DATANA, developed by Slovenian company BioSistemika, has won the 2026 Pitching Competition at Podim 2026, one of the leading startup and technology events in the Alps-Adriatic and Western Balkans region.
Held from May 11–13 in Maribor, the conference gathered more than 1,100 attendees from 34 countries, alongside over 60 venture capital funds and private investors managing more than €10 billion in assets. The event also featured 220 selected startups, over 90 international speakers, and more than 1,100 pre-arranged one-on-one meetings between founders, investors, and corporations.
DATANA Wins The Final
The Podim Pitching Competition is one of the conference’s central startup initiatives, designed to increase visibility for high-potential startups and connect them with investors and strategic partners.
This year, more than 1,000 startups applied to participate, with 220 selected for the Podim startup catalogue.
Following an online Demo Day in early May, an international jury shortlisted the top 10 startups before selecting five finalists during the semi-finals held on May 11.
The finalists included:
- DATANA (Slovenia)
- Groundcom (Czech Republic)
- GHOSTS by anyconcept (Austria)
- REALTRACING (Slovenia)
- Kardi AI (Czech Republic)
For the first time in the competition’s history, Slovenian startups reached the final stage.
Advertisement
DNA-Based Long-Term Data Storage
The jury and audience selected DATANA as the overall winner for its approach to long-term digital data storage using synthetic DNA.
The technology enables offline storage with extremely long durability while aiming to improve protection against cyber threats and physical data breaches.
According to the company, the solution offers a sustainable alternative to traditional data storage systems while supporting large-scale archival preservation over extended periods.
Founder Commentary
Following the win, Anže Smerdelj from DATANA said the recognition validates the team’s work as the company prepares for its next stage of growth and fundraising.
He also encouraged other startups to participate in the competition, highlighting the importance of clearly communicating the market problem and vision beyond the underlying technology itself.
Expanding Beyond A Regional Startup Event
This year’s edition marked a broader strategic shift for Podim as it continues positioning itself as a cross-border platform connecting Central and Southeastern Europe with international investors, founders, and institutions.
New partnerships with initiatives including Scale-X by UNIDO, Future 500, and Bits & Pretzels further expanded the conference’s international reach.
A major focus of the event was Europe’s ongoing challenge in scaling innovative companies globally despite strong engineering talent and research output.
Investors And Networking
More than 120 investors attended the conference, including representatives from funds such as Silicon Gardens, South Central Ventures, Enterprise Investors, and TechAngels.
The conference also hosted over 1,100 curated meetings through the Podim Deal Room, connecting startups with investors, corporations, and ecosystem partners.
International Speakers
The event featured more than 90 speakers from 21 countries, covering topics including deep tech, AI, fintech, venture capital, and startup scaling.
Speakers included Robin Wauters, Amir Salihefendić, Ioan Iacob, and Stjepan Orešković.
About Podim
Podim 2026 is a startup and technology conference based in Maribor, Slovenia. With a history spanning more than four decades, the event connects startups, investors, corporations, and innovation ecosystem players across Central and Southeastern Europe.
