After many years of writing mostly about tourism, the world of Croatian startups is an area that I find not only much more interesting, but also one with infinitely more potential.
These young entrepreneurs are of the younger generation, less held back by the baggage of the past, and much more focus on business and the future, rather than politics and history. There are, I believe, a fundamental cornerstone in the building of Croatia 2.0.
It has been a pleasure meeting several of them in person, to listen to their youthful drive, ideas and energy, and to watch their progress as they become more internationally recognised. As such, it was great to see two of my favourites feature in an interesting little list by www.eu-startups.com on 10 Promising Startups to Watch in 2021.
These two Croatian startups were introduced as follows:
Worcon – Founded in 2017, Worcon is a B2B marketplace, connecting industry buyers with suppliers in manufacturing and CNC machining industry. Their solution is suited for small and large manufacturers, cooperators or large enterprise companies looking for a new market or looking for specific products with certain dimensions and quality. The Varaždin-based team landed around €400K in 2021.
MIRET – This Zagreb-based startup recognises the impact of fast fashion on the planet, and has created a new footwear technology solution using around 97% natural fibres. In 2020, the company closed a crowdfunding round, a convertible note, a grant and a private equity round of around €300K to reach more customers with their sustainable solution.
Both were featured in some depth recently on TCN, after I sat down with Worcon CRO Tin Keskic and MIRET co-founder Domagoj Boljar, whose shoe company recently won Sustainable Fashion Gold at the 14th IDA Design Awards.
You can learn more about MIRET’s amazing story in our TCN feature – With 20 BILLION New Shoes a Year, Meet MIRET’s 97% Natural Eco Sneakers Collection.
Worcon is also another fantastic success story, as CEO Tin Keskic explained during our sit-down chat ahead of the launch of his Machine Desk project management software release. Learn more in Worcon, Croatian Innovation & Personality in the Machine Tool Industry.
Two great stories in this fabulous list of ten Croatian startups to watch in 2021. And these are the tip of the iceberg. Follow the TCN Made in Croatia section for the latest new innovations coming out of Croatia.
