Ljubljana, 8 April 2026 – The Startup and Scaleup Section at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS), the Start:up Slovenia Initiative, and the Business Angels of Slovenia signed the Partnership Agreement of the Slovenian Startup Ecosystem at today’s event. The agreement represents an important step toward a more coordinated, strategic, and internationally competitive development of Slovenia’s startup environment. This marks the first formal partnership between the key umbrella organisations of the Slovenian startup ecosystem, established with the professional support of Europe Startup Nations Alliance. A comprehensive Slovenian Startup Strategy had already been adopted earlier in March.
The President of the Startup and Scaleup Section at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, Vuk Lau, highlighted that: “The partnership agreement of the Slovenian startup ecosystem is a natural step, stemming from several years of productive collaboration among numerous stakeholders in the Slovenian startup ecosystem. There is still a lot of work ahead of us, but this agreement will elevate our cooperation and joint efforts to a higher level.”
“The partnership represents a transition from a project-based to a systemic approach. We are connecting existing capacities into a unified work program to accelerate the implementation of the Slovenian Startup Strategy and increase Slovenia’s international visibility,” emphasised Matej Rus, Head of the Start:up Slovenia Initiative.
Nina Dremelj, President of the Business Angels of Slovenia, added that: “This partnership connects startup programs with private capital, experience, and international networks, enabling Slovenian companies to scale globally more quickly.”
Presentation of Measures: From Strategy to Implementation
At the event, key measures from the Slovenian Startup Strategy and the economic program Made in Slovenia 2035 were presented, providing both the substantive and operational framework for the further development of the ecosystem. It was specifically emphasised that the measures from both initiatives are mutually aligned and together form a unified development framework aimed at fostering innovation, supporting startup growth, and strengthening the long-term competitiveness of the Slovenian economy.
Vesna Nahtigal, Director General of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, emphasised: “At the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, as the central business association and the voice of the economy, we recognise startups and innovative companies as one of the key development segments of the Slovenian economy. They are not a separate part, but an increasingly integrated component of the broader economic system, significantly contributing to its transformation, innovation, and added value.”
Gordana Kisilak, Director of the Central Slovenia Regional Chamber at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, within which the Startup and Scaleup Section operates, presented the measures from the Made in Slovenia 2035 program: “The Made in Slovenia 2035 program recognises startups and innovative technologies as one of the nine key areas of measures for implementing the country’s development strategy, addressing both the strengthening of competitiveness and the systematic development of the startup ecosystem.”
Short-term measures include:
- establishing a unified definition of a startup and a public startup registry,
- strengthening the support environment and improving collaboration among ecosystem stakeholders,
- tax incentives to accelerate the growth of early-stage innovative companies.
Long-term measures focus on:
- supporting accelerated growth and the internationalization of startups,
- improving access to venture capital,
- developing industrial partnerships and systematically connecting with global innovation hubs,
- talent development and strengthening the workforce, particularly in deep-tech fields.
Shared Goal: A Globally Competitive Ecosystem
The signing of the Partnership Agreement establishes a more coordinated, efficient, and recognisable Slovenian startup ecosystem, built on equal cooperation among key organisations and the open inclusion of other ecosystem stakeholders. The goal of the partnership is to create one of the most supportive startup environments in Europe and to position Slovenia as an attractive destination for the development of innovative companies and investments.
Participants at today’s event, including representatives of the startup ecosystem, companies, investors, policymakers, and other key stakeholders of the Slovenian innovation environment, clearly emphasised the expectation that the presented measures will be effectively implemented and appropriately incorporated into future national strategic and operational documents, including coalition commitments.
From left in the photo: Nina Dremelj, President of the Business Angels of Slovenia; Vuk Lau, President of the Startup and Scaleup Section at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia; Gordana Kisilak, Director of the Central Slovenia Regional Chamber of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia; Matej Rus, Head of the Start:up Slovenia Initiative. Photo: Tadej Kreft
