Introducing the European Adriatic and Western Balkans regions
PODIM Conference impact zone includes the European Adriatic region, encompassing seven geographic areas: Italian lands Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto, Austrian Carinthia and Styria, Slovenia, Croatia and the Western half of Hungary. The event is also focused on the Western Balkans region, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania.
More than 2,000 startups and 100 startup hubs
European Adriatic and Western Balkans regions are home to more than 2,000 innovative startup companies and at least 100 dynamic regional and local startup hubs. According to World Bank's Ease of Doing Business global ranking, Slovenia and other countries from the regions are in high place according to its conditions for starting a business.
Home region of Talking Tom and many other successful startups
Did you know that Samo and Iza Login, founders of the multinational Outfit7 that's creating Talking Tom and friends, come from Slovenia? The first Slovenian unicorn behind Talking-Tom has been acquired for $1 billion, but there are many other startups from the regions that have already reached the status of global celebrities, such as the Slovenian-founded Celtra and Layer, Italian Yoox, Austrian Runtastic, Hungarian Prezi, Croatian Rimac Automobili and Bellabeat, Bosnian VRET, Serbian Farmia and many others.
Outstanding talent pool
On average, a quarter of the entire active work population in all countries of the region is a highly educated workforce. Excellent engineers, developers and researchers who find the solution to every problem of the modern society are one of the typical characteristics of the very highly educated, motivated and globally-oriented human capital of the region.
Excellent tourist destination
Due to its incredible natural, cultural, historical and gastronomical features, the European Adriatic region and Western Balkans are establishing themselves as some of the most recognizable European tourist destinations. World-known centres for winter and summer sports, medieval and renaissance city centres, castles and ramparts, museums, galleries and other cultural monuments are enriched by many urban culinary centres and hospitable wine roads.
If you walk across Venice, Trieste, Graz, Klagenfurt, Budapest, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Sarajevo or Belgrade, you can try local specialties and excellent wines in a Michelin restaurant, suburban pub or at a street stand. Whatever you try will definitely not leave you indifferent! An Italian pizza that's just right, a juicy Wiener Schnitzel or delicious Sacher cake, a fragrant Carniolan sausage and potica, homemade goulash or paprikash, čevapi, pita and burek – all these are culinary achievements that will surely make you return to our parts of the world!
Great quality of life
Many successful entrepreneurs and investors from the US, UK or New Zealand who settled down in Slovenia and other countries of the region can confirm that the green Alps-Adriatic lands are ideal for life and work. Find out more about it:
- Forbes: What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From The Slovenian Mindset
- Ljubljana – Europe’s greenest and most liveable city
- Falling in love with Europe’s most liveable city, Ljubljana
Favourable economic and social conditions, beneficent climate and unspoiled nature, developed infrastructure, authentic interpersonal relationships and excellent food ensure an incredible set of factors for everyone who wishes to weave new business, family and friend bonds in this part of Europe.
Experience the region in the best possible light and embark on an intense adventure at the PODIM Conference!
