For entrepreneurs who want to grow.

CEED Slovenia / For fast growing businesses and successors.

We connect entrepreneurs who have already solved the problem with those who are yet to.

CEED is an entrepreneurial support environment where entrepreneurs come for know-how, networking, and motivation.

If you're wondering

  • where and how to grow,

  • want to tackle concrete challenges,

  • are stepping away from daily operations,

  • need to organize your company,

  • are looking for ways to grow locally or internationally,

  • expanding your business network at home and abroad,

then CEED is the right environment for you.

FAQ

  • CEED is a support environment for entrepreneurs who want to grow—both professionally and personally.

    The essence of CEED is:

    • Practicality without theoretical embellishments

    • Honest and direct "know-how sharing"

    • Informal yet valuable networking

  • In 17 years, over 1000 founders from more than 900 companies have shared and gained knowledge and experience at CEED.

    Each year, over 200 active participants attend CEED meetings. With more than 150 meetings held, we are essentially the most agile entrepreneurial community in Slovenia.

  • At CEED, ambitious entrepreneurs come who want to make a leap in growth, have encountered challenges along the way, and have already experienced some setbacks. That's why they seek know-how, networking, and inspiration.

    The leap can manifest, for example, in increased sales, a larger number of employees, a leadership role, or as a result of improved processes, setting a strategic focus, stepping away from daily operations, etc. … depending on the stage of growth the company is in.

  • An entrepreneur (or employee) in the appropriate program or group receives a comprehensive experience, going through a process where four levels intertwine:

    • In peer-to-peer groups, they share experiences with like-minded entrepreneurs and together seek new solutions. The psychological feeling is important—that "it's not just happening to them" and that it is possible.

    • At meetings, they gain know-how from guests—successful entrepreneurs who are a step ahead and have already solved "their" problems.

    • Through individual connections with successful entrepreneurs 1-on-1, they solve their own problems.

    • At CEED member meetings, they systematically expand their network and draw inspiration from stories of entrepreneurial stars.

  • We are very good at understanding which growth stage an entrepreneur is in, and therefore offer solutions tailored to them:

    • Founders Programs for company founders,

    • Peer-to-peer groups for in-depth discussions among founders,

    • Individual connections between entrepreneurs,

    • Inspirational meetings for the CEED community,

    • Skills Programs for promising employees.

  • We feel like a lemon in a world of chocolate because at CEED, everything revolves around practically solving sour problems. Or as Dr. Šuc from the IT company Guru jokingly says: "CEED is therapy for business problem addicts."

  • Leaders Talk - Inspirational community meetings

    Where successful entrepreneurs share their inspirational business stories. An important part is networking, where alumni from large companies meet with ambitious entrepreneurs who will be the future stars of the Slovenian business scene. Usually, around 70 listeners attend.

    Open to members, alumni, and friends of CEED.

    4 times a year:

    • September 18: Season Kick-off (Hope you were there, it was great!)

    • December 11: New Year’s Event (Hope you’ll come, it’ll be amazing – drinks courtesy of Tiko Pro!!!)

    • March 13: Spring Event

    • June 18: Summer Party

    Leaders Share - Expert meetings

    Where successful entrepreneurs share know-how on more specific topics such as: How to automate your business and why it’s worth it? How will you finance your growth? How to hire a CEO? Since the topics will be quite specific, only those truly interested in the subject will attend. We expect significantly fewer participants than at Leaders Talk.

    Leaders Share is free for CEED members (+ for their closest collaborators). Tickets for non-members are 140€.

    6 times a year:

    • October 14: How to automate your business and why it’s worth it?

    • November 6: How to hire a CEO?

    • January 29: Employees and Extra Mile?

    • March 12: TBD

    • April 10: TBD

    • May 15: How will you finance your growth?

  • Nothing easier. Just send an email to Rebeka (rebeka.smid@ceed.si) and she will send you the application form.

    You can attend programs that already include membership, or you can choose from three types of membership with different "cookies" and varying amounts of lemons: Impact, Guardian, and Lighthouse.

  • Programs:

    • Are a complete, structured experience and you join at the beginning

    • Duration is limited (e.g., 10 meetings)

    • Meeting content is predefined

    • "Know-how sharing" is more structured

    • Thematic (e.g., Grow) or "skills-based" (e.g., Leadership)

    Peer-to-peer groups:

    • Ongoing

    • You can join at any time (the group must approve you)

    • The group decides on the format and topic of "know-how sharing" for each meeting (e.g., an experienced entrepreneur as a guest or exchanging opinions among members)

    • Problem-based (e.g., Sales) or for a specific industry (e.g., TECH)

Fat compliments make you lazy, lemonade keeps you vital.

Where can you join us?

Meeting formats in the CEED environment.

  • Entrepreneurs are helped in making a leap in the growth of their business.

    The programs consist of a series of workshops designed for founders and successors. They are led by successful entrepreneurs and top experts with extensive entrepreneurial experience.

    In addition, entrepreneurs, by collaborating with others in similar stages of growth, have the opportunity to exchange ideas, experiences, and form valuable connections.

    Joining can be transformative.

    Currently running:

    • Grow

    • Scale

    • AWE

    In preparation:

    • Start

    • International

  • A series of thematic programs that have been running for the ninth year.

    The success of participants is demonstrated by internationally successful companies that continuously send their representatives to our programs.

    • Tech companies (Celtra, Outbrain, Troia, Intera, BioSistemika, SciNote, Datalab, FrodX, …)

    • Non-tech companies (GoOpti, Duol, HOOD Burger, Borza Terjatev, Klančar Žerjavi, Tiko Pro, …).

    "Know-how" is shared by successful managers and top experts with experience in entrepreneurship and leadership, who are members of CEED, the largest entrepreneurial community in Slovenia.

    Currently running:

    • Leadership For First Time Leaders

    • Leadership for Emerging Leaders

    • Sales Gym

    In preparation:

    • Finance

    • HR

    4o mini

  • Mini conference every month

    Peer-to-peer groups are CEED's "flagship," where entrepreneurs come together on their growth journey and share key experiences and knowledge from various fields.

    We introduced the peer-to-peer format because we know that entrepreneurs grow best when they share the journey with others. To explore new perspectives and growth, you need:

    • Entrepreneurs in similar stages of development with the same challenges – "peers"

    • Successful entrepreneurs who have already walked the path before you.

    At every meeting, a distinguished guest openly shares their success story and "fails," encouraging genuine dialogue and innovative problem-solving.

    That's right, it's not a lecture, but a dynamic dialogue where every entrepreneur gains unique insights and inspiration to face their own challenges.

    Peer-to-peer groups operate in a mastermind format. Each group brings together up to 20 founders and company directors in similar stages of development, where entrepreneurs walk together on their growth journey and share key experiences and knowledge from specific areas.

    Join CEED's dynamic peer-to-peer groups because entrepreneurs thrive only when they have a supportive community to rely on.

    Currently running:

    • Grow

    • Sales

    • TECH

    • AWEsome

    In preparation:

    • Manufacturing

    • Global

  • Leaders Talk - Inspirational community meetings

    Where successful entrepreneurs share their inspiring business stories. A key part is networking, where alumni from large companies meet ambitious entrepreneurs who will be the future stars of the Slovenian business scene.

    Open to CEED members, alumni, and friends.

    4 times a year, season 24/25:

    • September 18: Stages of Growth
      Speakers: Marko Verdev, Mikro+Polo; Maja Lotrič, Lotrič Metrology; Uroš Čimžar, legend

    • December 11: New Year's + Clean Fridays
      Speakers: Jure Remškar, SmartCom; Vesna Sodnik, Beseda; Tadej Zajšek, Fabulas; Alja Gajšek, CEED

    • March 19: Succession Slovenian way

    • June 18: Summer party TBD

  • LeaderShare - Expert meetings

    Where successful entrepreneurs share know-how on more specific professional topics such as:

    • How to automate your business and why it’s worth it?

    • How will you finance your growth?

    • How to hire a CEO?

    Since the topics are quite specific, only those genuinely interested in the subject will attend.

    Leaders Share is free for CEED members (+ for their closest collaborators). Tickets for non-members are 140€.

    6 times a year: Season 24/25:

    • October 14: How to automate your business and why it’s worth it?
      Speakers: Teodor Štimec, Optics Trade; Špela Ulbin, Rounded Square

    • November 6: How to hire a CEO?
      Speakers: Katarina Kočet Hudrap, Tiko Pro; Radko Luzar, L-Tek; Blaž Gorjup, PharmaLinea

    • January 21: Employees and the Extra Mile: Myth or Reality?
      Speakers: Jernej Česen, Outfit7; Beate Pečečnik, Polident; Matija Krajnc, Amelia International; Rado Daradan, Hooray Studios - Mali junaki

    • February 12: Family businesses / Successions?

    • April 10: How will you finance your growth?

    • May 15: TBD

  • An important part of the programs at CEED.

    Mentoring relationships are built on trust and open communication, offering entrepreneurs a chance to learn from those who have already walked the path of success.

    How does it work?

    As part of the program, you are assigned a "lead mentor," with whom you identify key strategic challenges. The mentor then supports you throughout the mentoring process.

    Meetings take place approximately once a quarter, but in between, we can connect you with other mentors who have similar challenges and experiences to help you grow and tackle specific problems.

    CEED mentors provide valuable guidance, sharing their knowledge and expertise to help entrepreneurs navigate their growth journey.

    CEED mentors

  • Someone has already solved your problem.

    A practical part of CEED membership is that once or twice a year, we connect you with a member who has already solved your problem. Over coffee (or lemonade), they’ll explain how they did it, what worked, what didn’t, and what to absolutely avoid.

  • Only twice a year.

    At a relaxed, informative gathering, you will get to know the CEED community, learn more about our proven CEED programs, hear experiences from our members, mentors, and alumni, and discover the advantages of membership. You’ll also find out how to join peer-to-peer groups and why the CEED community is so successful and well-connected.

    You will have the opportunity to connect with entrepreneurs who are at the same stage of growth or have already walked your path and are ready to assist you on your journey.

    At the event, you’ll have a chance to talk with mentors—experienced entrepreneurs—who will help you identify challenges and suggest next steps.

“Problem - Solution Matchmaking” for members

Someone has already solved your entrepreneurial problem. That’s why we connect CEED members with entrepreneurs who have already tackled similar challenges. Over coffee (or lemonade), they will share how they did it, offering advice on what to do, what not to do, and what to absolutely avoid.

Networking is an essential part of membership and is unique in Slovenia.

Insights participants took away:

  • "The only way to have a stable team is by establishing trust."

    Andrej Mercina, TRIIIJE projektivni biro

  • "Only when you do things differently than your mentor advised, and after some time realize that you made the wrong decision, do you truly understand the real value."

    Anton Krašovec, Alkimist

  • "What I value most is that the GROW program doesn't stay on the surface – we dive deep into key issues that are often tough and demanding, while also receiving honest and direct feedback, even the ones that aren’t always easy to hear."

    Neli Zovko, Domina Activa

  • "I got a kick in the butt from the mentor. He shattered our idealized view of sales in Slovenia and directed us towards breaking into the European market."

    Eva Štraser, Evegreen

  • "When you realize that you delegate too little, and you have to lead the company in a way that employees take responsibility for their own work."

    Beate Pečečnik, Polident

  • "At every meeting, we discuss where we are making mistakes and how we can improve the service."

    Til Pleterski & Klemen Ptičak, Hood Burger

  • "The meetings made me reflect, and I started writing tasks for a new position that will relieve me. This way, I’ll be able to focus on more important things."

    Jasna Grbić, Makra kozmetika

  • "I would describe a peer-to-peer group as therapy for entrepreneurs."

    Anžej Olaj, Duol

  • "The biggest advantage of CEED is that I can talk to entrepreneurs who are just like me, as well as those who are a few steps ahead of us."

    Marko Sladič, Hemptouch

  • "When you start talking to people about other things, you get ideas on how to solve your daily problems."

    Mitja Pajek, Cestel

  • "I’m now on the right path to step back from the operations and focus on the vision and strategy for the future. I recommend it – I even brought a friend to repeat the program."

    Edi Šuc, Guru

  • "The greatest benefit I see is being able to share our experiences and stories in peer-to-peer groups. A big advantage are also the guests at the meetings, who are amazing and top-notch."

    Marko Petek, Odvetništvo Petek

  • "I came into contact with CEED at the right moment because I needed a push and support on how to move forward, how to manage this growth, these changes."

    Zarja Mavec, Inalbea

  • "You realize that you're not the only one facing problems in your business, but that others have similar ones, and at the same time, you hear solutions and how others are dealing with the challenges."

    Miha Šmid, Koin

  • "I realized where my company was facing difficulties, and based on that, I brought in a colleague to whom I had planned to hand over the leadership of the company."

    Petra Prcač Dolinšek, Otroška akademija

  • "I've set my focus, and now I can confidently say where we're going and what still needs to be done."

    Tone Dolenšek, Fin-servis

Who makes the lemonade?

The CEED environment is created by a team that believes entrepreneurs will change the world and that there is no business problem that cannot be solved (or, that someone hasn’t already solved it).

  • Andrej Šolinc

    Managing Director

  • Miha Zajc

    Program Creator

  • Rebeka Štante Šmid

    Finance Manager

  • Samo Geršak

    Marketing & Bussiness strategy

  • Slavica Tucakov

    PR

  • Uroš Čimžar

    Mr. Podcast Pika na P

  • Primož Hvala

    Sales Roasts Grillmaster

  • https://mojefinance.finance.si/8984137/%28Intervju%29-Mira-Koporcic-Veljic-O-sedanjosti-in-prihodnosti-upravljanja-vzajemnih-skladov-konkurenci-ETF-in-kriptovalut-ter-o-alternativnih-skladih

    Mira Koporčić Veljić

    Vodja programa Early Warning Slovenija

  • Teodor Štimec

    Moderator E-comm peer-per skupine

  • Lea Benedejčič

    Moderatorka WEI (Women Entrepreneurs Inspire) peer-peer skupine

  • Andrej Slapnik

    Moderator Tech per-peer supine