Start:up Slovenija
Start:up Slovenija is a nonprofit national startup ecosystem hub operated by Tovarna podjemov, zavod in Slovenia. It coordinates government-backed programs including the P2 subsidy initiative, PODIM conference, and Startup Plus database, serving 396 startups, 25 investors, and 215 mentors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersMaribor, Slovenia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Start:up Slovenija does
Start:up Slovenija is a nonprofit national startup ecosystem hub in Slovenia, operated by Tovarna podjemov, zavod, headquartered in Maribor. Established in 2007, the organization coordinates programs that connect 396 startups, 25 investors, and 215 mentors, serving as the official Slovenian government-mandated initiative for startup ecosystem development. Its core partners are the Slovenski podjetniški sklad (Slovenian Enterprise Fund) and Ministrstvo za gospodarstvo, turizem in šport (Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport), with operational delivery through the Startup Slovenia 360 partner network that includes SPIRIT Slovenija, Impact Hub Slovenia, and the Government IP Office.
The organization's product portfolio spans multiple service lines: the P2 Zagonska spodbuda incentive program disbursing up to 72,000 EUR per qualifying startup across three milestone-based phases; the Startup Plus database (launched June 2025) showcasing ~150 Slovenian startups and scaleups; the PODIM conference as the flagship regional networking event; the annual Slovenski start-up leta award; kažipot roadmap guides for startups and investors; free Office Hours consulting; and a curated Startup Map directory. Distribution is event-driven and partner-mediated: events (PODIM, Demo Days, Forum 100% Start:up) anchor mid-funnel engagement, while government channels and partner referrals drive top-of-funnel awareness.
The business model is non-commercial: the organization does not generate revenue from fees. Operating funding flows from government and EU sources, with the Slovenski Enterprise Fund serving as the primary financial backbone. Customer segments include early-stage and growth startups (primary), investors (angel, VC, corporate), and government/public institutions. Geographic focus is Slovenia (single-country domestic), with recent internationalization signals via the SPIRIT Slovenija partnership and Startup Plus promotion. Notable portfolio companies include Astra AI (170,000+ teenage users), Chipolo (Mercedes-Benz official partner), Outfit7 (Talking Tom franchise), and Bird Buddy (hundreds of thousands of global users).
Start:up Slovenija firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Start:up Slovenija
- Legal name
- Tovarna podjemov, zavod
- Website
- https://startup.si
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Start:up Slovenija is a nonprofit national startup ecosystem hub operated by Tovarna podjemov, zavod in Slovenia. It coordinates government-backed programs including the P2 subsidy initiative, PODIM conference, and Startup Plus database, serving 396 startups, 25 investors, and 215 mentors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Start:up Slovenija industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Ecosystem Development Services
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
Keywords
Where Start:up Slovenija is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Maribor
- HQ country
- Slovenia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Start:up Slovenija business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Government and EU Funding: Primary funding from Slovenski podjetniški sklad (Slovenian Enterprise Fund) and Ministrstvo za gospodarstvo, turizem in šport (Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport) for ecosystem development programs
- Startup Slovenia 360 Program Services: Provides comprehensive services for ecosystem development including kažipot (guide) services for startups and investors, P2 startup incentives, and coordination programs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | P2 Startup Incentive - Phase 1 |
| Other | Multi-year contract | P2 Startup Incentive - Phase 2 |
| Other | Multi-year contract | P2 Startup Incentive - Phase 3 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Start:up Slovenija product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Start:up Slovenija operates the national hub of the Slovenian startup ecosystem, delivering ecosystem-coordination services such as startup discovery through the Startup Map (396 startups, 25 investors, 215 mentors) and the Startup Plus database, milestone-based P2 startup incentives of up to €72,000 per company administered via the Slovenski podjetniški sklad, flagship events like the PODIM Conference and Demo Days, the annual Slovenski start-up leta award, official Startup Register recognition, free Office Hours mentoring, and Kažipot guides for entrepreneurs and investors.
Product overview
Start:up Slovenija is a hub of the Slovenian startup ecosystem that operates as an organizational entity providing coordination, promotion, and support services rather than a unified technology product. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected services including: the Startup Plus database (launched June 2025) for showcasing Slovenian startups; the P2 Zagonska spodbuda funding program providing up to 72,000 EUR in subsidies; the Kažipot roadmap services for both startups and investors; a Startup register for official recognition; the annual PODIM Conference for networking; and the Slovenski startup leta award. These services collectively support entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations throughout the Slovenian startup ecosystem journey.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PODIM: The main regional ecosystem conference for networking between startups & scaleups, investors and corporations, and sharing new knowledge.
- Startup Slovenia 360
- Slovenski start-up leta
- P2 Zagonska spodbuda
- Startup Plus
Products and services
- Startup Plus Database An online database platform that showcases Slovenian startups and scaleups, centralizing information about sectors, technologies, and development stages to facilitate discovery and connections between entrepreneurs, investors, and international partners.
- P2 Zagonska spodbuda (P2 Startup Incentive) A startup incentive program by the Slovene Enterprise Fund that supports the launch of technologically innovative companies; provides up to EUR 72,000 in milestone-based subsidies across three phases for early-stage startups developing innovative products, processes, and services.
- Kažipot za startupe (Roadmap for Startups) A comprehensive guide providing everything entrepreneurs need to know for starting and developing their business, including ecosystem integration and operations guidance for the Slovenian startup ecosystem.
- Kažipot za investitorje (Roadmap for Investors) A guide directing investors to solutions that lead to good investment opportunities in the Slovenian startup ecosystem.
- Startup register (Register of Startups) A register of startup companies managed by the Slovene Enterprise Fund that provides startups with various benefits and official recognition as part of the Slovenian startup ecosystem.
- PODIM Conference The central event of the regional ecosystem for networking between startups, scaleups, investors, and corporations, and for sharing new knowledge about the Slovenian innovation scene.
- Slovenski start-up leta (Slovenian Startup of the Year Award) An annual award for startups that with their achievements, actions, reputation, and potential represent a new generation of Slovenian entrepreneurs.
- Start:up Slovenija Office Hours Free consulting sessions with top experts providing guidance to startups and entrepreneurs across the Slovenian ecosystem.
- Startup mapa (Startup Map) A comprehensive directory of key stakeholders in the Slovenian startup ecosystem including startups, scaleups, investors, mentors, corporations, support environments, and public institutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 396 startup companies connected through the ecosystem
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Start:up Slovenija
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Start:up Slovenija technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Start:up Slovenija partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SPIRIT Slovenija (Public Agency for Entrepreneurship, Internationalization, Foreign Investments and Technology)coreGovernment agency partner in Startup Slovenia 360 program, supporting international promotion of Slovenian innovation and establishing new data and promotion database.
- Impact Hub SloveniacorePartner in Startup Slovenia 360 program, providing co-working and innovation spaces and support for startups.
- Urad za intelektualno lastnino (Government IP Office)corePartner in Startup Slovenia 360 program providing intellectual property guidance and support for startups.
- Lemur LegalminorLegal services partner in Startup Slovenia 360 program.
- PeakfocusminorProfessional services partner in Startup Slovenia 360 program.
- RC-NM (Razvojni center Novo mesto)minorRegional development center partner in Startup Slovenia 360 program supporting startups in Novo mesto region.
- GetsalesminorSales solutions partner in Startup Slovenia 360 program.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Start:up Slovenija competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Crunchbase: Global startup and investor database used by VCs and corporates for deal sourcing. Overlaps with the startup-map/database function, though at much larger global scale.
- Techstars: Global accelerator network running mentor-driven cohorts and demo days - a market-shaping incumbent in the accelerator/incubation category and a structural model for many of Start:up Slovenija's programs.
- Slush: Operator of one of Europe's largest founder-and-investor conferences with deep ecosystem programming. Comparable as an event-led ecosystem brand rather than an ongoing hub.
Direct peers
- F6S: Global startup deal-flow platform hosting startup applications, accelerator programs, and investor matching - directly overlapping with the Startup Plus database and P2 selection process functions.
- Startup Estonia: National startup ecosystem hub operated under the Estonian government with a similar mandate to promote entrepreneurship, run flagship events, and connect founders with investors. Directly comparable in function (ecosystem coordination, government partnership, startup database) though Estonia's ecosystem has a larger global profile per capita.
- Dealroom.co: Global startup-intelligence platform that collates startup data, investor profiles and ecosystem mapping. Overlaps with the Startup Plus / startup map curation role and similarly serves investors seeking sourced deal flow.
- Startup Lithuania / Enterprise Lithuania: Lithuania's national startup ecosystem initiative operated under Enterprise Lithuania. Same model: government-funded hub that runs events, supports startup incentives, and curates a startup directory - making it the most behaviorally comparable peer.
Others
- Sifted: European tech/startup media outlet covering ecosystem news, founder profiles and investor activity - thematically adjacent as a discovery and awareness channel for European startup ecosystems.
Emerging players
- SeedBlink: CEE-focused equity-crowdfunding and syndication platform supporting investors discovering regional startups - directly adjacent to Start:up Slovenija's investor-curation role in the CEE ecosystem.
Regional players
- Coadec (UK Startup Coalition): UK-based national startup advocacy and ecosystem-coordination body representing founders to government - shares the policy-advocacy and ecosystem-curation function but operates in a different geography.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Start:up Slovenija social profiles
Digital presenceStart:up Slovenija financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Start:up Slovenija leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Start:up Slovenija funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Start:up Slovenija M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Start:up Slovenija
What does Start:up Slovenija do?
Start:up Slovenija operates the national hub of the Slovenian startup ecosystem, delivering ecosystem-coordination services such as startup discovery through the Startup Map (396 startups, 25 investors, 215 mentors) and the Startup Plus database, milestone-based P2 startup incentives of up to €72,000 per company administered via the Slovenski podjetniški sklad, flagship events like the PODIM Conference and Demo Days, the annual Slovenski start-up leta award, official Startup Register recognition, free Office Hours mentoring, and Kažipot guides for entrepreneurs and investors.
Is Start:up Slovenija a public or private company?
Start:up Slovenija is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Start:up Slovenija founded?
Start:up Slovenija was founded in 2007. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Start:up Slovenija based?
Start:up Slovenija is headquartered in Maribor, Slovenia, in the Europe region.
How does Start:up Slovenija make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government and EU Funding is the primary driver. The others are startup Slovenia 360 Program Services.
Who are Start:up Slovenija's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Crunchbase, Techstars and Slush. Direct peers are F6S, Startup Estonia, Dealroom.co and Startup Lithuania / Enterprise Lithuania. Sifted is listed as an others. SeedBlink is listed as an emerging player. Coadec (UK Startup Coalition) is listed as a regional player.
Does Start:up Slovenija have an API?
No public API is recorded for Start:up Slovenija.
What industry is Start:up Slovenija in?
Start:up Slovenija's product category is Startup Ecosystem Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated). Its NAICS code is 561920 and its SIC code is 8600.