A new wave of innovative startups from Western Slovenia is actively shaping the future of the country’s economy. The P2 incentive of the Slovene Enterprise Fund, offering €72,000 in non-repayable funding this year, attracted 101 applications from across Slovenia, including 52 from the Western Cohesion Region. Alongside financial support, P2 provides access to expert mentorship, networking events, investor meetings, and acceleration programs, giving young companies a strong springboard to global markets.

Following a rigorous process of applications, training, and expert evaluation, 14 startups from Western Slovenia were selected to receive P2 support. The program is more than funding: it combines financial assistance with mentorship and connections that help startups grow, scale, and access international markets such as the US and UAE through the DevelopmentPlus program.

P2 targets startups at a critical early stage, providing capital, knowledge, networks, and initial market opportunities to help them transform innovative products into scalable businesses.

A key strength of P2 lies in its mentorship network.

Experienced mentors offer guidance on business development, entrepreneurship, sales, international expansion, finance, and more. This support allows startups to make better decisions, progress faster, and avoid common early-stage mistakes. By combining funding, expert advice, and international market access, P2 serves as a vital accelerator for Western Slovenian startups, enabling them to pursue ambitious growth and play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of the Slovenian startup ecosystem.

The Slovene Enterprise Fund, through the Razvojni Plus program (DevelopmentPlus Program), provides highly specialized support to innovative startups and SMEs on their path to faster, global, and sustainable growth. Participants gain access to expert consulting, targeted training, study visits, networking, matchmaking, and promotional-educational events. The program strengthens key company competencies, increases competitiveness, and effectively connects businesses with investors, partners, and international markets. It is designed for companies that are current recipients of the P2 incentive, have an active SK or SI-SK contract with the Fund, or are registered in the Slovenian Innovative Startup Registry, as well as other innovative SMEs, including fast-growing scale-ups. The program is implemented by the Slovene Enterprise Fund in collaboration with leading public and private actors in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. It is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund.

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The program is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union, specifically from the European Regional Development Fund. It is implemented based on the program ‘Substantive support for faster global and sustainable growth of innovative SMEs (DevelopmentPlus Program)’ within the framework of the Slovenia’s EU Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027.