PODIM Conference: Elevating the Adriatic–Balkan Startup Ecosystem

Slovenia is emerging as a dynamic innovation hub in Central Europe, driven by its strong research institutions, highly skilled workforce, and substantial governmental support for entrepreneurship and technological advancement. The country’s innovation ecosystem is increasingly interconnected, with a particular focus on fostering collaboration between academia, research centers, and startups. Within EPIC-X, the engagement of key Slovenian stakeholders is crucial to ensure that the project’s methodologies are grounded in local contexts, supporting scalable and sustainable innovation while aligning with both national and European strategic goals.
EPIC-X partner Startup Slovenia plays a pivotal role, organizing PODIM, one of the leading and most influential startup and tech conferences in the Alps-Adriatic and Western Balkans regions.

PODIM Conference

In Maribor, Slovenia, a city where historical railways now intersect with the digital highway of innovation, PODIM has grown into the leading startup conference in the Adriatic–Balkan region. More than just an event, PODIM is a platform, a launchpad, and increasingly, a global bridge. It’s where local brilliance meets international opportunity, and where the region’s startup ecosystem finds its voice on the world stage.
This year marks a strategic leap forward. For the first time, the influential venture capital collective Silicon Gardens has joined forces with Tovarna podjemov and Startup Slovenia to co-organize PODIM. Our shared mission is ambitious but clear: to scale the visibility and influence of the region’s startups globally, attracting top-tier investors and unlocking transformative growth.

A new chapter in regional innovation

While the Adriatic–Balkan region has already produced tech giants like Outfit7, Rimac, Infobip, and Photomath, its full innovation potential remains underappreciated. PODIM is addressing this gap, curating a space where promising scaleups meet world-class investors and operators.
This year, the conference drew over 1,000 participants from around the globe, including 58 venture capital funds managing over €8.2 billion in investment capital. It hosted 200 startups from 23 countries, with most being early-stage, yet 23 had already secured more than €1 million in funding. The participants held more than 1,300 pre-arranged 1-on-1 meetings taking place over three days.  Venture firms such as Speedinvest, Fil Rouge Capital, and South Central Ventures were active across PODIM’s Deal Room and pitching stages.

“By becoming co-organizers, we aim to amplify PODIM’s impact. This region deserves a globally respected platform that reflects its talent and ambition,” says Gregor Rebolj, partner at Silicon Gardens.

Learning from the best: Builders Stage

One of the most impactful additions this year was the Builders Stage, a series of candid talks and workshops from unicorn founders and operators. Entrepreneurs behind companies like Infobip, Sportradar, Outfit7, and Bird Buddy shared the highs and lows of scaling, raising funds, and going global. It was less about theory and more about the real stories that shape resilient businesses.

From lab to market: a deep tech push

This year also marked a turning point in PODIM’s focus on deep tech. The introduction of the Deep Tech & Collaborative Innovation track signaled a commitment to bridging the gap between groundbreaking research and viable ventures. From biotech to AI and advanced materials, deep tech holds huge potential for regional leadership, but turning science into a scalable business requires more than technical talent.
The conference leaned heavily into deep tech, AI, biotech, robotics, and climate innovation. Fields where breakthrough ideas are often born in labs, not garages. Fields that demand years of research, capital, and grit.
PODIM tackled this with a program focused on the hurdles of tech transfer, the funding realities of long development cycles, and the importance of connecting researchers, startups, corporates, and investors in the same room. Over 100 startups at this year’s conference listed artificial intelligence as a core part of their business.

Connecting the dots: why inclusive deep tech matters

Across Europe, the need to support diverse founders in deep tech is becoming more urgent. Although PODIM welcomed a number of inspiring women founders and leaders this year, the broader sector still sees underrepresentation, especially when it comes to women-led ventures navigating high-tech fields.
That’s why initiatives like EPIC-X are stepping in to close the gap. EPIC-X aims to support 20 women-led deep tech startups from 16 EU countries, including Slovenia, with funding, mentoring, and access to connected innovation ecosystems. With €40,000 in equity-free funding and €20,000 in mentoring support per startup, it’s a significant step toward leveling the playing field in one of the most complex (and male-dominated) corners of tech.
While EPIC-X and PODIM are separate efforts, they share a common vision: turning scientific potential into economic and societal impact and making sure that everyone has a seat at the table.

A region ready to lead

What sets the Adriatic–Balkan startup scene apart is its resilience and creativity. Startups from Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and North Macedonia are no longer just participants in the global innovation race, they’re shaping it from their own hubs.
As Matej Rus, founder of Venture Factory and longtime lead organizer of PODIM, puts it: “This region is bursting with talent. PODIM is the platform where that talent meets the world.”
PODIM is no longer just a regional conference. It is a strategic node in Europe’s innovation network, bringing together visionaries, funders, and founders to shape what comes next.
And as Europe moves to empower more women in deep tech through programs such as EPIC-X, the PODIM community is already building the kind of collaborative, cross-border ecosystem where such ambition can thrive.

Find out more about the project here!

This article was written in collaboration with Startup Slovenia. For more information about their work visit Startup Slovenia’s website.