The Slovenian Startup Strategy has been adopted, defining goals and measures for the development of the startup ecosystem in Slovenia until 2030. The Slovenian Startup Strategy provides a framework for systematic and long-term support for the development of innovative startups and for strengthening the competitiveness of the Slovenian economy.
Slovenian Startup Strategy >>>
With this strategy, Slovenia is setting a new vision for the Slovenian startup ecosystem: through various measures to support startups, we will achieve clear and measurable goals and become one of the best startup ecosystems in Europe by 2030.
The proposal for the new strategy was created in collaboration with the startup community, from the ‘bottom up.’ Together with the Startup Slovenia initiative, the ministry prepared the draft material and coordinated it with a wide range of stakeholders and departments to ensure the strategy can be fully implemented. The document prepared in this way was approved by the government, and Minister Matjaž Han stated: “In a rapidly changing world, we must be prepared to change quickly ourselves. Our economy is excellent, I say this often. But the best new ideas most often come from young, unestablished individuals or groups. Such were the beginnings of the internet, social networks, and many others could be listed. That is why it is important that we enable these ideas to be realized and support them in their beginnings. I am convinced that with the measures from the new strategy, we will be even more successful in this, which will also be reflected in the greater competitiveness of the entire Slovenian economy.”
Background to the preparation of the strategy
Slovenia has entered a period of the greatest global economic changes in human history: the effects of climate, technological, environmental, geopolitical, social, and cultural shifts, as well as complex crises and disasters. The Slovenian economy must therefore accelerate the specialization process toward managing more profitable and complex operations, thereby shifting within value chains, including corporate headquarters and the emergence of development, innovation, and design centers. The main ambition of the strategy is to upgrade the character of the Slovenian economy from a competent and reliable supplier to an innovative and sustainable developer.
Key challenges and initiatives for addressing them
The strategy identifies key challenges facing the Slovenian startup community, such as a lack of data on the startup ecosystem, resulting in poor (financial and non-financial) support, certain administrative barriers, a lack of venture capital, and similar issues. The non-stimulative regulation of employee stock options in startups and the general social perception of entrepreneurial failure were also highlighted.
Five strategic initiatives of the strategy
In the Slovenian Startup Strategy, 5 strategic initiatives are proposed to address these challenges:
- Strengthening the support environment for startup and scaleup companies:
- a renewed and internationally comparable definition of startup companies,
- stability in providing support services for the entrepreneurial environment,
- establishment of a startup database with systematic collection and processing of data on the development of the startup system,
- unified promotion of the Slovenian startup ecosystem at home and abroad,
- eliminating gaps in coverage, especially regarding technology parks, while simultaneously increasing the accessibility and openness of public research and technology equipment.
- Development of the venture capital market with public incentives to strengthen private investments and investments by pension funds in venture capital:
- creation and strengthening of public-private venture capital funds for co-financing investments by private investors,
- monitoring and analysis of tax incentives introduced in 2025 and studying the possibility of upgrading tax measures.
- Employee compensation:
- monitoring the implementation of already introduced legal solutions (Profit Sharing Act, Employee Ownership Cooperative Act),
- monitoring and analyzing measures in the field of option-based compensation and, if necessary, upgrading existing solutions.
- Attracting global high-tech talent:
- updating the list of high-skilled professions for which there is a permanent shortage in the labor market,
- establishment of a specialized task force for processing foreigners for residence and work permits, with the option of interpretation in a foreign language,
- the possibility of family reunification modeled after the Blue Card for all employees in startup companies,
- digitalized process for employing foreigners and collection of biometric data through expanded use of contracted services worldwide,
- promotional materials with clear instructions for foreigners who wish to work in Slovenian startups.
- Lean company:
- a new legal organizational form tailored for startup companies, which will ensure fully digital establishment, status changes, and operations, combining the openness of a joint-stock company with easy entry and exit of shareholders, while maintaining the simplicity of a limited liability company,
- the legal framework will be designed to ensure legal certainty for investors and creditors while appropriately guaranteeing the security of legal transactions and the public interest.
In addition to strategic initiatives, the strategy also includes other measures to improve the ecosystem.
Projected goals by 2030
With the implementation of the proposed initiatives, the government anticipates that we will reach the stated goals by 2030:
- doubling the number of startups per million inhabitants,
- tenfold increase in investments per capita
- at least 25% average annual growth of the sector (in terms of employees, revenue, and taxes paid),
- long-term preservation of business and innovation functions of companies in Slovenia.
Strategy implementation, steering committee, and action plan
For the effective implementation of the Slovenian Startup Strategy, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia will, upon adoption of the strategy, establish a Steering Committee for the implementation of the Slovenian Startup Strategy, which will operate as an inter-ministerial government working group, in which representatives of the Slovenian startup ecosystem will also participate as external experts. An action plan will be prepared, defining who will carry out specific activities, and it will determine deadlines and financial resources.
Fast-growing innovative companies should be created, grow, and also remain in Slovenia. Only through the effective functioning of the Slovenian startup ecosystem will we be able to develop breakthrough innovative products and solutions in the coming years that are the result of Slovenian knowledge, innovation, and design, intended for global markets.
Slovenian Startup Strategy (document)
Slovenian Startup Strategy >>>
Slovenian Startup Strategy (adapted for vulnerable groups) >>>
Source: MGTŠ