The development of impact entrepreneurship in Slovenia represents a strategic step toward aligning the country’s economic development with its social and environmental commitments. Impact enterprises strive to address pressing social and environmental challenges through sustainable and inclusive business models, thereby delivering on the triple bottom line – people, planet, and profit.
Research shows that companies driven by a clear purpose are more likely to foster innovation, attract talent, and demonstrate greater resilience in times of crisis. The advantages of such enterprises are increasingly recognized by both markets and investors, particularly within the impact investment segment and its associated instruments. Opportunities for financing are also expanding across Central Europe, including Slovenia. However, to access these funds, companies must be adequately prepared.
With this objective, the “Program 100i – 100 Impact Ventures” was established. Its goal is to “impactize” 100 companies in the shortest possible time, maximize their positive impact, and prepare them to access impact capital from upcoming funding sources, including the Feels Better Fund.
The initiator of the 100i Program is FUND 2740 – High Impact Foundation, in collaboration with partners GEA College, and Zavod Iskriva. The main supporting partner of the program is the Slovenian Enterprise Fund (SPS), which, through this initiative, promotes the development of innovative, sustainable, and inclusive business models among Slovenian companies and prepares them for new financial instruments in impact investing.
The program includes workshops covering key topics such as impact insight – an introduction to the concept of impact entrepreneurship, its core characteristictrends, and innovative business models; impact design and its application in enhancing innovation and competitiveness; as well as information on funding structures and opportunities for impact ventures. It also addresses essential elements of impact readiness, including certification processes such as the People and Planet First Certificate and other relevant certifications, access to AI tools and platforms for business impact transformation, and hands-on work with real company cases.
