THE BIGGEST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL STARTUP CONFERENCE IN THE

ALPS-ADRIATIC REGION!

The PODIM Conference is co-created by the most active stakeholders of the startup ecosystem from Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Hungary, and Croatia.

MARIBOR, 10 and 11 May 2017

CONFERENCE 2017

OUR FRIENDS ABOUT PODIM

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PODIM.ORG

ALEX ISKOLD, TECHSTARS, New York

”An impressive gathering of founders from the region!”

RUNE THEILL, ROCKSTART, Amsterdam

”One of the best organised conferences I’ve ever been to!”

GINA WALDHORN, EVOL8TION, New York

”PODIM is incredible! I’m so happy that I was able to come here!”

TRISTAN HARRIS, GOOGLE, San Francisco

”Great place to exchange knowledge and ideas.”

TWITTER

Thanks @podimconference for such a great event and for bringing together the brightest minds in the region! And for @steli :) #podim2016

Awesome days of networking, new experiences and renewed energy. Thank you @podimcon-ference, it was a pleasure :))

The great team behind the great @podimconference in #Maribor! #podim2016 #start-ups #investors #VCs #hustlinghard

Great job #podim2016 Congratulations!!!

Yuri Zih @jurezih

Walleta @MyWalleta

Miha Uhan @MihaUhan

Gregor Mesarič @gregormesarich

STELI EFTI, CLOSE.IO, San Francisco

“Great conference! You guys rock.”

PODIM = ENERGY + CONNECTING + LEARNING + ALPS-ADRIATIC

The PODIM Conference is an intense two-day experience of connecting, learning, motivation, and positive entrepreneurship energy. It’s the only event that annually gathers and connects the most active stakeholders of the Alps-Adriatic regional startup ecosystem in one place, and enables them to invite and host their global partners in a home environment. At the same time, PODIM works as an effective platform for investing into the most promising startups from the region and elsewhere, as well as for actively connecting startups and corporations.

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PODIM 2016 FACTS AND FIGURES800+ participants from 25+ countries

100+ startups in the PODIM startup

catalogue

180+ personal meetings in PODIM

1:1 Arena

70+ speakers at 60+ appearances

30+ investment deals and potential

investments

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300+ media announcements at home and abroad

5 stars – rating from Facebook

followers

50+ recommendations from guests and

participants every year

35,000+ users of our communication

channels

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STRUCTURE OF PODIM PARTICIPANTS

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800+ PARTICIPANTS FROM 25+ COUNTRIES:SLOVENIA, AUSTRIA, ITALY, CROATIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, KOSOVO, HUNGARY, GREAT BRITAIN, POLAND, SERBIA, USA, GERMANY, GREECE, BULGARIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, FINLAND, FRANCE, IRELAND, SPAIN, AUSTRALIA, ESTONIA, MACEDONIA, MOLDAVIA, NETHERLANDS, ROMANIA, AND SWEDEN.

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37%Startups

20%Ecosystem

16%SME

6%Investors

4%Students

2%Academics

6%Government

departments and agencies

9%Established companies

startups and representatives of small and medium-sized companies

representatives from 17 corporations

representatives from the Slovenian and regional startup ecosystem

investors from Slovenia, Europe and the US

412

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156

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTENSIVE NETWORKING AND COLLABORATIONPODIM ChallengeInvestment part of the conference with a pitching competition for early-stage startups looking for a seed investment of venture capital or a partnership with corporations as well as for recognisability and media promotion. This year’s PODIM Challenge will be significantly strengthened through collaboration with corporations from different industries and their connections with startups in the field of innovation, development and marketing strategies.

Important parts of the investment section of the conference are:

PODIM Startup Catalogue Every year, more than 200 startups from Slovenia and the Alps-Adriatic region attend PODIM. The most promising ones are described and introduced in the catalogue, which mostly helps investors and corporate representatives to choose and plan organized personal (one-on-one) meetings with startups.

PODIM 1:1 ArenaA special place where, for the duration of the conference, there are organized personal

(one-on-one) meetings between startups and investors, corporate representatives, mentors, lecturers, and anyone else who can help startups on their way to global breakthrough and success.

PODIM AppAn additional opportunity for active informal networking between conference participants is the PODIM app which, according to participants of PODIM 2016 “worked perfectly and was a positive surprise with its rich content, interactivity, social connections, up-to-date news and especially with the option of establishing personal contact in the real world.”

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Besides the conference programme and the app, PODIM attendees also benefit from rich social activities of the conference that enable intense networking and connecting:

Evening PODIM PartyA real startup party with a DJ, fun inserts, selected food and drinks, and an excellent company of guests who have fun, dance and talk long into the night or even until the early morning hours. The PODIM Party takes its own unique course every year, and it’s often combined with getting to know Maribor’s nightlife ;)

Special surprise for international guests For all keynote speakers and international guests, we are once again organizing excursions to local attractions connected to technology, entrepreneurial achievements and, of course, local culinary treats and wines as well as nature’s beauties and sights.

PODIM pre- and post-conference eventsIn the light of connecting the region and PODIM partners, we annually carry out several pre- and post-conference events in the form of business lunches, workshops or meetings, to which

we invite the chosen speakers, lecturers and conference guests.

Breaks for coffee, snacks, lunches …During the breaks, with conference coffee and snacks, during lunchtime, in the hotel bar or lobby … both conference days offer endless opportunities for networking, connecting and establishing new business and personal ties.

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WE AWARD THE BEST SLOVENIAN STARTUP COMPANIES

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9 years of tradition. 56 finalists. More than 900 media announcements. Since 2008, the PODIM Conference has been highlighting and awarding ambassadors of Slovenian startup entrepreneurship, whose achievements, activities, reputation

and development potential represent a new generation of Slovenian innovative entrepreneurs. The award “Slovenian Startup of the Year” is a joint project of active stakeholders of the national ecosystem. Award organizers offer the title recipient active

PR and other support, while the crystal statue reminds the winner that besides their successes in the media and at events in Slovenia and abroad, they are also representing and promoting the Slovenian startup community.

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FINALISTS FOR THE STARTUP OF THE YEAR 2016

Nizkocenovci (winner)

Chipolo

ADORA MED

Gotoky

Doctrina

Blub Blub

Feelif

Ulla Labs

45HC.com

VinTech

AWARD PARTNERS IN 2016

CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS AND PARTNERS OF THE CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

The key content highlights of the conference programme

Successful startup launch

Facing challenges of rapid growth and professionalization of startups

Lean and agile development of innovative products

Financing startups

Accelerated global growth of startups and growth hacking

Strategic connections between startups and corporations

Key partners with whom we co-create conference content

Holders of public and private support programmes that cover different startup development stages

Startup entrepreneurs

Corporate partners that cover individual niche segments for potential partnerships with startups

Investors – private, public, corporate

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ALEŠ PUSTOVRH, ABC Accelerator

”The ABC Accelerator and PODIM Conference have established a strategic collaboration, because they recognize each other as the most important members of the Slovenian support startup ecosystem. PODIM is recommended to all startups that wish to connect with potential investors, listen to good pitches, and learn something new from incredible speakers.”

VALTER LEBAN, Kolektor Group

”Kolektor decided to participate at PODIM for the first time this year and this decision was definitely the right one. The event has incredible positive entrepreneurship energy and opportunities for networking, as well as offers excellent business opportunities.”

BOTOND TARCSAY, Shoployal

”PODIM is an outstanding gathering of entrepreneurs and investors. We managed to get in touch with potential partners in a matter of two amazing days. Excellent, amazing event, wouldn’t miss the next one!”

MICHAEL SCHUSTER, SpeedInvest

”PODIM is always worth the trip, great atmosphere, great opportunities and great crowd!”

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MEET THE BEST THAT THE ALPS-ADRIATIC REGION HAS TO OFFER

Attractive location in the heart of EuropeThe PODIM Conference takes place in Maribor, the second biggest Slovenian town, which lies in the heart of the Alps-Adriatic region. The region encompasses eight geographic areas: Italian lands Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto, Austrian Carinthia and Styria, Slovenia, the Western half of Hungary, and Croatia.

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VIENNABUDAPEST

VENICE

Travel time to Maribor by plane:from London: 1 hourfrom New York: 12 hoursfrom San Francisco: 15 hours

f

rom New York: 10 hours, from San Francisco: 15 hours

Travel tim

e to Maribor by plane: from London: 1,5 hours

Travel time to Maribor by car:from Vienna: 3 hoursfrom Venice: 3,5 hoursfrom Budapest: 4 hours

Warm welcome from the city of the Golden Fox and the oldest grapevine in the world! Maribor is the second biggest and most important Slovenian city, and the proud home to a university whose beginnings lie in the 19th Century. This dynamic startup hub prides itself on the oldest grapevine in the world, the scene of the global skiing cup Golden Fox, and incredible natural, wine and culinary destinations.

The Alps-Adriatic as an excellent tourist destination Due to incredible natural, cultural and gastronomic resources, the Alps-Adriatic region is establishing itself as one of the most recognizable European touristic destinations with known winter

and summer sports facilities, medieval and renaissance towns, museums, galleries, and urban and rural culinary centres.

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Source: www.pr1motours.com

Photo: Barbara KožarPhoto: Tomi Lombar, Delo

Outstanding talent poolThe percentage of a highly educated workforce in the Alps-Adriatic region reaches as much as a quarter of the entire working population. Excellent engineers, developers and researchers who find a solution for every problem of the modern society are characteristic of a motivated and globally-oriented human capital of the region.

Regional startup iconsMany startup unicorns that are paving their way to global fame come from the Alps-Adriatic region. These are Outfit7, Celtra and Layer (Slovenia), Arduino, Yoox and Glancee (Italy), Runtastic and Kochabo (Austria), Prezi, LogMeIn and Ustream (Hungary), and Bellabeat and Farmeron (Croatia).

Dynamic ecosystem with 2,000+ startups and 100+ entrepreneurship hubsThe region, covering an area of about 220,000 km2 and with a good 24 million inhabitants, has more than 2,000 innovative startups and at least 100 local startup centres and hubs. On the World Bank scale, Slovenia is in a high 15th place according to the conditions for starting a business, and other countries from the region closely follow.

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TOP SPEAKERS AT PREVIOUS PODIM CONFERENCES Some of our past PODIM speakers from all over the world

Alex Iskold Techstars

Paddy Cosgrave Websummit

Tristan Harris Google

Ash Maurya Running Lean

Dominic Coryell 500 Startups

Steli Efti Close.io

Tristan Pollock Storefront

Mark Johnson Zite

Rune Theill Rockstart

Gary Whitehill Entrepreneur Week

Jens Pippig ProSiebenSat.1

Accelerator

Bart Lorang FullContact

Gina Waldhorn Evol8tion

Poornima Vijayashanker Femgineer

Carlos Silva Seedrs

Eric Brotto Startupbootcamp

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Some of our past PODIM speakers from the region

Jure Mikuž RSG Capital

Branko Drobnak Business Angels of

Slovenia

Dejan Roljič ABC Accelerator

Miha Mikek Celtra

Niko Klanjšek FlyKly

Oliver Holle Speedinvest

Daniel Cronin AustrianStartups

Jan Habermann Credo Ventures

Dilyan Dimitrov Eleven

Rumen Iliev LAUNCHub

Laszlo Czirjak iEUROPE

Davorin Štetner CRANE

Martin Henk Pipedrive

Tomasz Krajewski SkyCash

Piotr Bucki X Ventures

Franco Scolari Polo Tecnologico

Pordenone

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EXCELLENT PARTNERS FOR MAXIMUM VALUE

IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE ESTABLISHED EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH NUMEROUS COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

The maximum value for participants and support for partners’ strategic goals

PODIM Conference organizers collaborate with a chosen circle of sponsors and partners, allowing us to create maximum value for event participants and keep the possibility of organizing the biggest startup event in the Alps-Adriatic region in the long term.

We build long-term partnerships with partners, because we help them identify and realize their strategic goals in the field of business development, innovation management and the latest leadership methods, staffing and development, as well as launching and promoting new products and services.

TRADITIONAL GENERAL SPONSOR

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT LOCAL ENVIRONMENT SUPPORT

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIAMINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTAND TECHNOLOGY

LOGO CMYK

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We invite you to join us!

With many possibilities for collaboration and connecting, we are committed to

creating value and building long-term ties with each and every partner.

PODIM 2016 was co-organized in collaboration with:

Our programme partners were:

Many corporations participated at PODIM, amongst others also:

INVITATION FROM THE ORGANIZERSThe main organizer of the PODIM Conference is the Initiative Start:up Slovenia, led by the strategically connected Venture Factory and Technology Park Ljubljana, while its members are the most active subjects of the entrepreneurial innovative environment in Slovenia.

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PROF. DR. MIROSLAV REBERNIK, co-founder of Venture Factory and Head of the Entrepreneurship Department at EPF UM

“With their innovativeness and speed, successful startups reach out to every pore of private and business life. Sometimes they turn the society’s and industry’s ways of working upside down. We can find countless examples of how the hidden forces of startups transform every environment, markets on which we do business, the way organizations perform, and the company’s values. Startups are one of the main driving forces of the society’s progress and development, which is why PODIM is entirely dedicated to their breakthrough powers and why I cordially invite you to join us!”

IZTOK LESJAK, MSc, director of Technology Park Ljubljana

“Slovenia, together with the Alps-Adriatic region, is becoming an increasingly attractive and globally recognized environment for startups. So you are invited to the PODIM Conference where, in one place, you can find a concentration of educated and motivated talent, an offer of capital, and access to high-quality business connections. At the same time, you can take advantage of many opportunities to enjoy the environment, whose geographic, natural, cultural and infrastructural resources ensure a high quality of life.”

MATEJ RUS, MSc, co-founder and director of Venture Factory, senior lecturer of entrepreneurship at EPF UM

“PODIM is significantly more than just a conference where you will listen to incredible speakers or shake hands with business partners. PODIM is an intense two-day event of all key stakeholders of the Alps-Adriatic startup ecosystem, which we impatiently expect to join forces once a year and show the whole world the best that this part of the world has and can offer to startups. Thank you to everyone that collaborates with us. See you at PODIM 2017!”

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DR. ANDREJ FIŠTRAVEC, Mayor of the Municipality of Maribor

“Welcome in the startup city MariborThe PODIM Conference is the biggest national event of the startup scene, with international dimensions. Considering that startup projects are ambitiously entering the global market of work and capital, this is one of the activities that importantly liven up economic activities. Because jobs and revival of the economy are a key priority of the Municipality of Maribor, the latter decided to strongly support individuals who have the courage and knowledge to launch innovative startup companies, and at the same time also the PODIM Conference and the Start:up Maribor programme, which supports these startups on their path to success. I invite you to join the PODIM Conference as well.”

SUPPORT FROM THE HOME TOWN Organizers of the PODIM Conference are grateful for the support of the home town, the Mayor of the Municipality of Maribor and the Rector of the University of Maribor.

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Photo: Karmen Razlag

PROF. DR. IGOR TIČAR, Rector of the University of Maribor

“One of the key directions of the University of Maribor is connecting knowledge, research and development with the industry. All this with the purpose of preparing concrete projects that will successfully compete on the market. But all the knowledge that we create and transfer can achieve better results in an entrepreneurship- and innovation-oriented society. I see the PODIM Conference, which is one of the biggest conferences in the region, as an environment for creating an entrepreneurial and innovative society, as a tool for designing entrepreneurial thinking, no matter what kind of work we do. All of us have to be entrepreneurial. So I invite you to join us at the PODIM Conference, where we will create value added by transferring experiences in entrepreneurship.”

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Photo: Domen Groegl

Photo: Domen Groegl

Photo: Jurij Pivka

Get in touch with representatives of the Initiative Start:up Slovenia

Matej Rus Contact for partners and sponsors

e-mail: matej.rus@irp.siphone: +386 31 604 137

Stanislava VabšekContact for PR and communications

e-mail: stanislava.vabsek@startup.siphone: +386 31 707 204

Urban LapajneContact for programme and speakers

e-mail: urban.lapajne@tovarnapodjemov.orgphone: +386 41 372 418

Elvisa BasailovićContact for investors

e-mail: elvisa.basailovic@tp-lj.siphone: +386 41 850 115

Copyright (C) 2017 PODIM. Design: Jernej Gračner. Photo credits: Siniša Kanižaj / ABC Accelerator, Mediaspeed, Internet