DZP|Future is a comprehensive programme that supports outstanding startups and the Polish innovation ecosystem. Coordinated by experienced lawyers specialising in advice for the venture capital market, the programme combines expertise in various fields of law with DZP's extensive business relationships and unique model of cooperation with founders of technology projects.

Through our Law Firm's involvement in numerous initiatives designed for startups, investors and the innovation environment, we support their development, help them raise financing and dynamically build up their market position.

Three pillars of DZP|Future

1. Legal advice on preferential terms

We offer selected founders willing to commit to long-term cooperation preferential terms for professional legal advice tailored to their needs and business circumstances. We give them access to all of DZP's expertise and resources as well as flexible billing mechanisms, including deferred payments and sweat equity.

Our support covers:

• the creation of scalable corporate models and optimisation of ownership structure;
• preparing the company for subsequent funding rounds or exits and structuring investment transactions, including negotiating terms with VC funds and preparing for M&A transactions and IPOs;
• designing incentive mechanisms for founders;
• advice on regulations, including designing structures compliant with international provisions on financing and scaling a business globally;
• identifying the subject-matter of intellectual property rights and developing strategies to secure and commercialise it;
• brand building and protecting intellectual property rights against infringements, including support in the event of disputes and claims.

In this way, we support the dynamic development of early-stage projects, sharing the risk of failure with the founders and helping them overcome liquidity challenges and limited access to advanced legal solutions. Through a tailored approach and close cooperation from the seed phase, we build up relationships that go far beyond advisory services, by engaging in processes such as raising capital, scaling up operations and building up client base.

DZP|Future is run by lawyers from various specialist teams who have an excellent understanding of the specific nature of startups and their Polish operating model. They have extensive experience in providing services to companies built with venture capital and public grants.

Programme addressees are primarily companies in strictly regulated industries such as life sciences, energy, defence and fintech, where our unique expertise can offer a significant competitive advantage.

2. Support in fundraising and networking

With a total of over 30 years' experience on the market and a proven network of contacts, we provide measurable support to build up and grow technology companies. Through our relationships and networking initiatives, we help founders raise capital for development, reach partners and early adaptors, and build up a client base.

The scale and nature of a project determine the form and extent of DZP's involvement. Bases for cooperation are currently primarily:

• Startup Excellence Club – a business angel club run in cooperation with the Startup Hub Poland foundation, bringing together investors interested in early stage projects. At cyclical meetings, we connect the most interesting companies from our shared network with people who are keen to ensure that technology projects regularly appear in their investment portfolios;
• international partnerships – close relationships with leading law firms providing advice to the venture capital sector in all key jurisdictions have enabled us to expand our portfolio of investor contacts to include top VC funds from the USA, Germany, the Czech Republic and France;
• cooperation with Cobin Angels and the biggest of the business angel networks;
• relations with key venture capital and private equity funds in Poland.

3. Acceleration and education

At DZP, we have been actively helping to shape the Polish innovation ecosystem for years, also engaging in numerous educational and acceleration initiatives. We share our knowledge and practical experience through workshops, mentoring and advisory sessions conducted on a pro bono basis, supporting the development of startups at various stages.

In addition, we actively promote the Polish technology market on the international arena by participating in sector conferences and co-creating information materials, documentation templates and guides for foreign investors. Thanks to our network of international contacts, including leading law firms that provide services for technology investments, we ensure that the success of the Polish startup ecosystem does not go unnoticed abroad.

We are there wherever both practical solutions and the highest legal standards are required. Selected initiatives implemented under the DZP|Future programme include:

• an MBA for Startups scheme run in cooperation with the Warsaw School of Economics;
• accelerator programmes: Warsaw Booster run by the capital city of Warsaw, Huge Thing by SpeedUp, Startup Bootcamp, Poland Booster by Startup Hub Poland and Santander X;
• education and mentoring in projects such as Sebastian Kulczyk’s [in the Polish version, his name is written as ‘Kluczyk’] InCredibles, Innovations HUB, Mother & Child Startup Challenge and Startup Guide.

DZP|Future is evolving dynamically, adapting to new challenges and market trends. We are open to cooperation with innovators, investors and partners who, like us, believe in the development of technology and are committed to boosting the competitiveness of the startup ecosystem in Poland.