The 44th edition of PODIM has concluded in Maribor, Slovenia, where the ICE Agency Office in Ljubljana organized the participation of an Italian delegation consisting of 14 companies.

Since its first edition in 1980, PODIM has evolved into the most influential startup event in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), where innovation converges with business opportunities, capital infusion, and knowledge exchange. The event also serves as a showcase for the potential of the Štajerska region (Slovenian Styria, of which Maribor is the capital) and all of Slovenia, as a key hub in the innovation network connected to a global ecosystem of stakeholders.

PODIM was hosted at two venues in Maribor: the heart of the event took place at the striking Maribox Center, a multiplex cinema repurposed for the occasion, while B2B meetings were held at the historic Narodni Dom. During the three days of the event, the city center of Maribor, bustling with participants, conveys an image of dynamic energy.

The event welcomed more than 1,000 attendees from around the world, including 204 startups, over 70 speakers from 17 countries, more than 50 venture capital funds and other types of private investors, collectively managing an estimated €3.3 billion in startup investment funds. Throughout the event, over 140 investors were present and available for bilateral meetings.

The 204 startups represented 24 countries, including Slovenia (24% of the total), Croatia (14%), Serbia (9%), Italy (9%), Austria (8%), and Macedonia (6%), operating in diverse sectors. The five most represented industries were Business, enterprise productivity, and IT, Health and wellness, Lifestyle, entertainment, and sports, Agriculture, food, and biosciences and Mobility, transport, and logistics.

The program featured 11 thematic sessions, tackling key topics in entrepreneurship and technology, such as digitalization, technological transformation, artificial intelligence, fintech, corporate management, startup ecosystems, and legal frameworks for businesses.

Participants had access to 28 different events, including conferences, panel discussions, and debates led by renowned speakers and entrepreneurs.

The Italian delegation consisted of 12 startups (Accelerat, Innova, Healthfood, Natural You, Not Only Desk, Powandgo, Fortitudo Diamonds, Simplifhy SB, Vlab, Tk1fire, Weply, Willeasy) and 2 innovative SMEs (221e, Moonify), working in fields ranging from cybersecurity and detection technologies to sustainable consumer solutions and clean energy applications.

PODIM also offered an extensive networking program, including specialized sessions for startups and SMEs. A standout moment was the PODIM Pitching Competition, with semifinals on May 14 and finals on May 15, attended by the Minister of Economy, Tourism, and Sport, Matjaž Han, for the award ceremony.

The event facilitated over 1,300 business meetings, reaffirming PODIM as the go-to hub for startups seeking new investments.

At the "Podim Marketplace" exhibition space, 85 startups, including the 12 Italian ones, showcased their innovations. ICE Agency supported Italian companies with exhibition stands, event access, networking opportunities, onsite assistance, and media partnerships with Slovenian outlets such as RTV Slovenia Capodistria and Voce del Popolo.

Additionally, the ICE Office in Ljubljana, with support from ICE Offices in Vienna and Zagreb, invited investment and venture capital representatives from Austria (Samira Advisors and Prime Rauch Capital) and Croatia (SQ Capital) to establish contacts and hold B2B meetings with Italian startups.

On May 14 at 11:00, the Italian delegation was inaugurated in the presence of the Director of the ICE Office in Ljubljana, Giacomo Ricciotti, and the Italian Ambassador to Slovenia, H.E. Giuseppe Cavagna, who praised the event as an opportunity for Italian startups to grow and expand internationally.

Slovenia is emerging as an important hub for innovative entrepreneurs. In 2024, startup incentives were renewed and expanded by the Slovenian Enterprise Fund, though the country still lags behind European standards in venture capital investment. During the conference, Secretary of State Matevž Frangež outlined Slovenia’s roadmap for a startup strategy, aiming to increase startup investments tenfold and double the number of startups per capita.