While the West crumbles, one Eastern European nation is quietly...
Ole Lehmann@itsolelehmann
92 views
Feb 17, 2025
~4 min read
Advertisement
1
While the West crumbles, one Eastern European nation is quietly building a superpower:
• Outpacing US economy
• Strongest military in Europe
• Silicon Valley's new favorite $62.7B hub
The rise of Poland is the greatest story nobody's talking about 🧵:
• Outpacing US economy
• Strongest military in Europe
• Silicon Valley's new favorite $62.7B hub
The rise of Poland is the greatest story nobody's talking about 🧵:
2
In 1989, Poland was one of Europe's poorest nations.
WWII killed 20% of its population. Then communist rule left it in ruins.
Today?
It's outpacing every EU economy, the USA, and even blazing fast economies like South Korea and Singapore.
But that's just the beginning...
WWII killed 20% of its population. Then communist rule left it in ruins.
Today?
It's outpacing every EU economy, the USA, and even blazing fast economies like South Korea and Singapore.
But that's just the beginning...
3
Poland's 30-year transformation is nothing short of mind-blowing:
• Longest economic growth streak in modern European history
• US tech building massive hubs
• Military becoming Europe's strongest
• Brain drain reversing, talent flowing back home
How did they pull this off?
• Longest economic growth streak in modern European history
• US tech building massive hubs
• Military becoming Europe's strongest
• Brain drain reversing, talent flowing back home
How did they pull this off?
4
Simple: Poland found the perfect blend of East and West.
They combined:
• Western innovation without the bureaucracy
• Eastern work ethic & traditional values without the authoritarianism
The results are stunning.
While the rest of Europe drowns in red tape...
They combined:
• Western innovation without the bureaucracy
• Eastern work ethic & traditional values without the authoritarianism
The results are stunning.
While the rest of Europe drowns in red tape...
0:55
5
Poland embraced business freedom.
They have lower taxes than most EU nations and minimal bureaucratic hurdles.
If you make $1M, you keep ~$700K (and get lots in return for your taxes).
Entrepreneurs aren't just welcome – they're celebrated.
But here's what most people miss:
They have lower taxes than most EU nations and minimal bureaucratic hurdles.
If you make $1M, you keep ~$700K (and get lots in return for your taxes).
Entrepreneurs aren't just welcome – they're celebrated.
But here's what most people miss:
6
Poland isn't just growing - it's growing smart.
While other ex-communist nations created oligarchs by rushing privatization, Poland took a smarter path.
They sold state companies slowly, prevented corruption, and used EU funds to modernize their infrastructure.
The result?
While other ex-communist nations created oligarchs by rushing privatization, Poland took a smarter path.
They sold state companies slowly, prevented corruption, and used EU funds to modernize their infrastructure.
The result?
7
A strong middle class instead of a few billionaires controlling everything.
The numbers tell the story:
Poland's economy will overtake the UK's by 2030.
Think about that: A former Soviet state overtaking the once-mighty Great Britain.
And Silicon Valley has taken notice...
The numbers tell the story:
Poland's economy will overtake the UK's by 2030.
Think about that: A former Soviet state overtaking the once-mighty Great Britain.
And Silicon Valley has taken notice...
8
Microsoft invested $1B. Google built a major R&D center. Intel is planning new chip facilities. Thousands of startups are launching every year.
"Polish Digital Valley" is the next big tech hub.
But why 🇵🇱 of all places?
Because Poland offers what's vanishing in Western Europe:
"Polish Digital Valley" is the next big tech hub.
But why 🇵🇱 of all places?
Because Poland offers what's vanishing in Western Europe:
9
A perfect combination of:
• Talented workforce
• Low taxes
• Efficient, business-friendly environment
• Minimal bureaucracy
• Strategic location
• Strong security
Speaking of security, while my home country Germany struggled to send Ukraine helmets...
• Talented workforce
• Low taxes
• Efficient, business-friendly environment
• Minimal bureaucracy
• Strategic location
• Strong security
Speaking of security, while my home country Germany struggled to send Ukraine helmets...
10
Poland is rapidly revolutionizing European defense.
They're doubling their military to 300,000 troops, acquiring the latest US equipment, and upping spending to 5% of GDP on defense - the highest in NATO.
Their strategic partnership with the US grows stronger by the day.
They're doubling their military to 300,000 troops, acquiring the latest US equipment, and upping spending to 5% of GDP on defense - the highest in NATO.
Their strategic partnership with the US grows stronger by the day.
11
Because after centuries of brutal invasions and wars - from Nazi blitzkriegs to Soviet domination to their neighbor Ukraine being invaded by Russia....
Poland understands what Western Europe has forgotten:
Freedom requires immense strength to defend it.
Poland understands what Western Europe has forgotten:
Freedom requires immense strength to defend it.
12
But the most fascinating shift happening in Poland? The people themselves.
For decades, Poland suffered a massive brain drain.
Their brightest minds fled west for better opportunities, taking their talents to London, Berlin, and America.
But now? The brain drain is reversing.
For decades, Poland suffered a massive brain drain.
Their brightest minds fled west for better opportunities, taking their talents to London, Berlin, and America.
But now? The brain drain is reversing.
13
Those same talented professionals are coming back home, bringing:
• Silicon Valley experience
• International networks
• Startup capital
• Global mindset
Even better?
Poland welcomed 1.5M Ukrainian refugees, seamlessly integrating their skills into the workforce.
• Silicon Valley experience
• International networks
• Startup capital
• Global mindset
Even better?
Poland welcomed 1.5M Ukrainian refugees, seamlessly integrating their skills into the workforce.
0:53
14
What was once a talent exodus has become a talent magnet.
This isn't just economic growth. It's a complete reinvention.
While Western Europe ages, regulates, and stagnates, Poland has created a unique environment.
This isn't just economic growth. It's a complete reinvention.
While Western Europe ages, regulates, and stagnates, Poland has created a unique environment.
15
Their workforce is young, innovative, and dynamic. The job market is booming.
Business freedom is celebrated. Growth isn't just rapid - it's sustainable.
Their cities are among the greenest, safest, and cleanest in the world — offering high quality of life at lower costs.
Business freedom is celebrated. Growth isn't just rapid - it's sustainable.
Their cities are among the greenest, safest, and cleanest in the world — offering high quality of life at lower costs.
16
You can feel it in the streets. I visited Krakow last year.
The city feels like it's on the cusp of something big - there's a real sense of modernity and progress happening there. Optimism is in the air.
As one of my Polish friends told me (I'm paraphrasing):
The city feels like it's on the cusp of something big - there's a real sense of modernity and progress happening there. Optimism is in the air.
As one of my Polish friends told me (I'm paraphrasing):
17
"We spent 40 years under communism. We know what doesn't work. Now we're building what does."
That's the key to Poland's rise:
Hard times in the 20th century created strong people.
Now, strong people are creating good times.
(The opposite is happening in most of the West)
That's the key to Poland's rise:
Hard times in the 20th century created strong people.
Now, strong people are creating good times.
(The opposite is happening in most of the West)
18
Poland found the sweet spot between East and West.
Silicon Valley and Bitcoin billionaire @balajis said it best:
Silicon Valley and Bitcoin billionaire @balajis said it best:
Balaji@balajis
@clesaege I am bullish on Central and Eastern Europe's ex-communist states. They could strike an intermediate balance between Western wokeness and Chinese control.
19
Polish presidential candidate @SlawomirMentzen even wants to build a strategic national Bitcoin reserve.
It's clearly a forward-looking nation.
A refreshing contrast to the rest of Europe's suffocating red tape that tends to stifle innovation.
It's clearly a forward-looking nation.
A refreshing contrast to the rest of Europe's suffocating red tape that tends to stifle innovation.
20
Want to see Europe's future?
Don't look to Paris, Berlin, or London. Look to Warsaw.
The sleeping giant has awakened, and it's just getting started.
Don't look to Paris, Berlin, or London. Look to Warsaw.
The sleeping giant has awakened, and it's just getting started.