How (and where) to start?
Your quick links
Savinjska region incubator
SPOT Consulting
Regional Chamber of Craft and Small Business Celje
LAS Raznolikost podeželja
RRA Savinjska
LASR Savinjske doline
The start of an entrepreneurial journey is often a mix of excitement, endless questions, and the feeling that you’re on your own.
From that first spark of an idea to registering your business and finding your first customers, the path can feel fragmented and winding, scattered between forms, institutions, and invisible hurdles you only notice once you’re right in front of them.
You shouldn’t have to navigate this alone. And this is what this guide is for: to show you exactly who can help, when, and how.
Step 1: You have an idea, but don’t know where to start
An entrepreneurial journey usually begins with the desire to improve something, make it easier, or do it differently. The idea feels crystal clear until you start researching what it actually takes to make it real. Suddenly, you’re faced with questions about legal forms, procedures, paperwork, and responsibilities you have never heard about.
To make this beginning a little easier, here are the key spots where you can find the right information and the people who will point you in the right direction.
Savinjska region incubator
SPOT consulting (the VEM spot)
Regional chamber of craft and small business Celje
Step 2: Test and develop your idea
When you’re looking for a way to test if your idea works in practice—whether it’s a new product, service, or a local initiative—having the right space for development and support during those first steps is key.
If you need mentorship, training, or a workspace in a professional startup environment, the Savinjska Region Incubator is the place to go. However, if you are developing a project that contributes to the growth of the countryside, the community, or the environment, be sure to check out LAS Diversity of the Countryside.
Explore how they can help you at the incubatorStep 3: You are already growing and looking to scale
Once your business takes off, new questions arise: how to improve processes, expand your range, increase visibility, or explore new markets? This stage requires the right information, connections, and access to a support system that understands the specific challenges of growth.
In addition to the Savinjska Region Incubator, you can turn to the Regional Chamber of Craft and Small Business Celje for practical support tailored to micro and small businesses. For connections with larger economic systems and export-oriented companies, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS) is your key partner. You can also take advantage of numerous public calls published by various national support institutions.
Furthermore, the City Municipality of Celje provides its own annual support schemes specifically for businesses within the local community.
Step 4: You connect, exchange and give back
Entrepreneurship is rarely a successful solo adventure. Most often, the key ideas, contacts, or solutions emerge during a conversation with someone who has already walked in your shoes or is headed where you want to go. That is why connecting with fellow entrepreneurs is one of the most powerful levers for growth and development.
In our community, there are countless opportunities for networking, collaboration, and exchange. Once you are established, a new path opens up: one that leads to mentoring, supporting young startups, or participating in local initiatives. Your story carries a wealth of experience that absolutely deserves to be shared with others.
Explore networking opportunities- Sonja Majcen, director at Savinjska region incubator
