A recent study conducted by Silicon Garden, a regional startup fund, has unveiled a remarkable surge in investment in startup companies within the region, with Slovenia leading the way, being home to four unicorns valued at over 1 billion US dollars.
Between 2021 and 2022 startups in Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia achieved a significant milestone, attracting a total of 3.45 billion euros in investments. This figure represents a twelvefold increase compared to investment numbers recorded a decade ago. Notably, Slovenian startups accounted for approximately two-thirds of all deals within the region, successfully securing 1.25 billion euros in funding. Furthermore, out of the six active unicorns in the region, four originate at least partially from Slovenia. The Slovenian unicorns, namely Outfit7, HttPool, Sportradar (Klika), and Outbrain (Zemanta), have contributed significantly to the region's entrepreneurial success. Outfit7 is renowned for creating the immensely popular virtual pet, Talking Tom, capturing the hearts of millions. HttPool has established itself as a leading digital advertising enabler, operating across more than 90 countries. Sportradar specializes in collecting and analyzing sports data, catering to diverse stakeholders such as sports federations, media outlets, and the betting industry. Meanwhile, Outbrain has developed a powerful online recommendation and native advertising platform.
Croatian companies secured a substantial share of the total investment, amounting to 1.8 billion euros. Notably, the electric sports car manufacturer Rimac emerged as the primary recipient of these funds. This remarkable surge in investments and the emergence of unicorns underscore the thriving entrepreneurial landscape in the area, capturing the attention and interest of both domestic and international investors. It is worth highlighting that investors from the United States hold a 75 percent stake in the total investment value, signifying their significant contribution to the region's startup ecosystem.
