Hard2beat

Hard2beat Research Investment Thesis Hard2beat is a Wrocław, Poland-based early-stage venture capital fund that invests exclusively in Polish deep tech startups with a clear technological edge. Founded in 2024 and launched publicly in May 2025, the fund backs founders solving hard problems through software-driven or hardware-enabled solutions. The core belief is that defensible technology—something that cannot be easily copied—combined with early market validation and resilient founders creates the conditions for generational companies. The fund's philosophy: "A deeptech project without real customers becomes a research project." They care more about substance (working prototypes, successful pilots, letters of intent) than vanity metrics like pre-revenue ARR projections. Sector Focus Hard2beat invests across six deep tech verticals: Cybersecurity – enterprise access management, zero-trust architecture, VPN infrastructure Biotech & Life Sciences – novel therapeutics, stem cell applications, drug discovery Medtech / Digital Health – non-invasive neurological treatments, diagnostic tools Dual-Use / Aerospace-Defense – autonomous UAV systems for civil and military markets Developer Tools & Infrastructure – integration platforms, AI-powered game development tooling Gaming / Creative Tech – AI-driven content creation for real-time 3D and Unreal Engine workflows They explicitly exclude B2C apps, marketplaces, and generic SaaS businesses. Stage Focus Hard2beat primarily invests at pre-seed (core focus) and seed stages. They enter at the earliest institutional stage, preferring to be the first institutional check into a company. Investment criteria include: Technology Readiness Level 6+ for breakthrough solutions Working prototype or technical proof-of-concept Early pilots with real users (customer validation, not just revenue) External validation such as grants, endorsements, or academic backing Check Size Initial ticket: Up to 3 million PLN (~€700K / ~$750K USD) Total per company (including follow-ons): Up to 8 million PLN (~€1.9M / ~$2M USD) The fund keeps significant reserves for follow-on rounds in top performers Fund Size & Structure Hard2beat Fund I is capitalized at approximately 80 million PLN (~€20 million / ~$22 million USD), backed by FENG (European Funds for New Purposes) through the PFR Starter program of the Polish Development Fund. The fund is also backed by more than 30 entrepreneurs, operators, and family offices who actively co-invest in select deals. The fund targets a portfolio of approximately 24 companies across the fund's life, with a goal of 8 companies by end of 2025 and active deployment continuing through 2026. Lead Tendency Hard2beat leads, co-leads, or co-invests flexibly. They do not require large syndicates to make a decision. They welcome experienced angels and co-investors alongside their checks. Notable co-investors in their ecosystem include Smok Ventures, Sunfish Partners, Catch The Tornado, Heartfelt, S20, and Hartmann Capital. Recent Activity As of April 2026, Hard2beat has made 7 confirmed investments: Graftcode (April 2026) – Developer tools; €2.1M seed, Hard2beat led Melanos Care (April 2026) – Biotech; bio-identical melanin from stem cells Ludus AI (January 2026) – AI-powered 3D content creation for Unreal Engine Pikralida (December 2025) – Biotech; MMP inhibitor for stroke neuroprotection Defguard (May 2025) – Cybersecurity; VPN and enterprise access management DefendEye (May 2025) – Dual-use UAV systems (PLN 4.8M total round) Neuromedical (May 2025) – Medtech; non-invasive Alzheimer's treatment (VGuard) Portfolio Highlights Graftcode (graftcode.com) – Raised €2.1M seed led by Hard2beat. The platform eliminates integration code between software systems across programming languages, a key pain point in the AI era where complex software stacks need seamless connectivity. Defguard (defguard.net) – Open-source VPN and access management with enterprise security controls. Addresses the zero-trust networking market. DefendEye (defendeye.com) – Autonomous dual-use UAV systems with applications in both civil (surveying, logistics) and military markets. PLN 4.8M round with Sunfish Partners and business angels. Neuromedical (neuromedical.pl) – Developed VGuard, a non-invasive neurological treatment showing improvements in Alzheimer's patients' cognitive function. Pikralida (pikralida.eu) – Advancing PKL-021, a small-molecule MMP inhibitor targeting stroke neuroprotection, brain injury, and snakebite treatment. Ludus AI (ludusengine.com) – Next-generation AI solution for 3D game and visualization content creation, focused on Unreal Engine workflows. Melanos Care (melanoscare.com) – Biotech creating bio-identical melanin from stem cells for sun protection and skincare applications. Team Maciej Zawadziński – Founding Partner Serial entrepreneur with 3 successful exits. Built and scaled B2B SaaS businesses to €14M+ ARR. Deep expertise in privacy tech, enterprise go-to-market strategies, and building companies from scratch. Led investments in Defguard and Graftcode. Maciej Frankowicz – Founding Partner Previously co-managed the Shape VC fund (2019–2023) under the BRIdge Alpha program, investing in 36 startups. Brings 40+ pre-seed deals worth of experience with R&D-heavy startups. Led investments in DefendEye and Ludus AI. Konrad Trzyna – Founding Partner VC legal specialist with €100M+ in closed transactions. Co-managed Shape VC alongside Maciej Frankowicz. Led investments in Neuromedical, Pikralida, and Melanos Care. Filip Bogdziun – Investment Manager 5+ years in VC with hands-on deal leadership experience. Sara Takeuchi – Investment Analyst Former corporate VC scout. Specializes in proof-of-concept design and early-stage due diligence. Michał Lechowski – Investment Associate PhD researcher in AI with focus on deeptech and hardware-software hybrid systems. Decision Process Hard2beat uses a structured investment committee process: Pitch deck review → quick pass or call invitation (within a few days) Call with core team to understand the company Internal investment committee evaluation Deep dive with hypothesis validation (expert calls, demos, reference checks) Term sheet issuance upon IC approval Founders can expect initial responses within "a few days" and advancement decisions within approximately one week. No warm intro required—founders can submit directly through their Airtable pitch form. Geographic Focus Poland is the exclusive geographic focus. Companies must be Poland-based or EU/UK-based with plans to deploy capital in Poland. Hard2beat has deep ecosystem presence in Wrocław and across major Polish tech hubs (Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk). Founder Preferences Hard2beat backs technical founders with deep domain expertise—often PhD-level or equivalent knowledge in hard sciences, engineering, or biotech. The ideal founder combines scientific ambition with customer focus and execution speed. The fund values founders who can demonstrate early market pull through working prototypes, pilot customers, or external validation. Network & Ecosystem The firm maintains a co-investment network of 250+ investors, angels, and industry partners. Their LP base includes 30+ entrepreneurs and family offices who actively co-invest in deals. They also partner with Polish university networks and deep tech accelerators to source early-stage opportunities.