Next January, Belgrade will become home to a Tesla venture studio, a regional hub for nurturing and expanding startups. This initiative was announced by Marko Čadež, President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, at a press conference during the Web Summit in Lisbon.
The venture studio is seen as a reflection of the rapid growth of Serbia’s startup ecosystem, and Čadež emphasized that the Chamber of Commerce is committed to supporting innovative companies not only in Serbia but also across the region.
“Over the past decade, Serbia has transformed, and today our companies are offering some of the most innovative solutions, spanning industries from automotive to IT,” Čadež remarked. He highlighted examples of local success, including the development of Microsoft’s AI Azure at Belgrade’s tech hub and the smart driving camera systems developed by Novi Sad’s RT-RK, which are used by major automotive brands, including Volvo.
Katarina Galić, founder of “Ixlerdzi SusTek Powerhouse” and representative of Web Summit Serbia, shared her excitement about the project. She emphasized that Serbia’s pool of talented engineers has created a unique opportunity to establish a startup-focused venture studio in the country. “We want to make Belgrade a regional center for startup development, with plans to expand further into Europe with our partners,” she said.
Antoine Norman, a former director of Virgin Unite Africa and a key figure in the Tesla venture studio, also participated in the event. She expressed her belief in the energy and potential of Serbia’s startup scene, citing her extensive global experience working with startups from Africa to the USA.
The event was attended by Prince Guillaume Jean-Joseph Marie of Luxembourg and Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Xavier Bethel, who visited the Serbian Pavilion at the Web Summit to discuss the country’s growing startup ecosystem with Serbian Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation, Jelena Begović, and Čadež.
Minister Begović proudly noted Serbia’s significant achievement at the Web Summit, calling it a success for the country. “Serbia had 60 companies at the Web Summit, with 24 having permanent setups,” she said. She emphasized that this platform provides Serbian companies with the opportunity to present themselves to a global audience and attract further investment.
Despite the competitiveness of the global market, Minister Begović underscored that Serbia has the ideas and talent to thrive on the world stage.
