Our Students at the Red Bull Basement Final in San Francisco

Piotr Piwowarczyk and Michał Szajner, students at the Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology and members of the Absolute Edge student research group, represented Poland during the global final of Red Bull Basement 2026 in San Francisco. In the competition, they presented their project SwarmHub – a software platform that uses drone swarms to support search and rescue operations, enabling areas to be searched more quickly and improving the work of rescue teams.

The final brought together participants from more than 40 countries and provided a meeting point for creators from a wide range of industries and backgrounds. Over several days, they took part in workshops, mentoring sessions and meetings with investors. One of the most important parts of the final was the Demo Gallery. It was there that participants presented their projects to experts and jury members and spoke with them directly. For several hours, Piotr and Michał talked about SwarmHub, answering questions about the technology, the project’s potential and its practical applications.

Red Bull Basement 2026 final in San Francisco

After returning from San Francisco, Piotr and Michał both admit that the most important conversations were not about algorithms or system architecture. The topics that came up much more often were the market, users and the way the project was presented. For many mentors and investors, what mattered most was not how the solution works, but why it would be used.

"The biggest lesson was business, not technology. In Poland and Europe, we naturally focus on how a project works – on architecture, algorithms and specifications. Americans think differently: when an engineer presents a project, they assume that the person is capable of delivering it. What interests them is how you talk about it and how you sell it."

The issue of idea validation came up repeatedly during the meetings. Mentors encouraged participants to contact future users as early as possible and to check whether the solution being developed actually responds to their needs. This changed the way the creators of SwarmHub look at their project. Instead of focusing exclusively on technological capabilities, they began to devote more attention to where and by whom the solution could be used.

"One of the more interesting observations was this: Americans see Polish creators as technical engineers, while Poles see Americans as visionary marketers. Which approach is better? It depends on the context. The most important lesson we took from conversations with investors is this: in a short pitch (1–5 minutes), present like an American – with vision and boldness. Save the technical details for deeper conversations with partners and technical investors."

Piotr Piwowarczyk and Michał Szajner during the Red Bull Basement 2026 final in San Francisco

What is next for the SwarmHub project?

Participation in the global final confirmed for Piotr and Michał that the solution they are developing responds to real market needs. The trip was not only an opportunity for them to present the project on an international stage, but also confirmation that the chosen direction of development has business and social justification. They returned from San Francisco not only with new experiences, but also with contacts which, they hope, will translate into the further development of SwarmHub.

"Red Bull Basement confirmed for us that SwarmHub is a project worth pursuing – that the problem we are solving is real and that there is a market for such a solution. We are returning to Poland with new contacts, a broader perspective and, most importantly, even greater motivation to act. This adventure is only just beginning," conclude Piotr and Michał.