In contrast to more developed markets such as the US, Israel or the UK, venture capital in the countries of central Europe is still in its infancy. One has only to contrast the value of VC investments in Israel – $1.9bn in 2012 – with the combined value of those in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria – which were €102m.
Barbara Nowakowska, director of the Polish Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, says some international venture capital funds have noticed the region is a growing market with strong potential, a culture of entrepreneurship and little in the way of competition – and see this as an opportunity.
Image Courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
