
The University Business Incubator
the University of Maribor’s deep-tech startup accelerator
We are Venture Factory, a purpose-driven business & ecosystem-building organization.
Reaching the SDGs can succeed in creating prosperity on Earth and opening new market opportunities. This requires solutions that have the power to make a difference and go beyond incremental innovation. Companies need to step up their sustainability efforts and act decisively to:
Innovate with us and improve your ESG performance.
With a spirit of collaboration and curiosity, we support founders and companies to realize their bold visions.
We connect a vast network of entrepreneurs, mentors, experts, investors, and institutions to create business ties and strategic partnerships for a better tomorrow.
On a regional level, Venture Factory is actively involved in creating the innovation ecosystem of the University of Maribor, called Innovum, and has been the University’s business incubator since 2004. We help to build new ventures – especially deep-tech spin-off companies – through strategy development, business design, and ecosystem collaboration. It enabled us to build a vibrant startup community around the Corporate Incubator program and the Startup Maribor platform. Venture Factory has successfully supported a number of corporate innovation teams, as well as several 100 startups.
On a national level, we created the Start:up Slovenia initiative, which has been connecting all the dots of the national startup scene since 2007 and has more than 10,000 members. We are focused on informing, promoting, inspiring, connecting, collaborating, and changing, thus paving the way for entrepreneurship to become integral in Slovenian society.
On an international level, we have built a strong community of startups, investors, business leaders, and other ecosystem stakeholders around the Podim conference and newly launched corporate incubator programe. It has become the leading platform for networking and learning in the CEE region. Venture Factory is an associate of The European Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA) representing Slovenia, a founding member of the Startup Europe Networks and a Startup Europe Ambassador. We co-create the European startup ecosystem. We actively participate in EU entrepreneurship and innovation projects (Horizon, Interreg,…), bringing our extensive knowledge, the power of the Podim platform and experience from the university innovation ecosystem and open-inovation-based corporate incubator programe.
the University of Maribor’s deep-tech startup accelerator
Testimonials
»The Venture Factory team helped me to think strategically and set a vision of what our HiFLYER system is and what it can become. This vision has been extremely useful in communicating with our partners who have supported us and in aligning our team.«
Co-Founder & CEO, Priot
»20 years ago, the Venture Factory team had the vision to identify the needs in the startup environment and strategically built the Podim conference. It is now one of the largest gatherings of the startup and tech community in our part of Europe. Bravo!«
VP Product SaaS Management Platform & MD Slovenia, LineaX
»Working with Venture Factory allows us to identify new business opportunities in a timely manner and to develop them more quickly and efficiently, especially in the InsurTech area. Identifying key assumptions and validating them is very important for us, and Urban and his team are helping us do so.«
Director of Innovations & Strategic Marketing, Insurance Company Sava
Startup & innovation ecosystem
We build great partnerships, startup communities and co-create outstanding programs. Together, we’ve put this part of Europe on the startup map!
Slovenian ambassador
Founding member
Innovation Network Node
Strategic partner
Core partner
Representative of Slovenia
Startup Plus program partner
You can expect us to focus on the areas where we can make the most difference to provide uncomparable, tailored advice and engagement.
We are able to apply entrepreneurial and corporate approaches simultaneously in running your business and help you achieve rapid growth.
Supporting your end-to-end innovation process that builds on speed and urgency. The right system that supports your formal innovation pipeline with defined processes, incentivized reward systems, and appropriate KPIs by leveraging internal and external sources of innovation.