Photo: NESsT portfolio entrepreneurs, NESsT team members, and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship team members visiting the Olsztyn Food Bank warehouse and hydroponic garden.
In May 2025, we were delighted to host an in-person meeting in Olsztyn, Poland, bringing together NESsT portfolio enterprises, partners from IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, and members of the NESsT regional and global teams. It was a valuable opportunity to gather and celebrate the achievements of the partnership and program, to address challenges the social entrepreneurs face, and to discuss ways to further improve our collective work in Latin America and Central & Eastern Europe.
“It’s important in our work to keep social enterprise at the center of what we do; that’s why it was especially meaningful to have the entrepreneurs from Olsztyn Food Bank, Tango, Heca, Ekoinbud, and 4Szpaki join us for the retreat.”
Photo: Olsztyn Food Bank team members giving a tour of their kitchen where they host community cooking classes and workshops
A highlight of the two-day gathering was a visit to Olsztyn Food Bank, which operates across the catering, hospitality, and events sectors, preventing food from waste while creating dignified jobs for people who face barriers to work – including those displaced from Ukraine, single mothers, and youth.
It was also the first opportunity for the broader NESsT team to meet representatives from 4Starlings, the first social enterprise to join the NESsT Violet Fund.
“In all our activities, people come first. We focus on helping people to re-enter the job market, to develop skills, and to work on themselves.”
First-hand stories of how portfolio enterprises blend environmental and social impact with business activities and honest reflections on daily struggles gave our partners a direct window into how our joint acceleration work is making a difference, and where support is most needed.
The themes of social inclusion and environmental sustainability were carried through to two panel discussions with the attending Polish social enterprises: digital agency Tango, green construction company Ekoinbud, social recruitment enterprise Heca, and vegan cosmetic manufacturer 4Starlings.
Entrepreneurs shared how their companies are addressing exclusion of marginalized groups in their communities, from providing mental health support to employees and strengthening internal diversity, equity, and inclusion policies to designing inclusive training programs that build long-term career pathways.
As one entrepreneur put it, “People don’t need fish, they need a fishing rod.”
Photo: Entrepreneurs from Olsztyn Food Bank, 4Starlings, Heca, Ekoinbud, and Tango in a panel discussion moderated by Jens Andersson, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship
Photo: A working session addressing social and environmental challenges NESsT portfolio enterprises face
On the environmental panel, participants challenged each other to rethink how social entrepreneurship can raise awareness about sustainable living, while still meeting the realities of running a business. Despite working in very different sectors, thoughts and ideas were sparked between the panelists, as they exchanged marketing tactics, investment approaches, and product development strategies.
“It was motivating to see inspiration flow from entrepreneur to entrepreneur in conversations around marketing, investment, business strategy, impact, and more. By bringing together enterprises from our acceleration and fund portfolios, we’re creating valuable peer-learning opportunities and reaffirming a joint commitment to social and environmental impact in the region.”
In-person gatherings continue to be one of the most effective ways to strengthen collaboration and resilience among our portfolio enterprises and co-create solutions based on what’s working, and what isn’t. “These kinds of events create space to step back from the day-to-day, connect with others who understand the challenges, and feel part of a wider community,” shared NESsT Violet Fund Director Filip Wadowski.
“That sense of support is vital for entrepreneurs, especially when they are working with limited resources and small teams whose expertise lies in driving impact rather than business operations.”
Learn more about NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship’s 5-year partnership supporting social enterprises in South America and Central and Eastern Europe.
Visit our Supporters page to learn how you can support NESsT.
