In Slovenia, EIF-backed funding is channelled alongside private investors to improve SME access to equity and growth capital, reinforcing the country’s innovation ecosystem.
Through initiatives like the Slovene Equity Growth Investment Programme (SEGIP), the EIF supports early-stage venture capital and private equity focused on SME expansion and succession. Working with key national partners, these instruments attract private co-investment and aim to further develop Slovenia’s VC and growth finance market.
Chipolo specialises in colourful Bluetooth item finders, launched by a group of friends in 2013 to solve the everyday frustration of lost keys.
When the pandemic hit, the company needed cash flow support to weather the slowdown. They secured EU-guaranteed loans from the Slovene Enterprise Fund, backed by the EIF under COSME, enabling continued growth, investment in robotics automation, and the move to a fully automated production facility in Slovenia by late 2024.