Experts Define the Future of Innovation: Highlights from the 2023 CatalyX Pitching Series Awards

Mission and Strategic Objectives of the Competition

The CatalyX Pitching Series Awards is a flagship pitch competition designed to connect promising early-stage startups with leading investors. What sets this program apart is that it was created by seasoned entrepreneurs who have successfully taken their own ventures from idea to execution—and now share their knowledge with a new generation of founders. This ensures the competition focuses on real startup challenges and delivers genuinely valuable, experience-driven solutions.

The competition targets pre-seed and seed-stage startups that are ready to scale. It addresses the critical hurdles every new entrepreneur faces—from idea validation and business model development to market entry and early customer acquisition.

Expert Jury as a Core Evaluation Component

A standout feature of the CatalyX Pitching Series Awards is its meticulously curated panel of experts. The jury played a pivotal role in evaluating and selecting the top startups from over 200 applications, showcasing innovations in healthcare, fintech, and digital platforms.

The international panel of judges included renowned professionals such as:

• Remus Radvan — Venture Partner at Wayra, with over 50 successful startup investments

• Hannah-May Andrews — Investor at Climate VC, specializing in sustainable technologies

• Vadim Limar — CEO of Bringo Net

• Carlota Armero — Seed investor at Partech, known for building portfolios of high-growth tech companies

• Anton An — Lead Frontend Engineer at Hiveon, with a decade of experience in web development

• Yaroslav Protsenko — Financial analytics expert, PhD in Economics, and co-founder of a fast-growing restaurant network in Poland

A Novel Evaluation Approach

The competition stands out for its comprehensive startup evaluation system, based on four key success factors for tech ventures:

• Best Startup — Overall execution and growth potential

• Best Business Model — Innovative revenue strategies

• Trailblazer Award — Breakthrough technological solutions

• Most Promising Startup — Outstanding growth trajectories

Dr. Yaroslav Protsenko: A Key Expert in Financial Analytics

Special recognition goes to Dr. Yaroslav Protsenko, an honorary member of the CatalyX Pitching Series Awards 2023 jury. As a seasoned finance expert with a PhD in Economics and an international ACCA DipIFR certification, Dr. Protsenko brought tremendous value to the evaluation process.

His consultancy has trained over 1,000 finance professionals, many of whom have gone on to lead or advise major international businesses. Additionally, as co-founder of Master Burger, a rapidly growing restaurant chain in Poland, he has demonstrated a deep understanding of applied finance and real-world business scaling.

As a jury member, Dr. Protsenko evaluated startups based on financial resilience, business model soundness, scalability, and innovation strategy. His analytically precise insights helped shape the final outcomes of the competition and directly influenced the selection of the top four startups in each category.

Winners and Their Impact on the Ecosystem

After a rigorous evaluation process, the winners of 2023 were announced:

• Anar (Best Startup) — A platform for professional networking

• Thepeer (Best Business Model) — A solution for digital wallet integration

• Seer (Trailblazer Award) — A home monitoring system for epilepsy patients

• Nintee (Most Promising Startup) — A platform transforming healthcare management

The CatalyX Pitching Series Awards has firmly established itself as a vital platform for the development of tech startups. By blending venture capital expertise with deep technical knowledge within its jury, the competition continues to identify and support companies that exhibit both business viability and a robust technical foundation for sustainable growth.