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If you want to understand a market, work with someone who’s built there.
Lech Kaniuk has spent twenty years building and scaling technology companies in Poland – from food delivery to solar energy to mobility. He’s raised over €150 million, navigated multiple exits, and mentored dozens of founders along the way.
Now he’s joining Eleven as a Venture Partner, and we’re going deeper into one of Europe’s most promising startup ecosystems.
A Builder Who's Been There
Lech is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and one of the most respected builders in Poland. He has been building and scaling companies for over 20 years and has authored several bestselling books on entrepreneurship, sales, and go-to-market strategy.
He sold his first company at just 20 years-old and later founded PizzaPortal.pl, which became the clear leader in Poland’s online food ordering market within a year of launch. The company was acquired by Delivery Hero for PLN 120 million, where Lech remains a shareholder today. Since then, he has built and backed multiple successful businesses across renewable energy, ride-hailing, and food. In 2018, Lech founded SunRoof Technology, which became one of Europe’s leading companies in building-integrated solar roofs. He is also an active angel investor and a trusted voice for both first-time and seasoned founders.
But beyond the resume, what matters most is the fit.
How It Came Together
We’ve known Lech for years. Early on, we’d catch up occasionally, but as our trips to Poland became more frequent, so did our meetings with him.
A few months back, Lech visited our office for a couple of days. He sat down with the team. We talked about what it takes to build companies that last, what founders actually need, and where the opportunities are. It became clear pretty quickly: same mission, same approach, same instincts, same values.
Lech shares our DNA. He’s been in the founder’s seat more than once. He knows what it’s like to raise capital, pivot under pressure, scale through chaos, and exit when the time is right. He’s not here to advise from the sidelines but to build alongside founders.
“I believe Eleven represents the gold standard for how VCs should truly support founders. Having spent over 20 years building and scaling companies, I know that capital is only one part of the equation. It’s the quality of partnership that determines if a startup scales or stalls. I’ve raised millions in my career, and I know firsthand how crucial it is to onboard the right fund, not just the capital. This choice can make or break a company. I want to use my experience to ensure the next generation of Polish and regional founders has access to the highest level of mentorship. My goal is to help Eleven become a powerhouse in Poland, bringing a 'builder-first' mentality to one of Europe’s most promising ecosystems.”
Lech Kaniuk
Serial Entrepreneur and Venture Partner at Eleven
Why Poland, Why Now
Poland is a market we consider one of the key economic engines of Europe in the coming decades.
✔️ Technical talent that’s both deep and affordable.
✔️ A domestic market large enough to validate ideas and generate real revenue before expanding.
✔️ Founders who’ve worked at global tech companies and understand what it takes to compete internationally.
✔️ A growing base of experienced operators who’ve built, scaled, and exited – and are now reinvesting their time and capital into the next generation.
But what makes Poland particularly interesting right now is the shift happening beneath the surface. The first wave of successful exits has created a flywheel. Founders who sold their companies are becoming angels and advisors. Engineers who spent years at Google, Meta, or Amazon are leaving to start their own companies. The ecosystem is maturing in ways that produce better companies, faster.
The graphics show the global multiplier effect of Docplanner and Booksy through mentorship (orange lines), investment (green lines), their former employees (blue lines), and serial entrepreneurship (purple lines). Source: Endeavor Poland
We’ve been watching this unfold for years. Now we’re working with someone who’s been part of that story from the beginning – not as an observer, but as someone who’s lived it.
What Comes Next
Lech will be based in Poland, sourcing deals, opening doors, and working hands-on with founders.
To Polish founders: we’re open for business. We’re always looking to connect with new founders, experts, and investors who share our mission of building meaningful companies starting from Europe.
To our portfolio: Lech is here to help. Whether it’s opening doors in Poland, thinking through go-to-market, or just being a sounding board for someone who’s been there.
“I’m very happy and excited to support founders from the region. I hope to support local founders to secure their first VC round, to help regional companies to expand from or to Poland.”
Lech Kaniuk
Serial Entrepreneur and Venture Partner at Eleven
Welcome aboard, Lech!
#Oneof11
Getting to Know Him Better
1️⃣ What would you say is your #1 “superpower”?
I go from idea to execution super fast. 😉
2️⃣ Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
Believe more in yourself and go for it!
3️⃣ Do you live by any motto or core principle?
You never know the outcome, but you should try. And be nice to people.
4️⃣ Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?
Coffee…
5️⃣ What was the last book you read? Which is your all-time favorite one?
I’m currently reading The 5 by Tomasz Karwatka, a super successful Polish entrepreneur. But my favourite has to be my own book The Power of Momentum. 🙂
