Over 100 alumni of the Cracow University of Economics (UEK) gathered to launch Poland’s first Alumni-led community network of this kind. The initiative – Real Estate Cluster of .kuek, aims to connect professionals across the property sector who share their alma mater.
The inaugural meeting, held on October 25 in Krakow, focused on the potential impact of Ukraine’s reconstruction on Poland’s real estate market. Special guests Vladyslav Ivanov and Iryna Ivanova from the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce shared their insights with the attendees.
The Cluster, based on the values of relationship building, trust, and experience sharing, enables networking and additional opportunities for thought leadership and discussion, as well as career and business development. The event attracted professionals in real estate, construction, development, investment, sales, rental, management, furnishing, design, and related legal and financial services.
“Trusted connections are fundamental in business and career,” says Dariusz Demidziuk, Country Manager of Ciril Poland, a branch of the Belgian developer, a key figure behind the initiative. “Our network allows members to learn faster, get information quicker, and verify business partners more effectively.”
Dawid Tambor, founder of AI-first PropTech startup VISTAGER, also a leader of the Cluster initiative, emphasizes the unique value proposition of the network. “While there are many industry associations out there, our community stands apart because we all share the same educational background, with our Alma Mater’s unique vibe and quality. Every member gains in personal competence, power, and agency. It creates an immediate foundation of trust and understanding.”
The event attracted professionals from various professions, including construction, development, investment, sales, property management, and related legal and financial services. The strong interest reflects the significant presence of UEK graduates in the real estate industry – approximately 3,250 of the university’s 65,000 active alumni work in property-related fields.
The Real Estate Cluster is the third initiative launched by the .kuek Alumni UEK association (www.kuek.pl) in recent years, following successful launches of Logistics (2023) and HR (2024) clusters. The organization, which celebrated its 20th anniversary recently, boasts over 2,300 members worldwide and maintains active chapters in major Polish cities including Warsaw, Krakow, Tarnow, and Rzeszow, as well as an international presence in Berlin.
The cluster leaders want to build on this human capital. Looking ahead, the team plans to host regular meetings with speakers, workshops, webinars, study trips, and other events to foster knowledge sharing and professional development among members. The initiative represents a new model for industry networking in Poland, one that leverages shared educational experiences to build stronger professional relationships.
