Company Nizkocenovci is developing the tech platform GoAvio for connecting low-cost flights with train and bus transport, giving users of big flight search engines, such as Skyscanner, options for cheaper transport. At the gala conclusion of the first day of the international PODIM Conference in Maribor, company Nizkocenovci received the Slovenian Startup of the Year 2016 award, with which key stakeholders of the Slovenian startup ecosystem wish to highlight and reward companies and teams whose persistence, global achievements and bold development vision make them into a role model of the Slovenian and global startup environment.
 


 

Which problem does the GoAvio technology solve?

Airline tickets can be very expensive. There are often a lot cheaper low-cost flights from a nearby airport, but the problem is that such information can't be found on any website.
 

From Ljubljana to Amsterdam for less than 50€

This problem is effectively being solved by the startup company Nizkocenovci, which is developing the GoAvio technology for connecting low-cost flights with train and bus transfers, and thus finding possibilities that are cheaper than only air transport. Such a solution is best illustrated with an example of a user who flies from Ljubljana to Brussels with the Wizzair provider, then goes from Brussels to Amsterdam by bus, and pays less than 50€ for the entire trip.
 

Technology for big search engines

The company is developing its technology for big flight search engines, such as Skyscanner and others, where more than 100 million users look for air transport each month. Now they will be able to use the GoAvio platform to find cheaper transport options.
 

Winning team and investors

The winning team GoAvio consists of Matej Gaser, Uroš Simovič, Matej Velikonja and Jan Gorjanc, who first received an angel investment and Slovene Enterprise Fund's SK50 investment at the start of this year, then also a 300,000 € worth investment of the Bulgarian venture capital fund Launchub and the Czech-based Credo Ventures.
 

Award: mentoring from 500startups

The winning team will receive the mentorship of Marvin Liao, partner of the elite American accelerator 500startups, a meeting with the renowned investor Tim Draper, an “all-inclusive” package for the Pioneers Festival in Vienna, a ticket for ABC Accelerator's Demo Day, and 1000 EUR on a prepaid Visa card of Nova KBM.
 

Startup of the Year 2016 Announcement Ceremony

The gala conclusion of the first day of entrepreneurial activities in Maribor at the PODIM Conference happened at the evening award ceremony for the Slovenian Startup of the Year 2016, with which the key stakeholders of the Slovenian startup ecosystem wish to highlight and reward companies and teams whose persistence, global achievements and bold development vision make them a role model in the Slovenian and international startup environment.
 

Award upgrade

This year, the Startup of the Year award is strongly upgraded, as it is a project of tight collaboration of active stakeholders in the Slovenian startup ecosystem. The already traditional organizers and award givers – Initiative Start:up Slovenia, Slovene Enterprise Fund and the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology – were joined by the ABC Accelerator, whose ambitious plans bring fresh energy not only into the Slovenian but also the broader regional entrepreneurship ecosystem.
 

Ten nominees in two competitive categories

This year's award upgrade is also shown in the fact that ten nominated companies in two competitive categories compete for it. The first group of five finalists are the so-called “young challengers”, which are those startup companies in the earliest development stages that ranked best in the process of the competition Start:up Slovenia. The second group of finalists is formed by five startups in different development stages, nominated by the stakeholders of the Slovenian ecosystem.
 

This year's finalists

This year, 10 finalists thus competed for the respected Startup of the Year award. The group of young challengers consisted of startup companies Blub Blub, Feelif, Ulla Labs, VinTech and 45HC.com, and the group of companies nominated by the startup ecosystem stakeholders consisted of startups ADORA MED, Gotoky, Nizkocenovci, Doctrina and Chipolo.
 

Jury

All ten finalists were evaluated by seven members of the jury at the PODIM conference. It was formed by esteemed Slovenian and foreign entrepreneurs: Maria Anselmi (Bisnode), Matt Mayfield (Telekta), Niko Klanšek (FlyKly), Julien Coustaury (Fil Rouge Capital), Aljoša Domijan (Gambit Trade), Boštjan Bregar (4th Office) and Stephen Mooney (Synoptic Technologies). You can find more about the selection, evaluation criteria and award at this link.