Slovenia’s central location within Europe provides direct access to numerous European countries, making it an appealing destination for startups aiming to reach a broad consumer base. Ranked 37th in the Doing Business Index 2020 by World Bank, Slovenia offers a stable economic environment characterized by low inflation and favourable tax incentives, fostering a conducive atmosphere for entrepreneurial activities.
The country’s streamlined registration procedures and well-developed legal system facilitate efficient business establishment, complemented by a corporate tax rate of 19% of profits and competitive value-added tax (VAT) rates. Additionally, Slovenia’s educated and skilled young population serves as a valuable resource for startups, driving innovation and growth within the ecosystem.
In addition to its business-friendly environment, Slovenia prioritises the well-being of its residents by providing high-quality public services, healthcare, and education. Reflecting this commitment, the OECD Better Life Index indicates significant employment rates and satisfactory overall quality of life within the country.
In conclusion, Slovenia’s advantageous location, supportive business environment, and focus on societal well-being make it a promising hub for startups and individuals alike. As evidence of its vibrant ecosystem, here are 10 promising Slovenian startups leading the way in various industries:
Confiva Global: Ljubljana-based Confiva facilitates the seamless transition of event content to hybrid or entirely digital formats, offering features such as guest interaction, sponsorship placements, and proprietary live stream solutions. Founded in 2021 and having raised €300k in funding, Confiva aims to enhance value through professional tools, fostering networking opportunities and knowledge distribution.
Epidemic: Ljubljana-based Epidemic utilises proprietary AI algorithms to help businesses in reaching end consumers through influencers. Founded in 2019, Epidemic boasts a database of over 52 million influencers, supporting more than 400 brands including Samsung and Pampers. The company raised €400k in total funding.
Flai: Ljubljana-based Flai aims to revolutionise geospatial data processing through automation by streamlining the manual processes involved in converting raw images and point clouds into actionable insights. Founded in 2022, Flai’s team of experts is developing an accessible web interface to democratise automation in geospatial projects, guided by a belief in its transformative potential for all.
Gentler Stories: Kranj-based Gentler Stories is a personalised workout-tracker app connected to a smartwatch that allows one to track fitness activity status using simple iconography along with motivational support. Founded in 2021 by three Apple Entrepreneur Camp alumni, it has won the 2022 Apple Store Awards.
Juicy Marbles: Kamnik-based Juicy Marbles is a food-developing proprietary protein Texturing technology to create plant-based whole cuts, resulting in thick, juicy, and marbled plant-based steaks. They aim to offer a variety of meat products that can match animal-derived counterparts in terms of taste, price, and convenience. Founded in 2019, the fast-growing company raised more than €4 million.
Petsy Labs: Ljubljana-based Petsy Labs is a brand dedicated to developing high-quality pet supplements for dogs and cats. Petsy Labs’ goal is to provide pets with the essential nutrients they need to thrive and to make it easy for pet owners to give their animals the best possible care. Founded in 2022, the company helped to improve the lives of 15,000 dogs throughout Germany.
Quantifly: Ljubljana-based Quantifly helps management and HR professionals make confident decisions based on objective insights into organisational culture, climate and structure. Founded in 2021, Quantifly offers tailored data-driven metrics and insights for various business roles, aiding in restructuring, change implementation, and effective management of growth challenges.
ReCatalyst: Ljubljana-based ReCatalyst develops next-gen platinum-based catalyst composites for the use in hydrogen fuel cells. Founded in 2021, ReCatalyst raised €1.7 million to enhance market readiness and accelerate process development for ReCatalyst’s next-generation proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell catalysts, which are expected to grow to a $45 billion market by 2030.
StoringCargo: Kranj-based StoringCargo is an online platform that specialises in finding warehouses. The company connects warehouses worldwide and helps people seeking storage space in someone’s warehouse. Founded in 2019, it has more than 453 registered warehouses and 927 active users using its platform on a daily basis. The company raised €300k in total funding.
Vision Anchor: Ljubljana-based Vision Anchor is the world’s first smart anchoring system that tracks the anchor and sends a data feed to the boat. Company’s product is a buoy connected via Bluetooth to the smartphone to ensure continuous monitoring. Founded in 2020, the company secured €135k in funding.
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