Slovenia's startup environment holds enormous potential for both entrepreneurs and investors. The country has built a thriving environment that stimulates entrepreneurship and nurtures innovation, thanks to strong efforts from both the public and private sectors. Amongst the key players are venture capital firms and angel investors which are critical to the development of the Slovenian startup scene. They provide the funding and assistance that companies require in order to grow and prosper. In this article, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the top VC funds and angel investors in Slovenia that may be the right funding partner for you.
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Why Should You Raise Funds in Slovenia?
Here are a few reasons why startups should consider raising funds in Slovenia:
1. Thriving Startup Economy:
Slovenia has a dynamic startup community, with various events, conferences, and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs. The presence of successful startups and experienced founders creates a supportive ecosystem that fosters innovation and facilitates business growth. Startups can benefit from the knowledge-sharing, mentorship, and collaboration within this community. One notable initiative is Startup Slovenia, an open platform of the Slovenian startup ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship. Furthermore, there are accelerators and incubators in Slovenia that startups can access to get support in the form of networking, community, resources, mentoring, and funding.
2. Strong Government Support:
Slovenia's government provides substantial assistance for entrepreneurs, including financial incentives, grants, and tax breaks. Slovenia has also made strides toward making administrative procedures easier for foreign investors and companies. SPIRIT - Slovenia, a public sector organization in Slovenia's startup ecosystem, supports the ecosystem in areas such as entrepreneurship, internationalization, foreign investments, and technology. The government actively encourages entrepreneurship and innovation by providing programs and initiatives to support the startup ecosystem. This includes a variety of funding options, such as the government-backed Slovene Enterprise Fund, which stimulates private investment by doubling the investment of five Slovenian businesses each year. This assistance is critical in establishing a conducive climate for entrepreneurs to grow.
3. Access to EU Market:
As a member of the European Union, Slovenia provides entrepreneurs with easy access to the EU market. This provides companies with a bigger consumer base, more options for partnerships, and the possibility of extending their operations beyond borders. Startups may benefit from the EU's unified regulatory framework and trade agreements, which will make it easier for them to expand. Furthermore, as compared to other European nations, Slovenia provides a cost structure that is competitive for entrepreneurs. Slovenia has a reduced cost of living and conducting business, allowing entrepreneurs to use their finances more economically and effectively while being in close proximity to the lucrative EU market.
Venture Capitalist Funds in Slovenia
The venture capitalist funds below are actively looking for investments in promising companies throughout various stages and sectors. The stages stated do not limit the possibility of getting funding if your company is at any stage other than what is listed.
Year of Inception: 2021
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed
Focus: B2B Software
Notable Portfolio: Privacy Culture, Relio, LegalAI, Wini, Pandatron
daFUND is a venture capital fund that focuses their investments on early-stage European B2B software start-ps. daFUND assists potential firms in their early growth and development, with an emphasis on pre-seed and seed phases. The fund is supported by Slovenian Business Angels as well as a broad collection of experienced founders and entrepreneurs from around Europe, comprising 28 limited partners.
Year of Inception: 2012
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed
Focus: Fintech, Healthcare, Future of Work, Future of Food, Ecomtech
Notable Portfolio: Pluria, TrueInsights, NitroPack, Native Teams
Eleven Ventures is a Bulgarian venture funding firm that focuses on early-stage technology startups in Southeast Europe. With their mission to empower local heroes to achieve global success, Eleven Ventures aims to support and nurture startups in their journey from launch to growth. They offer operational venture capital, co-creation, and acceleration services to support technology ventures.
Year of Inception: 2019
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed
Focus: Marketplaces & Consumer, SaaS, Food & Health, Education & Gaming, FinTech
Notable Portfolio: Blub Blub, Influee, Mediately, Coherence, Mimo, Bird Buddy
Silicon Gardens is a venture capital firm and startup accelerator focused on assisting and empowering early-stage technology firms. Founded by a group of accomplished entrepreneurs, its major goal is to provide entrepreneurs with useful experience, mentoring, and business contacts. Silicon Gardens invests in firms that have established market traction or a minimum viable product and are ready to take the next stage, with ticket sizes ranging from EUR 50,000 to EUR 500,000.
Year of Inception: 2010
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: GoAvio, TVBeat, Apiary, Photoneo, Cera
Credo Ventures is a venture capital firm established in the Czech Republic that focuses on early-stage investments across Central and Eastern Europe. They want to work with excellent technology founders from this region and help them achieve their worldwide ambitions. With a mission to find and support the most promising entrepreneurs, Credo Ventures provides financing, knowledge, and assistance to help these businesses grow.
Year of Inception: 2021
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Fintech & InsurTech, Gaming, Metaverse, Health, Logistics & Supply Chains
Notable Portfolio: Bloq.it, Viar, Zenown
Suricate Ventures is an investment firm that focuses on promoting and funding entrepreneurs who contribute to society and the environment. Before seeking funding, Suricate Ventures requires entrepreneurs to have a proof-of-concept and an established client base. Their ticket sizes start from EUR50,000 EUR, with the possibility of future funding rounds. Suricate Ventures' founders bring industry knowledge to the table and actively assist their portfolio firms, focusing on initiatives with the potential to disrupt established value chains.
Year of Inception: 2021
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Impact, UN SDG
Notable Portfolio: Beon, Vidi-X, BITE ME, AGRIVI, Mindsmiths
Feelsgood Capital is a social impact investment firm that invests in Croatian and Slovenian businesses with the primary goal of creating financial returns while simultaneously providing social benefits. As a part of the growing industry of impact investing, Feelsgood Capital seeks to address the financing needs required to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Feelsgood Capital strives to shape a better world for tomorrow by supporting innovative companies in areas such as education, social housing, health care, technology, and social inclusion.
Year of Inception: 2008
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Celtra, Efos, Edition Digital, Marg, Connet
With a focus on business creation and development, RSG Capital is a venture capital firm that offers a variety of services to assist entrepreneurs and startups flourish. Their specialization is in strategic investments, where they provide financial assistance, advice, and resources to help businesses expand and prosper. RSG Capital's specialist staff guides firms through the complicated world of entrepreneurship, utilizing their knowledge and network to deliver vital insights and possibilities. RSG Capital's knowledge and support help companies to move quicker and navigate the business landscape, assisting them in attaining growth and success.
Year of Inception: 2016
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Technology
Notable Portfolio: Quadrofoil, Hooray Studios, FlySentinel, Optiprint, Hotailors
AlpVent is a Swiss investment firm focused on German-speaking nations and startups in South-Eastern Europe. They have over 25 years of business expertise and offer investment funding, management consulting services, and specialist sales assistance. They strive to provide "smart money support" to start-ups, going beyond merely funding by understanding the startups' needs and providing full support to portfolio firms.
Angel Investors in Slovenia
Angel investors may act as an individual or as a syndicate to fund projects of their preference, so these networks are the best opportunity for you to find a potential Angel with an aligned vision and interests.
Stage: Seed, Series A
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: Quantifly, Printee, Switch, Salesqueze, MedicoApps, Hotailors
Business Angels of Slovenia is the first business angel investment club in Slovenia that plays a crucial role in connecting local startups with angel investors and venture capitalists, both domestically and internationally. With a strong vision of enabling entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas to obtain seed or angel funding in the early stages of growth, Business Angels of Slovenia acts as a catalyst in the startup ecosystem. They encourage cross-border cooperation, particularly in the European Union, and have a dedicated network for supporting women entrepreneurs in accessing funding. With their commitment to fostering business angel activities and supporting SME growth, Business Angels of Slovenia serves as a vital bridge between promising startups and potential investors.
Stage: Pre Seed, Seed
Focus: Sector Agnostic
Notable Portfolio: EvermedTV, Plus Plus, Sport React
Skok123 is a North American network of angel investors that specializes in investing in startups in South-Eastern Europe, mainly Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia. Skok123 seeks to invest in pre-seed or seed-stage firms that show early signs of success and have a product or business plan that is fit for the US market. Skok123's considerable experience and skill in beginning and expanding businesses are valuable assets to their portfolio firms, and they provide financial support and actively assist start-ups with numerous issues they may face.
Closing Thoughts on VCs and Angel Investors in Slovenia
Slovenia's startup ecosystem is on a trajectory of growth and offers promising opportunities for entrepreneurs. The combination of localized cultural outlooks, social networks, investment capital, universities, and active economic policies has contributed to the growth of the ecosystem. Key players in the Slovenian startup scene have emerged, creating a vibrant community that encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing. Looking ahead, the future prospects for the Slovenian startup ecosystem remain promising.
Find VCs and Angel Investors in Europe:
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