2025 was the year when RespireLabs was in incubation. This article is a retrospection of this phase. The fulltime efforts started in November 2024, when we were accepted to aws First Incubation program. And since then everything changed. By the end of the program we received approval for our very first governmental grant: aws Preseed Innovative Solutions. It turned out that in our case incubation and preseed are distinct stages, which doesn’t need to be always the like that.
2025 was intense, exciting and surprising.
5 most important events/milestones during incubation
- Finding a co-founder – welcome Joe on the board:).
- Validation of the idea, creating tons of mockups.
- Grant application process and confirmation we got it.
- Failing with our very first prototype.
- Connecting the dots: finding partners, receiving offers, first LOIs.
Joe
Connect Day in Vienna – still looking for a co-founder
Throughout 2025, we followed monthly workshops organised by aws First. Under the aws umbrella, we were allowed to consult experts and receive mentoring. From today’s perspective I clearly see that this saved us so much time. We didn’t have to make common mistakes. We just could make our unique ones ;p.
Travelling
I was travelling a lot. I visited Hamburg where I met our potential supplier of mouth tapes. Then I went to Warsaw for Wolves Summit conference, and then back to Vienna for Connect Day conference where I had an apportunity to have a startup booth for a first time, thanks to aws again:). Later in year I attended 2 conferences dedicated to breathing. Both were in Poland. During one of them, I met Patrick McKeown, who is one of the best-known ambassadors of functional breathing and the Buteyko Method. That was his book that changed my life in 2022.
Visiting Hamburg
Patrick McKeown signing a book
One of the highlights of 2025 was Slush conference in Helsinki. This was the first time when me and Joe went to the conference together. We talked to investors who are focused on our niche. But also during this conference we had one of the most important calls so far. We had the final presentation that was a part of our grant application process. Strong preparation saved the day, because suddenly two of our three laptops stopped cooperating. Lots of stress in the beginning that transformed into excitement and adrenaline high afterwards :). Great memories:).
Joe and me during Slush in Helsinki 2025
RL team:)
Recognition
I had an opportunity to pitch on stage again. This time in Kraków, which is very close to my heart. It was during Tech-ON conference organised by municipality. It was a very special and meaningful event, I received a first place.
Moreover the RespireLabs was featured twice in the biggest startup magazine in DACH region (German speaking countries).
After pitching competition in Kraków
Realising the vision
This was something I’ve been waiting for for over 2 years. Taking a Buteyko method instructor course. It deepend my understanding of breathing and structured the whole methodology and exercises. And today I feel that the long term direction for me is to work with people more, less with computers. Technology is amazing, and I believe we need innovative solutions in situations when we lack awareness, lack resources or need quick and accurate diagnosis, but in the end, human touch is something that cannot be replaced – at least for now. In RespireLabs I want to connect both, to utilise tech but never miss true understanding of people’s problems. Not only measuring and wiring people up, but seeing and hearing them with another human’s senses.
Lesson learned
Looking back, what is the one thing that contributed the most to these positive outcomes?
I think the best decisions were made (or rather I made;p) in the state of clarity.
What does it mean? Well, imagine having no clarity. For me it’s when I’m stressed, there is too much noise, when I start something in the middle of another task, or take two calls in the same time. These are not the best moments to make an important decision, right?
Today, I have a confidence to say that. I mastered the art of regulating myself down to enter this deep relaxation state where clouds disperse and clarity comes. This can be achieved not only during 3 months meditation retreat, but also 5 minutes before a pitching competition, when heart rate rises up so much that you can feel it.
And I want to share part of my secret:
breathing can help you enter this state:)
Let the next year be full of clarity, purpose and progress.
Krz
