Sapie

What Sapie does

SAPIE (Slovak Alliance for Innovation Economy), legally SAPIE O.Z., is a Slovakia-based independent non-profit civic association (Občianske združenie) founded in 2014 that operates as the largest professional association in the Slovak innovation ecosystem, representing nearly 200 member companies and organizations. Its core function is convening — connecting innovative startups, SMEs, corporates, and public-sector stakeholders through events, networking, policy advocacy, and project participation. The CEO, Michal Kardoš, leads a community-led go-to-market in which membership is sold through direct outreach, networking at events, and foreign missions. SAPIE is headquartered at Bottova 2/A in Bratislava, where it also operates The Spot coworking space.

The organization's offerings span flagship events (SAPIE Forum, SME Expo, SLOPPE tech summit, R&D Club 4+, Meet & Learn series, KCCKB cybersecurity webinars), acceleration programs (ECEK for circular electronics, NJ BASE for U.S. market entry, EPIC-X for women-led deep tech under Horizon Europe), educational partnerships (Google AI Professional course distribution), and the joint Czech-Slovak Industry 4.0 Award co-organized with the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic. SAPIE does not develop software products or proprietary technology; its "platform" is its convening power, member network, and policy relationships.

SAPIE generates revenue primarily through membership contributions (subscription/recurring model), supplemented by EU project grants (Horizon Europe, I3 instrument), event sponsorship, and institutional partnerships with organizations including EIT Digital, Techstars, NATO DIANA, Swiss Re Foundation, AmCham Slovakia, SARIO, and Košice IT Valley. It aspires to extend its role from Slovakia to the broader CEE region, exemplified by the CEE's Pro-Growth AI Agenda policy initiative and foreign missions to Boston, New York, and London Tech Week.

Name

Sapie

Legal name

SAPIE O.Z.

Website

https://sapie.sk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SAPIE (Slovak Alliance for Innovation Economy) is a Slovakia-based non-profit membership association founded in 2014, representing nearly 200 innovative companies. It convenes the Slovak and CEE innovation ecosystem through events, policy advocacy, acceleration programs, and educational partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Association / Innovation Ecosystem Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF)

Keywords

• Innovation ecosystem association
• Professional membership network
• SME digital transformation
• Startup acceleration programs
• Innovation policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Bratislava

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: SAPIE operates as a non-profit professional association representing member companies. Revenue is generated through membership contributions from innovative companies and organizations in Slovakia and the CEE region.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SAPIE is a non-profit membership association (SAPIE O.Z.) that provides networking, policy advocacy, events, conferences, expert workshops, acceleration programs, and tailored consulting to nearly 200 innovative companies and organizations in Slovakia and the CEE region. Its core deliverable is a community platform connecting private innovators, SMEs, startups, and public-sector policymakers around digital economy and innovation topics. Revenue is generated primarily through membership fees and supported by project-based partnerships with EU institutions, Google, and other organizations.

Product overview

SAPIE (Slovak Alliance for Innovation Economy) is a non-profit membership organization (not a software product company) that serves as the largest professional association for the Slovak innovation ecosystem with nearly 200 member companies. Its offerings consist of event programs, acceleration initiatives, educational webinars, policy advocacy, and networking platforms. The core flagship event is SAPIE Forum (annual conference), complemented by the SME Expo zone. Key programs include R&D Club 4+ for innovation management, the Meet & Learn series for peer learning, and KCCKB cybersecurity webinars. SAPIE also partners on international acceleration programs like ECEK, NJ BASE, and EPIC-X for deep-tech startups. As a policy platform, SAPIE advocates for digital economy and innovation through initiatives like the CEE's Pro-Growth AI Agenda.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SAPIE Forum Annual flagship conference bringing together 300+ business leaders, innovators, and technology experts to discuss digital transformation, AI implementation, and innovation topics. Intended for SAPIE members and the broader innovation ecosystem.
• SME Expo Specialized expo zone within SAPIE Forum focused exclusively on solutions and services for small and medium enterprises, featuring digital solutions in AI, automation, cybersecurity, and financing.
• R&D Club 4+ Innovation management club bringing together R&D managers, technology directors, and innovation leaders to discuss building corporate innovation systems and exploring new opportunities for Slovak industry.
• Meet & Learn Series Series of closed-door networking events for SAPIE members where companies share experiences, practices, and inspiration for growth in an open and transparent setting.
• KCCKB Webinars (Cybersecurity) Educational webinar series on cybersecurity topics including NIS2 directive compliance, business continuity management, and cyber incident response for SMEs and municipalities.
• European Circular Electronics Kickstart (ECEK) Acceleration program for mentors and startups in circular electronics and semiconductor industry, part of the European EVEN-CLOSER project (I3 instrument), offering mentoring and business development.
• NJ BASE (New Jersey Business Acceleration) Fully funded acceleration and soft-landing program for international technology companies planning to enter the U.S. market, providing workspace, business immersion, and strategic partnerships.
• EPIC-X Horizon Europe project supporting women-led deep tech startups in moderate and emerging innovator countries, providing mentoring, business coaching, and international mobility activities.
• Google AI Professional Course (Local Verification Partner) Local verification partner program for Google AI courses, providing up to 500 free licenses for AI courses to companies, schools, and NGOs in Slovakia.
• SLOPPE - Tech Summit on the Slopes Exclusive tech summit combining inspirational discussions, networking, and skiing at Jasná resort, featuring AI topics in various industries including real estate, e-commerce, infrastructure, and aviation.
• Business Inspiration Mission: USA 5-day foreign mission to Boston and New York organized with Košice IT Valley, visiting MIT, Cornell Tech, and global companies for insights into innovation ecosystems.
• Cena za Priemysel 4.0 (Industry 4.0 Award) Joint Czechoslovak award with Svaz průmyslu a dopravy ČR recognizing companies that innovatively use digitization and advanced automation to increase competitiveness and efficiency.
• CEE's Pro-Growth AI Agenda Policy advocacy initiative developed by multiple CEE organizations calling for regulatory simplification, single market completion, and practical AI cooperation across Central and Eastern Europe.

Quantifiable outcome

• SAPIE connects and represents nearly 200 innovative companies in Slovakia
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NATO DIANAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2025SAPIE promotes the NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) programs in Slovakia, helping Slovak companies and innovators access the NATO defense innovation ecosystem across 10 thematic areas.
• Svaz průmyslu a dopravy ČRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAPIE co-organizes the Czech-Slovak Industry 4.0 Award (Cena za Priemysel 4.0) with the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic. This is the most significant award in the field of modern manufacturing, automation, and digitization that connects innovators, industry leaders, and technology visionaries. The joint award ceremony takes place annually, alternating between Czech Republic and Slovakia.
• EIT DigitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAPIE partners with EIT Digital, a European organization focused on digital innovation and entrepreneurship. The partnership includes networking evenings and collaborative events such as the EIT Digital Networking Evening.
• TechstarsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAPIE collaborates with Techstars on events such as 'Techstars meet Slovak Entrepreneurs @ Google', connecting Slovak startups with the global Techstars network and ecosystem.
• European Commission Representation in SlovakiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAPIE Forum 2026 was held under the auspices of the European Commission Representation in Slovakia, demonstrating strong institutional support for SAPIE's mission and activities.
• Košice IT ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAPIE collaborates with Košice IT Valley on organizing business missions, such as the Business Inspiration Mission to Boston and New York, combining their networks to support Slovak innovation ecosystem development.
• EPIC-X ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAPIE is a partner in the EPIC-X project, supported under Horizon Europe, which focuses on supporting women-led deep tech startups in countries with 'moderate' and 'emerging innovators' status. SAPIE participates in project activities including acceleration programs and international conferences like SIM Conference.
• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSAPIE is a local verification partner for Google, providing AI courses (Google AI Essentials & Prompting) in Slovakia. SAPIE facilitates access to up to 500 free licenses for the Google AI Professional course for companies, schools, and NGOs.
• Swiss Re FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAPIE supports the SHINE program, a collaboration between Swiss Re Foundation, Nadácia Pontis, and BOOKBRIDGE, which supports innovators in climate and health areas with acceleration program and grants up to 40,000 EUR.
• SARIOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAPIE collaborates with SARIO (Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency) on events such as SME(s) without Borders conference and other initiatives supporting Slovak business development.
• Touch4ITminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAPIE collaborates with Touch4IT on events including T4 Advisory Circle series of closed discussion meetings for business leaders, and Meet & Learn events covering technology topics.
• American Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia (AmCham)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAPIE is a member of the League for Digital Boost initiative along with AmCham Slovakia, a Central European initiative to mobilize key players in SME digitization across CEE countries.
• SIM ConferenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSAPIE participated as a partner in SIM Conference 2026 in Porto, Portugal, one of the most significant startup and investment conferences in Europe, as part of the EPIC-X project activities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• techUK: UK technology industry association; structurally analogous as a national membership body driving policy, networking, and digital transformation programs, though operating in a much larger market.
• DigitalEurope: Leading EU-level trade association representing the digital technology industry; comparable in policy advocacy and member services but operates at European scale rather than a single national market.

Regional players

• IVSZ (Informatikai, Távközlési és Elektronikai Vállalkozások Szövetsége): Hungarian ICT industry association; comparable as a national innovation/ICT membership body in a neighboring CEE country pursuing similar policy and digitalization agendas.
• DigiFed (Digital Poland): Polish digital-economy advocacy organization with a comparable mission of advancing digital transformation and innovation policy in CEE; a structurally similar national innovation alliance in a neighboring market.

Direct peers

• AmCham Slovakia: American Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia; co-participates with SAPIE in the League for Digital Boost initiative and serves overlapping corporate members in the Slovak market.
• Košice IT Valley z.z. Regional Slovak IT and innovation cluster headquartered in Košice; explicitly named as a SAPIE co-organizer of the Boston/New York Business Inspiration Mission and competes for the same Slovak corporate members.
• Svaz průmyslu a dopravy ČR (Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic): Czech industry confederation and SAPIE's joint organizer of the Industry 4.0 Award; structurally analogous as a national industry association focused on digitalization, competitiveness, and policy advocacy in a neighboring CEE market.
• SARIO (Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency): Slovak government investment and trade agency that collaborates with SAPIE on SME-support events; comparable as a national body mobilizing the same Slovak business ecosystem for internationalization and digitalization.
• ITAS (IT Asociácia Slovenska): Slovak IT and digital industry trade association; directly comparable as a domestic membership body representing technology companies and advocating on digital policy in the same Slovak market as SAPIE.

Others

• EIT Digital: European digital innovation partnership organization; a named SAPIE strategic partner operating complementary programs in digital entrepreneurship and deep tech across Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sapiesk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/5240527/admin/page-posts/published
• Instagraminstagram.com/sapie.sk/?hl=cs
• Xx.com/sapie_sk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sapie