Builders of the New Europe
Stories, strategies, and insights from the founders and investors shaping the region.
Featured episodes
Paweł Fornalski - co-founder of IAI Group (IdoSell, IdoBooking, AtomStore), business angel, LP in VC funds. Known for sharp, uncompromising opinions based on experience. Godfather of Polish e-commerce.
Tomasz and Piotr Karwatka - entrepreneurs and investors behind Divante, Vue Storefront, Callstack, Open Loyalty. Through Catch The Tornado, they support founders with investments and expertise. Portfolio includes Rigby, cyber_Folks, and Polish unicorn ElevenLabs.
Borys Musielak - co-founder of SMOK Ventures, investor and long-time builder of Poland's startup ecosystem. Known for uncompromising approach and active social media presence.
Recent episodes
Aleksandra Pedraszewska - co-founder of vastpoint fund. All-female three-person team investing in early-stage Polish deep tech and AI startups.
The “Roadtrip” series continues, this time 🇧🇬 Bulgaria! Our guest is Angel Angelov (Managing Partner at Innovation Capital; Partner at ODC Ventures) who discusses the Bulgarian startup ecosystem, funding, and cross-border collaboration with CEE.
Today we are visiting 🇱🇹 Lithuania. Our guest is Tomas Kemtys (General Partner at Contrarian Ventures, formerly Centerview Partners)
Thanks for joining us!
Your inbox is about to get smarter - expect founder stories, VC insights, and the best of the CEE startup scene from Venture Central.
Our Story
Venture Central began as ZapytajVC - a Polish YouTube channel launched in 2012 with a simple mission: make the world of venture capital more transparent and accessible to founders. What started as a series of explainer videoes and interviews with investors soon grew into one of the most recognised independent voices in Poland’s startup ecosystem.
Over the years, the channel published more than 100 in-depth conversations with founders, VCs, and operators. Its influence was acknowledged by MamStartup and PFR Ventures, who included ZapytajVC among the major creators shaping the Polish startup landscape in the KREATORZY 2023/24 ranking.
As the audience expanded and the topics increasingly crossed borders, a new direction became clear. Central and Eastern Europe had a richer story to tell - one of innovation, ambition, emerging ecosystems, and founders building globally relevant companies.
To reflect this broader mission, ZapytajVC evolved into Venture Central in December 2025. Today, the platform focuses on the entire CEE region, covering not only venture capital but also entrepreneurship, technology, SMEs, funding, and the people shaping the next chapter of the region’s growth.
And while the brand has changed, the core idea remains the same: authentic conversations, useful insights, and a belief that founders and investors grow stronger when they learn from each other.
Meet The Hosts
Arek Hajduk
Arek has been active in the startup world since 2006 as a founder, investor, and mentor. He co-founded companies in Poland, Denmark, and Canada, served as CEO, COO, board member, and investment manager in a seed VC fund, and led an accelerator for high-potential, globally ambitious teams. He also worked as an Innovation Director in a state-owned company.
Over the years, Arek has invested in or helped secure investment for numerous startups, exited four companies he co-founded, and gained valuable lessons from ventures that didn’t succeed. He has built and managed teams of over 150 people and supported hundreds of founders through programs like Founder Institute, Impact Poland, Startup Weekend, and others.
At Venture Central, he brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial, operational, and investment experience - offering an authentic, ecosystem-wide perspective on building and scaling startups.Michał Olszewski
A seasoned venture capital professional and innovation strategist with 14+ years of experience in early-stage investments, startup acceleration, and EU-funded innovation programs. He has worked with startups and corporates across the CEE.
Michał has co-founded multiple ventures, scaled tech and hospitality projects, and mentors emerging founders across Europe. He is passionate about Lean Startup methodologies, cross-border co-investments, and helping deep-tech startups grow.
Interests: Cycling and exploring the impact of technology.
Our Audience
Venture Central connects with a growing community of founders, investors, and startup enthusiasts across Central and Eastern Europe - and beyond. Our viewers are highly engaged (with 136% growth in views over the last year), tech-savvy, and eager for insights from the region’s startup ecosystem.
Most of our audience is 25–34 years old, predominantly male, and watches from Poland and neighboring CEE countries. They tune in on desktops, mobile devices, and even smart TVs, spending an average of 5 minutes per video, with some episodes reaching thousands of views.
Whether you’re a founder, investor, or startup enthusiast, Venture Central delivers insights, stories, and practical lessons that resonate with professionals shaping the future of CEE entrepreneurship.
Our Sponsors
We partner with organizations that share our mission of supporting founders and innovation in the region.Current sponsors:Preview sponsors:We welcome new partners who want to reach an engaged audience of founders, investors, and innovators.
All Episodes
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Our interviews
CEE Roadtrip
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