Ljubljana University Incubator
Ljubljana University Incubator (LUI) is a Slovenia-based, university-affiliated startup incubator founded in 2004 that provides free, non-equity-taking incubation, mentoring, grants support, and access to EU/EIT programs for early-stage startups, researchers, scale-ups, and students across the CEE region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersLjubljana, Slovenia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ljubljana University Incubator does
Ljubljana University Incubator (LUI / Ljubljanski univerzitetni inkubator d.o.o.) is a privately held, university-affiliated startup incubator founded in 2004 at the initiative of the University of Ljubljana and headquartered at Vojkova cesta 63, Ljubljana, Slovenia. It supports early-stage startups, researchers and academics from the University of Ljubljana, scale-ups, and students through a portfolio of programs spanning ideation (Start-up vikend), lab-to-market commercialization (Labs to Market), grant application support (Razpis P2), deep-tech festival programming (Dragondays, Rectors Award), funding readiness (Ready2Raise), and international accelerator onboarding (Boost2Expand). The incubator is explicitly non-equity-taking and provides membership free of charge, with monetization flowing instead from co-financing by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Regional Development Fund (JR Start-up Konzorcij 2026-2029, JR Podporno okolje 2026-2029), EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community grants, and Interreg projects. Since November 2024 LUI has served as the EIT Community RIS Hub Slovenia and was the first Central-Eastern European member of the DeepTech Alliance, giving member startups structured access to EIT RawMaterials (up to €2.5m), EIT Health, and EIT Urban Mobility programs across Slovenia, Croatia, North Macedonia, BiH, Montenegro, and Serbia. Its two-decade alumni roster includes Zemanta, Visionect, OriginTrail, and MESI, and in 2026 LUI was ranked first in Slovenia and 38th in Europe in the Financial Times/Statista 'Europe's Leading Start-Up Hubs 2026' list, with member AddMaple winning the IIEX North America Insight Innovation competition. Operationally LUI runs with 1-10 employees and combines physical co-working, a meeting and conference hall, mentoring, grant application assistance, and international delegations as its service surface.
Ljubljana University Incubator firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ljubljana University Incubator
- Legal name
- Ljubljanski univerzitetni inkubator d.o.o.
- Website
- https://lui.si
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ljubljana University Incubator (LUI) is a Slovenia-based, university-affiliated startup incubator founded in 2004 that provides free, non-equity-taking incubation, mentoring, grants support, and access to EU/EIT programs for early-stage startups, researchers, scale-ups, and students across the CEE region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ljubljana University Incubator industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Incubator Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus (EDAHAEAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Applied Research & Innovation Universities (EDAHAEAE), Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
Keywords
Where Ljubljana University Incubator is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ljubljana
- HQ country
- Slovenia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ljubljana University Incubator business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Incubator Services: LUI operates as a non-profit university-affiliated incubator providing free services to startups. Revenue is generated through government subsidies, European Union funding programs (EIT, Interreg), and co-financing from the Republic of Slovenia. The incubator does not charge startups for membership and does not take equity stakes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free membership with comprehensive startup support services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Ljubljana University Incubator product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ljubljana University Incubator (LUI) is a university-affiliated startup incubator founded in 2004 that provides free comprehensive support services to early-stage startups, researchers, and scale-ups. Its offerings include personalized mentorship, co-working office spaces, workshops, grant application assistance, pitch competitions, and access to European innovation networks (EIT). LUI does not charge membership fees and does not take equity stakes from member startups.
Product overview
Ljubljana University Incubator (LUI) is a startup incubator offering a portfolio of programs and services for entrepreneurs at different stages. Core offerings include the Labs to Market program for researchers, Start-up vikend for idea validation, and mentorship programs. Grant support includes Razpis P2 (up to €72,000 subsidies) and Raw Materials ERMA Booster Call (up to €2.5m). LUI also organizes the annual Dragondays festival, runs the EIT Jumpstarter program, and provides co-working spaces. The portfolio also includes competition programs like Rector's Award (Rektorjeva nagrada) and specialized services like international delegations and Boost2Expand for accelerator introductions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Labs to Market Annual program that connects researchers seeking to commercialize their innovations from laboratories with experienced entrepreneurs, creative individuals, and ambitious students. Targeted at University of Ljubljana researchers and academic spinouts.
- Start-up vikend
Quantifiable outcome
- LUI ranked 1st in Slovenia and 38th in Europe in Financial Times 'Europe's Leading Start-Up Hubs 2026'
Companies that use Ljubljana University Incubator
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ljubljana University Incubator technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ljubljana University Incubator partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EIT Community RIS Hub SloveniacoreLUI became the official EIT Community RIS Hub Slovenia, establishing Slovenia as a node in the European Institute of Innovation and Technology network. This partnership provides access to European innovation programs, funding opportunities, and connection to the broader EIT ecosystem spanning health, raw materials, urban mobility, and other sectors.
- EIT RawMaterialscoreEIT RawMaterials provides funding up to €2.5m for raw materials sector innovations. LUI supports startups in Slovenia, Croatia, North Macedonia, BiH, Montenegro, and Serbia to apply for these opportunities. The partnership offers access to Europe's largest network of industry leaders in raw materials.
- EIT HealthcoreEIT Health is the largest healthcare innovation network supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. LUI participates in programs including Morning Health Talks, health innovation projects, and connects healthcare startups to European acceleration programs.
- EIT Urban MobilitycoreEIT Urban Mobility aims to become Europe's largest urban mobility transformation initiative with up to €400 million in funding. LUI connects Slovenian mobility startups to this ecosystem and acceleration programs.
- DeepTech AlliancecoreLUI became the first organization from the wider Central-Eastern Europe region to join DeepTech Alliance, an association of Europe's best deep tech startup supporters. The alliance helps breakthrough companies access specialized programs, corporations, and investors for faster international market entry.
- University of LjubljanacoreLUI was established in 2004 at the initiative of the University of Ljubljana. The partnership provides continuous flow of research-based innovations, academic talent, and student engagement through programs like Rector's Award and Labs to Market.
- Slovenian Enterprise FundcoreLUI supports startups in applying for P2 public calls managed by the Slovenian Enterprise Fund. The P2 call offers up to €72,000 in subsidies for innovative startups. LUI organizes training and preparation workshops for applicants.
- Interreg Central Europe - DIGIVITALITYminorDIGIVITALITY project helps healthcare innovations enter the market faster by addressing structural shortcomings in digital health adoption.
- HICEE (Healthy Investment Central Eastern Europe)coreHICEE aims to boost innovations in Central and Eastern Europe where startups receive only a third of the European average for VC investments. LUI participates in this initiative to strengthen healthcare innovation funding in the region.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ljubljana University Incubator competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Y Combinator: The largest global startup accelerator headquartered in Silicon Valley. Broad incumbent whose global brand and alumni network (Airbnb, Stripe, Dropbox) set the benchmark LUI competes against as CEE startups aspire to international programs.
- Techstars: Worldwide network of mentorship-driven accelerators. Broad incumbent whose standardized 13-week, equity-taking programs represent the alternative model LUI's no-equity offering competes against.
- Startupbootcamp: Global network of industry-focused startup accelerators operating across multiple verticals and geographies. Broad incumbent offering comparable equity-backed acceleration services that LUI alumni may seek for scaling internationally.
- Catapult.eco (Start-up Nation Central / MassChallenge CEE): Global non-equity accelerator network with programs specifically aimed at CEE startups. Broad incumbent offering comparable zero-equity, mentorship-driven programs that target the same founder profile as LUI.
Direct peers
- Imperial College Enterprise Lab: Imperial College London's enterprise and entrepreneurship support hub. Direct peer given the same university-affiliated incubation structure targeting research-led commercial ventures.
- ABC Accelerator (Slovenia): Slovenia- and CEE-focused early-stage accelerator backed by Estonian founders. Direct peer targeting similar early-stage CEE startups with structured acceleration programs and seed investment.
- Technology Park Ljubljana (Tehnološki park Ljubljana): Slovenia's leading technology park and startup incubator in Ljubljana, offering office space, mentorship, and acceleration services to tech startups. Direct peer competing for the same Slovenian founder pool and EU-funded programs.
- Spinouts from ETH Zurich / ETH transfer: ETH Zurich's central office for research commercialization and student entrepreneurship, supporting deep-tech spinoffs. Direct peer given the parallel university-research-to-market model and deep-tech focus.
Others
- EIT Digital Accelerator: European-level deep-tech accelerator run within the EIT ecosystem, focused on scale-ups rather than pre-seed. Adjacent ecosystem participant that LUI frequently hands off startups to through its EIT partnership network.
Regional players
- Cedrus (Croatia) / Startup Factory Adria: Croatian and broader Adriatic-region venture builder and accelerator. Regional player operating in adjacent CEE/SEE geographies where LUI's EIT RawMaterials programs also operate.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ljubljana University Incubator social profiles
Digital presenceLjubljana University Incubator financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ljubljana University Incubator leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Ljubljana University Incubator funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ljubljana University Incubator 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 Ljubljana University Incubator
What does Ljubljana University Incubator do?
Ljubljana University Incubator (LUI) is a university-affiliated startup incubator founded in 2004 that provides free comprehensive support services to early-stage startups, researchers, and scale-ups. Its offerings include personalized mentorship, co-working office spaces, workshops, grant application assistance, pitch competitions, and access to European innovation networks (EIT). LUI does not charge membership fees and does not take equity stakes from member startups.
Is Ljubljana University Incubator a public or private company?
Ljubljana University Incubator is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Ljubljana University Incubator founded?
Ljubljana University Incubator was founded in 2004. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ljubljana University Incubator based?
Ljubljana University Incubator is headquartered in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in the Europe region.
How does Ljubljana University Incubator make money?
One revenue line is on record: incubator Services.
Who are Ljubljana University Incubator's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Y Combinator, Techstars, Startupbootcamp and Catapult.eco (Start-up Nation Central / MassChallenge CEE). Direct peers are Imperial College Enterprise Lab, ABC Accelerator (Slovenia), Technology Park Ljubljana (Tehnološki park Ljubljana) and Spinouts from ETH Zurich / ETH transfer. EIT Digital Accelerator is listed as an others. Cedrus (Croatia) / Startup Factory Adria is listed as a regional player.
Does Ljubljana University Incubator have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ljubljana University Incubator.
What industry is Ljubljana University Incubator in?
Ljubljana University Incubator's product category is Startup Incubator Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAEAH, Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus, with a secondary code of EDAHAEAE, Applied Research & Innovation Universities. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.