Shaping the future of business: Lublin Up! competition for young entrepreneurs

For a business idea to be eligible for the competition, it must align with at least one of the intelligent specializations defined in the Lublin 2030 Strategy, which are automotive and machinery industry, healthy society, smart grids & ICT, automated food processing & functional food, chemical processes & specialty chemicals and modern business services.

Every business starts with an idea, though the journey to building a successful business can be long and demanding. This is why, in collaboration with Lublin’s universities, the city addresses the needs of students who are actively looking for business opportunities. The aim of the Lublin Up! inter-university competition is to cultivate entrepreneurship skills among young people and encourage them to explore the possibilities of establishing their own ventures in Lublin, explains Krzysztof Żuk, Mayor of Lublin.

How to participate in the competition? 

You need to complete the application form with the information  about the main idea, including the project’s goal, implementation conditions, and information about your project team and send it to the email address: lublinup@4zul.pl by March 24, 2023. The next step involves a formal and substantive evaluation. If your application is successful, the competition adventure will begin. Project teams will have access to a series of workshops and will work with mentors and experts, including representatives of business environment institutions, universities, and organisations that support start-ups. All of these so the participants could refine the idea, adapt it to market conditions and prepare it for the grand finale, which will ultimately help realize it.

After the training and mentoring stage, the teams will present their projects to the Jury. The top three projects will be rewarded with vouchers for project-related services, tailored to the specific needs of the winners.

• 1st place – voucher worth PLN 12,000 gross
• 2nd place – voucher worth PLN 8,000 gross
• 3rd place – voucher worth PLN 5,000 gross

Lublin – European Youth Capital 

This competition is an initiative implemented within the European Youth Capital programme. Our city is the first in Poland to receive this title and will be holding it for the whole year. This designation provides an excellent opportunity for Lublin to showcase its support for youth entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as for young people to engage in activities that promote their personal and professional growth. The year 2023 is filled with hundreds of activities empowering young people, creating new youth spaces, funding opportunities, scholarships, international events & educational projects that are to change Lublin into a youth-friendly metropolis. By focusing on the need and aspirations of young people, the city is positioning itself as a hub for young entrepreneurs, artists, and academics who are looking for a dynamic and supportive environment to realize their dreams.