PODIM, the leading startup & tech event in the Alps-Adriatic region, is fast approaching! Below, you can find more information about the funds that have already confirmed their arrival in Slovenia between 11 and 13 May, 2026. More are on the way, so stay tuned for what’s next!
GOLDEN UNICORN PARTNER
Silicon Gardens Fund
Slovenia
Silicon Gardens is the Adria region’s first and only Founders for Founders’ VC firm, established by entrepreneurs who have successfully built their own companies. We help the next generation of ambitious entrepreneurs build 10x bigger companies.
www.silicongardens.com/
South Central Ventures
Slovenia
South Central Ventures (SCV) is a leading venture capital firm with 18 years of experience, managing over €100 million and boasting a portfolio of more than 50 high-tech companies. With offices in Ljubljana, Zagreb, Belgrade, and Skopje, SCV invests in seed-stage companies from the Southeast Europe (SEE) region that operate in globally prosperous industries. They focus on bold, innovative businesses with the potential to become market leaders, led by visionary founders with exceptional entrepreneurial skills and a global outlook. Beyond capital, SCV provides mentorship and actively partners with their portfolio companies, offering extensive support to drive success.
www.sc-ventures.com/
Fil Rouge Capital
Croatia
FRC is a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting bold founders and high-growth startups. With a strong track record in M&A and financing exceeding $4 billion, FRC provides more than just capital—offering hands-on support from incubation to exit. Committed to building a top-tier entrepreneurial ecosystem in Croatia, the firm values transparency, speed, and unwavering backing for its founders. Recognized as the “Best Investor” in the region for two consecutive years, FRC stands out for its no-nonsense, fact-driven approach to venture investing.
www.filrougecapital.com
Vesna VC
Slovenia, Croatia
Vesna Fund manages the first deep tech venture capital fund in Central Eastern Europe, specifically focusing on Croatia and Slovenia. Established with a capital of €50 million, the fund is headquartered in Luxembourg and operates additional offices in Zagreb and Ljubljana. The fund primarily invests in sectors such as climate technology, advanced materials, and AI/ICT.
www.vesnavc.com
OUTLIER PARTNER
TechAngels
Romania
TechAngels is Romania’s first angel investor network, established in 2013 to support early-stage technology startups through investments, expertise, and connections. Over the past decade, they have invested more than €40 million in the Romanian tech ecosystem, with their aggregate portfolio encompassing over 240 startups. In 2024, TechAngels members invested €3.777 million in tech startups, marking a 25% year-over-year increase. The organization continues to foster the growth of tech businesses in Romania and South-Eastern Europe by providing funding, mentorship, and access to acceleration programs.
www.techangels.ro
OUTLIER PARTNER
SID Upravljanje premoženja
Slovenia
SID Upravljanje premoženja (SID Asset Management), part of the SID Group, is a specialized institution for equity financing, built on European best practices. It supports domestic private equity and venture capital funds and plays a vital role in strengthening Slovenia’s capital market. By empowering local VC teams and investment infrastructure, it brings more expertise, more capital, and greater opportunities for Slovenian startups—fully aligned with Slovenia’s national strategy to build a robust venture capital ecosystem.
https://www.sid.si/en
Feelsgood Capital
Croatia, Slovenia
The Feelsgood Social Impact Investment Fund is uniquely structured to invest in Croatian and Slovenian ventures that combine typical private equity and venture capital objectives with commercial business models led by strong management teams poised for scaling. Feelsgood identifies and supports businesses that either address or plan to address one or more of the SDGs, integrating measurable impact into their strategic business models sustainably.
www.feelsgoodcapital.com
Lead Ventures
Hungary
Lead Ventures is a Budapest-based venture capital firm backing high-potential B2B software startups from the CEE region and the Baltics. Focused on companies with proven market validation, it provides €2–10 million in growth capital, along with strategic guidance and access to a strong regional and international network. Backed by MOL Group and NTH, Lead Ventures helps ambitious founders scale globally and turn regional successes into global players.
www.leadventures.eu
Day One Capital
Hungary
Day One Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm managing privately funded investment funds. They focus on the most promising technology teams from Central and Eastern Europe, particularly seed-stage companies with innovative products and high growth potential. Their current fund, launched in 2018, has a capitalization of €34 million, with initial investments ranging from €300,000 to €1.5 million per company.
www.dayonecapital.com
Market One Capital
Poland
Market One Capital (MOC) is a pan-European venture capital firm focused on pre-seed and seed-stage investments. With a long-term investment perspective, MOC backs platform-driven startups that democratize market access and enhance efficiency through the power of network effects. Investing across Europe, the firm supports ambitious founders building scalable, category-defining businesses with global potential. Beyond capital, Market One Capital acts as an active partner to its portfolio companies, leveraging deep experience, a strong European network, and a global mindset to support early growth and expansion.
https://www.moc.vc
GapMinder VC
Netherlands
GapMinder VC is an early-stage fund backing AI, Deeptech, and B2B SaaS startups from South-Eastern Europe and its diaspora. With €130M under management, it invests from €0.5M to €5M, and follows on up to €12M+. Founded by experienced operators, GapMinder supports globally driven teams in sectors like automation, data, cybersecurity, and fintech, helping them scale internationally. Over 85% of portfolio companies raise follow-on funding.
www.gapminder.vc
J&T Ventures
Czech Republic
J&T Ventures is a Prague-based early-stage venture capital fund, established in 2014. With €120 million in assets under management, the firm invests in promising startups from the CEE and SEE regions, focusing on seed-stage companies with proven product-market fit. J&T Ventures provides investments ranging from €0.3 million to €3 million and offers strategic support to help portfolio companies expand and succeed.
www.jtventures.cz
Inovo.vc
Poland
Inovo VC is a venture capital fund focused on investing in startups from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Their seed investments range from €0.5 million to €4 million, targeting companies with the potential to reach over $100 million in revenue. Inovo VC has partnered with more than 75 different investors and has six portfolio companies valued at over €100 million. In addition to financial support, they offer extensive assistance in talent recruitment, customer connections, and advisory services.
www.inovo.vc
Tilia Impact Ventures
Czech Republic
Tilia Impact Ventures is an early-stage impact venture capital fund backing founders from the Czech Republic and the wider Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region who are driving systemic environmental and social change on a global scale. With a €30 million seed-stage fund, Tilia invests €0.3–1.5 million in equity or convertible instruments and follows a sector-agnostic, impact-driven approach. The fund focuses on two core verticals—Sustainable Planet and Thriving People—supporting solutions across areas such as climate, circularity, food and agriculture, energy, education, health, and social inclusion. Beyond capital, Tilia acts as a long-term, hands-on partner, with significant reserves for follow-on investments to support founders throughout their growth journey.
https://tilia.vc/
Wizard Ventures
Germany
Wizard Ventures is a venture studio and holding company that builds, acquires, and operates online businesses with a strong focus on design, user experience, and solving real-world problems. Founded by experienced entrepreneurs, Wizard Ventures combines creativity with operational excellence to develop scalable, sustainable digital businesses. The team works hands-on with founders and teams, transforming ideas into well-crafted products and growing them into successful, long-term ventures.
https://www.wizardventures.co/
QED Ventures
USA
QED Investors is a leading global venture capital firm focused exclusively on fintech and disruptive financial services. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, QED invests across the U.S., Europe, the U.K., Latin America, India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. The firm is known for its operator-led approach, combining deep sector expertise with hands-on engagement to help founders build category-defining companies that empower consumers and businesses. Leveraging decades of entrepreneurial and operational experience, QED actively supports portfolio companies in achieving breakthrough growth. Its portfolio includes some of the world’s most successful fintech leaders, such as Klarna, Nubank, Credit Karma, Remitly, and SoFi.
https://qedinvestors.com/
Columbia Lake Partners
UK
Columbia Lake Partners is an experienced team of investors providing growth loans to European technology companies. They have extended credit and managed portfolio relationships exceeding €500 million to over 75 companies. They fund between €2 million and €20 million and are open to partnering with others to write larger cheques. Investing from a long-term committed fund, they have a financing capacity of $300 million. Their experience through the ups and downs of the past decade has taught them that no company has a straight path to success. As a result, their approach is to take a “light touch,” with no board seats, light covenants, and standard reporting.
www.clpgrowth.com
Credo Ventures
Czech Republic
Credo Ventures is a Prague-based venture capital firm, founded in 2009, that focuses on early-stage investments in technology startups across Central and Eastern Europe. The firm invests in various sectors, including AI, medtech, edtech, and software, with a portfolio featuring companies such as Eleven Labs, Upheal, and Mewery.
Typically investing in pre-seed and seed stages, Credo Ventures makes initial investments of up to €5 million. It currently manages €250 million across four funds, with its latest fund totaling €75 million. The firm supports passionate founders from the ideation stage through product-market fit and beyond, offering both financial backing and strategic guidance.
http://www.credoventures.com
E2VC
Netherlands
e2vc is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, focusing on globally minded founders from Emerging Europe. Formerly known as 500 Emerging Europe, e2vc invests in startups with the potential to become outlier success stories. The firm emphasizes a founder-first approach, providing capital, mentorship, and access to a global network to help startups scale internationally.
www.e2.vc
Elevator Ventures
Austria
Elevator Ventures is a venture capital fund backed by Raiffeisen Bank International, Raiffeisen-Holding Niederösterreich-Wien, and Raiffeisen-Landesbank Steiermark. It manages over €100 million to support the growth of technology companies in Fintech and Beyond Banking. With a strong sourcing and business development network across the DACH and CEE regions, the firm leverages the deep expertise and market insights of its investors. To date, Elevator Ventures has invested over €50 million in 15 companies, achieving four successful exits and holding two fund-of-funds positions.
www.elevator-ventures.com
Fifth Quarter Ventures
Serbia
Fifth Quarter Ventures (5QV) is an early-stage VC fund based in Belgrade, investing across the Western Balkans and beyond. With a €20M fund, 5QV focuses on deep tech talent and startups from Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, bridging Eastern European innovation with Western markets. More than just investors, they aim to catalyze a thriving tech ecosystem in the region.
www.fifthquarter.vc
Flyer One Ventures
Poland
Flyer One Ventures (F1V) is an early-stage VC firm investing up to $1.5 million in Central and Eastern European founders building global startups. They have backed 87 startups across AI, fintech, e-commerce, and edtech, providing strategic support in marketing, recruiting, and business development. Portfolio companies gain access to exclusive networking events, workshops, and benefits worth up to $400,000 annually. Inspired by the Wright brothers, F1V supports ambitious entrepreneurs solving global challenges with innovative products.
www.flyerone.vc
Hans(wo)men Group
Austria
Hans(wo)men Group is an early-stage investment group and modern entrepreneurial family office based in Vienna, built around a community of founders and backed by veteran business angel Johann “Hansi” Hansmann. The Group supports, co-invests in, and helps scale technology companies across Europe, typically leading pre-seed and early rounds and fostering collaboration across portfolio founders. With a diversified portfolio spanning tech, digital platforms, and consumer-facing businesses, Hans(wo)men combines strategic capital, operational guidance, and founder-centric support to help startups grow and succeed.
https://www.hanswomengroup.com/
Interactive Venture Partners
USA & CEE
Interactive Venture Partners is a venture capital firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA, with a focus on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Backed by the family office of Thomas Peterffy, founder of Interactive Brokers, the firm launched its inaugural €50 million fund in 2024. Interactive Venture Partners provides early-stage capital to startups in the CEE region, emphasizing founder-friendly terms, mentoring, and access to a global network to support growth and international expansion.
www.interactivevp.com
Kaya VC
Czech Republic
KAYA VC is a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting exceptional founding teams that shape their industries and create enduring change in a sustainable way. They invest at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey, from studio projects and pre-seed through Series A and follow-ons. KAYA VC evolved from Enern Investments—a regional financial group formed in Prague in 2010—and has grown alongside the Central and Eastern European ecosystem across clean energy, technology, real estate, and more. Their mission is to back founders who are deeply curious and intellectually agile, aiming to make a positive impact beyond creating financial value.
www.kaya.vc
3VC
Austria
3VC is a European venture capital fund that invests in carefully selected tech startups with global ambitions, starting from Series A. Founded in 2018 and based in Vienna, Austria, 3VC focuses on partnering with regional talent and supporting founders throughout their growth journey. Their portfolio includes companies such as Storyblok, fundcraft, and simpleclub, reflecting their commitment to fostering innovation across various sectors. The 3VC team comprises experienced professionals dedicated to providing hands-on support and leveraging their extensive network to drive the success of their portfolio companies.
www.three.vc
Purple Ventures
Slovakia
Purple Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in top CEE+ founders building tech-enabled startups with initial revenues and global ambitions. The firm participates in pre-seed and seed investment rounds, with ticket sizes ranging from €250,000 to €750,000. It operates with a 5–6 year investment horizon and takes minority equity stakes, ensuring that founders retain control and leadership of their startups. Purple Ventures is open to both leading funding rounds and co-investing.
www.purple-ventures.com
SQ Capital
Croatia
SQ Capital is a privately backed VC in Croatia, investing in pre-seed and seed startups. With key portfolio companies such as YC Graduate Pythagora, Omnisearch, Farseer and others, they have positioned themselves as a key fund in the region for B2B software products.
www.sqc.hr
Early Game Ventures
Romania
Early Game Ventures (EGV) is an early-stage venture capital fund that invests in startups across the emerging markets of Europe. The firm follows a straightforward investment philosophy, backing companies at the earliest stages whose founders have vested interests, are coachable, and target large markets. When a promising opportunity arises, EGV prefers to be the first institutional investor in such startups.
www.earlygame.vc
Inspire Capital
Romania
Inspire Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm investing at the pre-seed and seed stages, with a focus on financial services, business consulting, and technology-enabled businesses. The firm typically invests between €70,000 and €500,000, supporting ambitious founders from the earliest phases of company building. Inspire Capital follows a hands-on, founder-first approach, combining technical, operational, and strategic expertise with active mentorship. Beyond capital, portfolio companies benefit from access to a strong, trusted network of talent, customers, advisors, and future investors, helping them navigate growth with clarity and confidence.
https://www.inspirecapital.vc/
BrightCap Ventures
Bulgaria
BrightCap Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund based in Sofia, Bulgaria, investing in tech startups with roots in Southeast Europe. They focus on companies developing defensible technology with clear strategies for entering affluent markets. The BrightCap team comprises entrepreneurs with leadership, engineering, and investment experience across Silicon Valley, Israel, and EMEA. In July 2024, they launched a €60 million successor fund to invest in founders from Rising Southeastern Europe.
http://www.brightcap.vc
Orbit Capital
Czech Republic & Poland
Orbit Capital has specialized in backing growth-stage technology companies across the CEE and DACH regions since 2019. Its Growth Debt fund provides flexible, non-dilutive capital with typical tickets ranging from €3–15 million. This founder-friendly financing enables growth acceleration without interfering with ownership structures. Orbit Capital’s mission—delivered through its Growth Equity and Growth Debt strategies—is to support Central European technology companies in building strong, international businesses. Portfolio companies include category leaders and unicorns such as MEWS, Preply, Booksy, Rohlik, CloudTalk, ThreatMark, Boataround, and Jutro Medical.
https://orbitcapital.com/
