Startups can move from the garage to Warsaw Spire - to RBL_START from Alior Bank

RBL_START is the accelerator for startups of Alior Bank and PZU. Both companies look for interesting projects in it that will enrich the offer in the future and allow them to compete for innovation. Accelerator is also a comfortable, modern space in the center of Warsaw.

The first edition of the accelerator is behind us. Lasted three months and brought investment, among others in PayPo . Now RBL_START is starting with a continuation in which it searches for startups in four areas: verification of identity, new channels, customer engagement and data analytics. The lucky ones will be able to develop their product with the experts of Alior Bank and PZU in Warsaw Spire in a few weeks, where the accelerator has its headquarters.

The office is very impressive at first glance. Each enters an interactive AbyssGlass mirror, which at the moment displays the Alior Bank logo, but during the conference it changes into, for example, her plan.

An even greater curiosity was mounted on the ceiling. Dozens of small screens can display different images - eg, animate the flow of clouds over a blue sky. Relaxing! And what futuristic.

To the right of the entrance is a shared space used during larger meetings. Soft sofas and chairs allow for any arrangement of space - for example for working in groups.

Yes, the main room looks like it is filled during a networking conference or VC speed dating (then startups can present themselves to many investors).

Probably you have already turned your attention to the richness of plants. The vines curl behind the reception almost like in a tropical jungle, which certainly has a positive effect on the well-being of employees and visitors. They are also helped by air purifiers located in several corners of the accelerator.

A really useful bajer was stitched in the shafts. On request, they can be darkened as in the picture below, so that nobody from the outside can see what is going on inside.

The most important is the workspace. And here the accelerator does not disappoint. Tables with electrically adjustable table top height are just the beginning.

There are also small rooms - telephone boxes. Thanks to soundproofing, they are great for picking up the phone or talking in two eyes.

Bigger salons are also not to be ashamed. Tablet on the table allows you to control a large TV. This, in turn, is equipped with a video chat camera.

Televisions are tactile, so during the meeting you can use them to make a quick mockup or take notes and quickly send them to you by email.

Thanks to equipping the rooms with special cameras and large screens, you can carry out research with users in a modern way, eg when testing mobile applications. In one room sits the examined, and the cameras somehow follow his behavior. One camera records reactions - facial expressions or body posture, while the other registers gestures performed on the phone.

The material is transmitted on a regular basis to the second room, where the researchers of Alior Bank, live can check if the project is intuitive, and navigating through the thicket of screens is not difficult for the final recipient of the application.

Until recently, the standard equipment of each research laboratory was the Venetian mirror, thanks to which the researchers could observe the course of the study in a non-invasive way. Using this method, however, caused some difficulties - it required a physical presence at the research site and also influenced the behavior of the respondents - after all, each of us behaves a little unnaturally knowing that you are being watched. For this reason, we decided to equip RBL_LAB with modern equipment that allows researchers to observe the study remotely, and to make users feel more comfortable (they quickly forget about the presence of cameras). As a result, research conditions are more natural, which translates to getting to know honest opinions of our users - says Paweł Stężycki, Director of Innovation Planning at Alior Bank.

Salki is also a great place to conduct Design Thinking workshops with startups. Throughout the acceleration process, mentors together with founders work on adapting the startup product to the needs of the corporation.

Work rooms are booked from the tablet. The green border indicates that the room is free, red - on the contrary.

The startups also have a kitchen with a better concentration of coffee and apples.

Interestingly, the kitchen can be separated from the rest of the space by automatic curtains.

The participants of the program of the first edition were also waiting for a trip to London in order to get to know the local ecosystem. The organizers promise that in the current edition they will also choose an interesting direction. So if you have a startup and would like to establish cooperation with Alior Bank or PZU, there is nothing else to do but take on the application form.

Startups can move from the garage to Warsaw Spire - to RBL_START from Alior Bank