Polish IT firms out in front

The latest research paints a very healthy picture for Polish technology firms. In an annual ranking by consulting company Deloitte, 12 Polish firms were placed among the top 30 of its Technology Fast 50 and four companies dominated its list of Rising Stars. Deloitte ranks the companies purely by profit. The winner of the Technology Fast 50 was Polish company Pro Futuro, which recorded a jump in profits of 22,102 percent. In second place was Czech firm Cleverlance, followed by the Polish finance portal Hoga.pl in third.

"Two years ago we were in first place in Rising Stars, now we are third-best in the main ranking," says Rafał Stefanowski, deputy chairman at Hoga.pl. "These rankings are not very detailed but surely show the dynamics of our market. Many people started their business in the proverbial garage and now they run big companies. Our companies were a little late in catching the beginning of e-business in Europe, which allowed the Hungarians and Czechs to get the jump. Now we are catching up."

To qualify for the ranking of Rising Stars, companies have to have their headquarters in Central Europe, cannot be more than five years old, and must have an annual profit of at least EUR 30,000 (zł.120,000). In the top 10, Polish firms occupy second, fourth, fifth and seventh place.