with follow-ons)

Yes. We can lead, co-lead, or co-invest. We don’t need a big party round to make a decision. If it’s a fit, we move.

We’re flexible. Priced rounds are our preference, but we’re open to SAFEs, convertibles, and everything in between. What matters most is a clear founder – investor alignment and a clean cap table.

We’re not here to micromanage – we’re here to go deep when it counts.

Expect:

 

  • Sharp feedback on product, GTM, and scaling
  • Help with fundraising strategy, investor intros, and narrative
  • Support on legal structuring, IP, and cap table sanity

Access to 250+ investors, operators, and founders in our network.

Yes. We reserve capital for follow-ons and when our conviction grows, we double down.
That also signals strongly to future investors in your round.

If you haven’t read our investment criteria, you might get a (polite) no in 5 minutes.

 

We respect every founder who reaches out – you’ll get a clear answer fast. No ghosting, no endless loops. If there’s a fit, you’ll usually hear from us within a week to start the conversation (sometimes a bit longer if we’re swamped).

 

Unless it’s a quick no, here’s how our process looks:

  1. Pitch deck review & research
    After this stage, we’ll either invite you to a call or send a pass.
  2. Call with our core team
    We want to get to know you and your company better.
  3. Internal investment committee
    This is where we decide whether we’re excited enough to dive deeper.
  4. Deep dive & hypothesis validation
    We dig into the business, tech, and team to make sure it all holds up.
    This can include expert calls, product walkthroughs, and reference checks.

Once everything checks out and there are no red flags, we send over a term sheet and move forward. You can check our template to see what to expect.

We’re realistic. Not every win is a unicorn.

We back founders with big ambition, but we also support smart, strategic exits – IPO, M&A, or regional success stories.
We want you to win, on your terms.

Absolutely. We love co-investing with experienced angels – especially founders who’ve been in the trenches.
If you already have angels backing you, that’s a plus.

Just ask. You can reach out to our team directly or drop us your pitch using the form below.
If it gets us excited, we’ll be in touch.

Looking to invest with us? Learn more at For Investors page.