Maciej Popowicz was only 22 years old when he co-founded the social networking site Nasza Klasa, which quickly gained popularity among Poles. He sold his 20% stake to a German venture capital fund, European Founders, just a year later, at the peak of the site’s success, becoming one of Poland’s youngest millionaires.
In 2006, while still studying computer science at the University of Wrocław, Popowicz, along with partners Paweł Olchawa, Michał Bartoszkiewicz, and Łukasz Adziński, launched Nasza Klasa, introducing many Poles to the concept of social networks. By the time he sold his stake, the company’s valuation was estimated at 15 million zł.
Reflecting on his journey, Popowicz remarked in a 2021 interview with “Gazeta Wyborcza” that Nasza Klasa served as an accelerated MBA for him and laid solid foundations for his future ventures.
Success in Mobile Gaming
After Nasza Klasa, Popowicz ventured into mobile gaming, founding Ten Square Games, which saw considerable success with titles like “Let’s Fish” and “Fishing Clash.” According to “Forbes,” the company’s valuation tripled during the first year of the pandemic, reaching 5 billion zł. However, his fortune fluctuated, dropping from 1.3 billion zł in 2021 to 920 million zł in 2022, as he fell from 43rd to 87th place on the “Forbes” list of Poland’s richest individuals.
As reported, both Popowicz and co-founder Arkadiusz Pernal gradually reduced their involvement in managing Ten Square Games, stepping down from their executive roles. In 2020, Popowicz resigned as CEO to focus on the company’s strategy and seek a strategic investor.
In a recent communication, Ten Square Games announced that Popowicz had donated all his shares in the company by a contract dated January 30, 2024, marking the end of his direct involvement.
Currently, Popowicz’s public presence has diminished, with few new projects to his name. Reports indicate that since around 2023, he has shifted his focus to real estate development in Wrocław. He appears as a partner in the development firm Noho Wrocław and serves on the supervisory board of the Alumni Foundation of the University of Wrocław’s Computer Science Institute, his alma mater. As “Forbes” noted, he has proven himself not only as a capable entrepreneur but also one who can scale various businesses effectively.
