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StartLabs
StartLabs operates as a US-based early-stage fund executing a distinctly transatlantic thesis: source startup talent from Southeast Europe, provide an...
StartLabs
StartLabs operates as a US-based early-stage fund executing a distinctly transatlantic thesis: source startup talent from Southeast Europe, provide an intensive six-month residency in San Francisco and Belgrade, and prepare companies for US seed rounds. The firm's public footprint places it in a hybrid category — part micro-fund, part accelerator, wholly focused on the Western Balkans. Portfolio companies receive up to $50,000 in seed capital alongside incorporation, legal, accounting, and office infrastructure (per the firm's website). The strategy concentrates on pre-seed and seed-stage software companies, with confirmed positions in productivity monitoring (WorkPuls), recommerce for children's goods (Kidster), customized fragrance (Fragrance By Me), connected-car hardware (CarLock), and legal practice management. Sectors mapped to the portfolio span Enterprise Software, Mobility & Transportation, and LegalTech. The firm does not disclose later-stage or fund-to-fund commitments. Geographic sourcing is anchored in Serbia, with broader Southeast Europe reach, and the dual-office structure in San Francisco and Belgrade explicitly connects portfolio companies to Silicon Valley angels and VCs for subsequent fundraising. General Partner Nebojša Veron, previously CTO across five tech startups, anchors the investment team alongside partners with backgrounds in Serbian private equity and European technology investing. The firm maintains a roster of over 20 named mentors drawn from Google, 500 Startups, Mithril Capital, and Second Life's founding team (per firm website). In 2018, StartLabs announced a partnership with Microsoft's BizSpark program, providing additional technical infrastructure to portfolio companies. StartLabs' structural distinction is a residency requirement embedded in its financing model: portfolio founders relocate for hands-on, daily office-based collaboration with StartLabs partners. This in-person acceleration mandate, combined with a single-office bridge between San Francisco and Belgrade, creates a conduit that operationalizes Balkan startup access to US venture capital networks — a labor-intensive architecture rarely replicated at this check size.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
San Francisco
Corporate office
1355 Market Street, Ste. 488, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States
Additional offices
Belgrade, Serbia
Principals
Nebojša Veron
General Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at StartLabs?
Investment decisions are led by General Partner Nebojša Veron, a serial software entrepreneur and CTO who draws on over 20 years of development experience across five technology startups. The firm lists two additional general partners with backgrounds in European technology investing and the Serbian Private Equity Association, though their names are not disclosed on the website. A wider mentorship panel from Google, 500 Startups, and Mithril Capital advises portfolio companies but does not appear to sit on an investment committee.
How does StartLabs source proprietary deal flow?
StartLabs sources primarily from the Western Balkans, with a focus on Serbia, by running events, workshops, and meetups featuring US-based guests to activate the local startup community. The firm's dual-office presence in San Francisco and Belgrade creates a physical pipeline connecting Southeast European founders to Silicon Valley networks. Its website frames this as a private-sector catalyst for an ecosystem it describes as embryonic.
Is StartLabs structured as a venture firm or an accelerator?
StartLabs operates as a hybrid: it makes direct seed investments — up to $50,000 per company — but attaches a six-month residency program that includes office space, daily one-on-one mentoring, incorporation support, and legal setup. This residency requirement, combined with portfolio companies working physically alongside StartLabs partners, gives the fund an accelerator-like operational layer that extends beyond a typical capital-only early-stage fund.
Does StartLabs participate in follow-on rounds or only initial seed checks?
StartLabs describes its entry point as helping startups achieve initial traction and reach a point where they can raise true seed rounds from other investors. The firm provides additional hands-on help after the six-month program as needed, but does not specify whether it reserves capital for follow-on participation. Its public materials emphasize introductions to Silicon Valley boosters, angels, and VCs for subsequent funding.
What geographies does StartLabs invest in?
StartLabs invests exclusively in startups from Southeast Europe, with a clear operational footprint in Serbia and the broader Western Balkans region. Its dual-office structure — San Francisco for US investor access and Belgrade for on-the-ground sourcing and residency — reflects the firm's thesis that Balkan founders benefit from a bridging mechanism into Silicon Valley venture networks.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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