Photon is an interactive robot that teaches children how to code. It’s the first robot in the world that develops along with your child bringing an entirely new and innovative approach to education. Learning should be fun and this is exactly where Photon steps in!
 
Being such a unique product and offering a very innovative and useful service, Photon won the Microsoft Imagine Cup in 2015, and was part of the Microsoft Imagine Cup Acceleration Program. After winning this outstanding competition, META Zernike Ventures invested in Photon through its Xplorer Fund, the first proof of concept type of fund in Poland. Xplorer Fund (Poland) can finance technology driven projects or startups, and Photon is a perfect example of a successful idea brought to life.

 

With such an innovative product, it comes as no surprise that Photon managed to reach its Kickstarter campaign goals by raising $52,829 in just 5 days! Its international success brought the company into the spotlight and got the creators a chance to meet Poland’s President Andrzej Duda at an event held at Bialystok University of Technology on September 13, 2016.

Photon was invited to present its unique and original product to the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, ambassadors, representatives of the State Treasury companies, venture capital and business angels.



“This is a unique award. We did not expect that we will get an invitation to the Presidential Palace and will be able to present our product there. Such things do not happen too often!”, says Marcin Joka, CEO of Photon. 




TWIST DIGITAL is the H2020 action, under the Startup Europe umbrella, that provides Transregional Web Innovative Services for Thriving Digital and Mobile to web entrepreneurs aiming at scaling up and competing in the global market around 4 interconnected web entrepreneurship startup ecosystems and hubs (Rome, Lille, Stockholm and Warsaw).
 
Startup Europe aims to strengthen the business environment for web and ICT entrepreneurs so that their ideas and business can start and grow in the EU. Startup Europe contributes to the Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan.
Startup Europe's objectives are:
  • to reinforce the links between people, business and associations who build and scale up the startup ecosystem (e.g. the Web Investors Forum, the Accelerator Assembly, the Crowdfunding Network) 
  • to inspire entrepreneurs and provide role models (e.g. the Leaders Club and their Startup Manifesto, the Startup Europe Roadshow)
  • to celebrate new and innovative startups (with Tech All Stars and Europioneers), help them to expand their business (Startup Europe Partnership, ACE Acceleration Programme), and give them access to funding under Horizon 2020.