Masterclass for CEOs of companies in the scaling phase

A billion Breakthrough

Scaling a business without illusions. A program for CEOs who have hit a growth ceiling — based on the story of Krzysztof Folta and the sale of TIM S.A. for over a billion zlotys.

Format
2 sessions · 4 days
Deadline
September 2026
Places
up to 25 people
Reserve your spot Download the brochure

Why do most companies
stop at 30 million,
while only a few exceed 100 million?

7 signs that your business has hit a plateau. If you recognize 3 of them—this program is for you.

The company has hit a dead end
01
Your income has stalled, even though you're working harder than ever
Your revenue line is as flat as the ECG of a patient who has just lost their pulse. The problem isn't your personal performance, but your business model.
02
You're the only one who makes the decisions
Every decision—from buying paper to expansion strategies—awaits your approval. The people around you are competent, but no one has the authority to make decisions. Because you’ve never given it to them.
03
The best people leave, while the "loyal" ones stay
“Loyal” is a diplomatic way of saying: too comfortable to leave, but too weak to take the company to the next level. A-list players don’t want to play on a team of C-list players.
04
Every week brings a new fire to put out
You don't have an operational rhythm. You don't have weekly status updates. You don't have quarterly priorities. You have chaos, intuition, and the hope that things will work out somehow.
05
You're thinking about selling your business, but you know no one will buy it
Investors see a company without clearly defined processes, with a "superman" CEO at the center. And they think of only one thing—risk. And risk means a huge discount.
06
Your people don't understand the vision
You have a brilliant strategy in your head. But others can’t see it because you’ve never formalized it. And that’s the difference between a $30 million company and a billion-dollar company.
07
Do you feel lonely at the top?
You don't have anyone to talk to about your toughest decisions. You need someone who has been exactly where you are now—and came out of it with a billion-dollar valuation.
If you recognize yourself
in 3 or more of these points –
then this is not a failure.
It’s just the starting point.
Reserve a seat
Why Krzysztof Folta, of all people?

This isn't just another training session led by a guru who has never signed a payroll

The market is full of smart people who talk about scaling a business. The problem is that most of them have never scaled their own company. Krzysztof Folta isn’t a coach. He isn’t a motivational guru. In this program, he sits down with you and breaks your business down into its constituent parts. No sugarcoating. No diplomacy. No censorship.

"The only constant at TIM is change. History is important, but the future is more exciting."

"A leader is someone who gets others to do things they wouldn't do on their own."

37 years old
as CEO of a publicly traded company
1.08 billion
Value of the acquisition by the Würth Group in 2024
16 square meters
from an office on Prusa Street to Poland’s leading B2B e-commerce company
70%+
digital sales following a pivot from over 20 brick-and-mortar stores
Apply to the program
Krzysztof Folta
Krzysztof Folta · Founder of TIM S.A. · Architect of a billion-dollar exit
The History of TIM S.A.

The man who dismantled his own company,
, in order to sell it for a billion zlotys

The History of TIM S.A. – Krzysztof Folta
1
The first wall
Bankruptcy is looming

2001–2002. The construction market bubble burst. TIM lost 23 million PLN due to insolvent clients. Folta had to lay off 28% of his staff.


And he did something most CEOs would never do: he started the restructuring with himself—he cut his own salary. This gesture built credibility that money can’t buy.

2
The Second Wall
25 years of achievements destroyed in six months

2013. Over 20 warehouses. A stable, profitable company. No external pressure.


Despite this, he made a decision that the industry considered madness: he shut down ALL of his brick-and-mortar warehouses. In six months, he dismantled 25 years of achievements. He staked everything on B2B e-commerce.


Why? As he himself says, “If I don’t do it, someone else will.”

3
The Third Wall
From revolution to a billion-dollar valuation

The move paid off. TIM became the largest B2B e-commerce distributor in Poland. Over 70% of sales were made online.


In 2024, Würth acquired TIM S.A. for over 1.08 billion PLN —not because Folta had the best negotiation strategy, but because he had built a company that functioned WITHOUT him.

A Lesson from TIM S.A.
A lesson
that isn’t taught
in MBA programs
"
A company that can’t function without its CEO isn’t a company. It’s a one-man show with 50 assistants. Würth didn’t buy TIM because Folta was a genius. He bought TIM because Folta had built an organization that was brilliant without him.
Listen before the show

Listen to how
buildsa company worth a billion

Before you join the program, learn about Krzysztof Folta’s philosophy. An interview with Paweł Kubisiak on managing “black swans” and leading through crises.

In this episode of the MIT SMR Polska podcast, you’ll learn:

  • How to weather the bursting of the bubble, the financial crisis, and the pandemic—and come out stronger.
  • Why did laying off 28% of the workforce require the CEO to cut his own salary as a first step?
  • How to turn a 16-square-meter office in communist Poland into an e-commerce giant worth over a billion zlotys.
Listen on Spotify
MIT SMR Poland Podcast · Hosted by Paweł Kubisiak

Read Krzysztof Folta's articles

Published exclusively in "MIT Sloan Management Review Polska"

Neverending Start-up – an article by MIT SMR Poland
Neverending Start-up: How to Manage a Company in the Face of Crises? Lessons from Krzysztof Folta
How did you survive the political transition, the dot-com bubble burst, the construction crisis, the 2008 financial crisis, and the pandemic—all while building a company worth over a billion zlotys?
Read the article →
A leader must see more than others – an article from MIT SMR Poland
A leader must see more than others
The history of TIM SA’s growth is a case study in leadership in a world of “black swans”—unpredictable, game-changing events. Krzysztof Folta shares the lessons he has learned from successive crises.
Read the article →
What will you gain from the program?

Practical tools,
—not theory

01
Ready-to-Use One-Page Strategic Plan (OPSP)
Your strategy on a single A4 page. One document visible throughout the organization.
02
Identified bottlenecks (FACe matrix)
You know exactly who is responsible for what—and, more importantly, you can see the gaps that are holding back your growth.
03
The Scaling Up Methodology Applied to Your Data
Not just theory from a book. Exercises based on your company’s numbers—strategy, execution, cash flow.
04
Direct contact with Krzysztof Folta
37 years of experience. A billion-dollar exit. No sugarcoating, no PR. You ask—he answers.
05
The Network of 25 CEOs
The same challenges you face. These are connections that last long after the program ends.
06
Book + materials + certificate
A copy of *Neverending Startup*, a workbook, access to a private online group, and a personalized certificate from the ICAN Institute.

After completing "The Billion-Dollar Breakthrough":

You have a clear scaling strategy with a 90-day plan.
You're aware of the bottlenecks and have a chart of management responsibilities.
You optimize your cash flow and know where to find quick cash.
You are building a culture of execution and an operational rhythm.
You understand how to prepare a company for an investor valuation.
Participant Profile

Is this program
right for you?

◆
CEOs and owners
B2B companies with revenue of PLN 15–80 million that have hit a growth ceiling. You’re working harder than ever, but your results aren’t improving.
◈
Leaders before the exit
Are you thinking about selling your company or getting an investor valuation? Do you want to know what really determines the acquisition price and how to prepare for it?
◉
Leaders: "Bottlenecks"
You feel like you're holding your business back. Every decision is up to you, and the company can't function without you.
Program · 4 days

4 Days That Will Changethe Course of Your Business

2 sessions separated by a 4-week implementation break – working with your company’s actual data.

The 4-Day "Billion-Dollar Breakthrough" Program
Day 1
Welcome to No Man's Land – A Market and Strategy Crisis
10:00–11:30
Dr. Witold Jankowski
The Anatomy of No Man's Land
Doug Tatum’s model (4M) and the Scaling Up methodology. Why what worked at 10 million stops working at 30 million.
11:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Krzysztof Folta
Hitting a wall
The Early Days of TIM S.A. The moment the company stopped growing. Recognizing the demise of the old model and deciding to pivot.
2:30–4:00 p.m.
Dr. Witold Jankowski
A strategy that leaves the competition in the dust
How to set a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) and identify the brand promise for which the market will pay a premium.
4:15–6:00 p.m.
Group workshop
Hot seats in strategy
Ruthless criticism of the participants’ business models. The facilitators point out the weaknesses in their assumptions.
Day 2
Growing Pains: A Management Crisis and the Class A Team
9:00–10:30
Dr. Witold Jankowski
Who should take the wheel?
The FACe Tool: How to Ensure That Each Key Role Is Associated With a Specific Name.
10:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Krzysztof Folta
The Leader's Solitude and Blood on His Hands
Laying off trusted employees, establishing an independent board of directors, the most costly mistakes in recruitment.
1:30–2:45 p.m.
Dr. Witold Jankowski
Culture isn't just about foosball
Core Values as a Selection Tool: How to Attract A-Players and Automatically Reject C-Players
3:00–3:30 p.m.
Workshop + summary
Who is your bottleneck? + Briefing
Working with the FACe framework. Assigning tasks for the implementation break.
Implementation period · approx. 4 weeks
Working with your company's actual data
  • Mapping of responsibilities within the management board (FACe matrix)
  • Discussing proposals with partners and key managers
  • Preparation of hard financial data (CCC, margins, costs)
  • A private online group + sharing of experiences among participants
Day 3
Ruthless enforcement and a lifeline for the company
9:00–10:30
Dr. Witold Jankowski
Rockefeller's 10 Habits in Practice
Meeting schedules, cascading OKRs and KPIs. No more managing by gut feeling.
10:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Krzysztof Folta
A Transformation of the Company's DNA
From a "I think" culture to a "show me the numbers" culture. IT systems and rigorous performance measurement at TIM.
1:30–3:00 p.m.
Dr. Witold Jankowski
Cash is a reality
The Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) and the Power of One – how a 1% change unlocks enormous capital.
3:15–5:00 p.m.
Krzysztof Folta + Workshop
Where is your money going?
Cash Flow Restructuring. Participants identify bottlenecks and look for quick wins.
Day 4
The Finale – From Craftsmanship to a Billion-Dollar Valuation
9:00–10:30
Dr. Witold Jankowski
A profitable company vs. a billion-dollar company
Why companies with irreplaceable CEOs are valued at a huge discount.
10:45–12:15
Group workshop
Action Plan – Your OPSP
Creating a 90-Day One-Page Strategic Plan. Presentation and Feedback.
1:30–3:00 p.m.
Krzysztof Folta
Behind the Scenes of a Billion-Dollar Exit
The Road to a Würth Acquisition: Due Diligence—What Global Players Look For
3:15–5:00 p.m.
Dr. Jankowski & Krzysztof Folta
"Uncensored" Q&A
Open-mic session. Full confidentiality (Chatham House Rule).
Downloads

Need some time to decide?
Download the full brochure.

View the training agenda, review the full list of tools, and discuss this program with your colleagues.

Detailed hourly schedule for all 4 days
Complete list of tools: OPSP, FACe matrix, CCC
Biographies of the presenters and organizational information
Download the program brochure (PDF)
The "Billion-Dollar Breakthrough" Program Brochure
Program host


's expertise and practical experiencein one program

Krzysztof Folta
Founder of TIM S.A. · Exit Strategist
Krzysztof Folta
Author of *Neverending Startup* · Chairman of the Supervisory Board of TIM S.A.
He founded TIM in 1987 in a 16-square-meter space, with no capital. For 37 years, he served as CEO without interruption. In 2013, he closed all brick-and-mortar warehouses. In 2024, TIM was acquired by the Würth Group for over 1.08 billion PLN.
EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 ICAN Leader of Change 2016 Wrocław University of Technology
Dr. Witold Jankowski
Founder of the ICAN Institute · Strategic Consultant
Dr. Witold Jankowski
President of the ICAN Institute · Co-founder of MIT Sloan Management Review Poland
One of Europe’s most experienced strategic consultants. For over 30 years, he has been helping Polish business leaders build organizations based on evidence, not intuition.
Over 30 years of consulting MIT Sloan Partner Scaling Up Certified

The Power of Partnership: ICAN + MIT

For 30 years, the ICAN Institute has been supporting Polish business leaders. Since 2019, it has been collaborating with MIT—the top-ranked university in the QS World University Rankings. The "Billion-Dollar Breakthrough" program was developed at the intersection of practical experience (Krzysztof Folta), proven methodologies (Scaling Up), and academic excellence (MIT Sloan).

What sets us apart

What sets the Billion-Dollar Breakthrough apart from other programs

There are many training courses on business scaling available on the market. But not all of them deliver results.

Purpose
Methods
Sources
Results
Group
Practicality
Leading
Other programs on the market
General knowledge about scaling
Lecture, online, little interaction
Textbook materials, case studies from the U.S.
"I know what scaling is"
Large, mixed groups of managers
Theory divorced from the realities of the company
Coaches who have never been on the payroll
The Billion-Dollar Breakthrough
A ready-to-use 90-day OPSP + an analysis of your company’s bottlenecks
Workshops using your data, hot seat exercises, decision-making simulations
The True Story of TIM S.A. + Scaling Up + MIT Sloan Management Review Poland
Ready-made plan + map of the gorges
A maximum of 25 CEOs and owners at the same stage
A Brutally Honest Look at Your Company – No Holds Barred
Polish billionaire and CEO with 30 years of consulting experience
While other training programs teach you about scaling,
“The Billion-Dollar Breakthrough” teaches you how to scale your company to a billion-dollar valuation.
Reserve your spot →
Enrollment open · Spots available: 20 / 25
Reserve a seat

Build a business—
—that runs without you

This isn’t just another training session. It’s strategic work on your business, side by side with the man who built a company worth a billion zlotys.

Price 9,999 PLN (net) 12,999 PLN Early Bird · until the end of May
DateSeptember 2026, Warsaw
Number of spotsMax. 25 participants
Format2 sessions · 4 days of in-person classes

Magdalena Witek

Magdalena Witek

Director of Sales, ICAN Institute
Want to get started right away?

Want to find out the inside story right now?
Pick up a copy of the book

“Neverending Start-up: How I Created, Grew, and Sold a Company Worth 1.2 billion PLN” is not your typical biography. It is a practical guide to change management.

  • Gain practical insights into leadership, change management, and strategy.
  • Discover the story behind the decisions that put us decades ahead of the competition.
  • Discover how to build resilient organizations even in the most unpredictable times.
Buy the book and learn about TIM S.A.'s strategy
Neverending Start-up – Krzysztof Folta