The Startup Ecosystem Canvas project seeks to provide local entrepreneurs with a clear list of resources for every stage of their startup journey, and outline a basic framework for communities to map their ecosystem.
With applications for the Zagreb Founder Institute coming to a close, we are excited to release an updated version of the Croatia Startup Ecosystem Canvas (in v3 below)! It was developed by the Zagreb Founder Institute, local leaders, and commenting from the public.
This is a working document - more input is needed, so please leave your comments on this collaborative Google document, and it will be considered for the next update.
If you are looking to launch a company in Croatia, then apply to the Zagreb Founder Institute today.
A text version is included below, for searchability:
Startup Stages
There is no one right way to build a technology company, but for the sake of simplicity we have outlined a basic, common, sequential framework.
1. Idea Stage
This is where new entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build their team and product.
- Inspire
- Startup Media: Centralized local information, listings, and news. (i.e. startup blogs/ publications/ lists/ FB groups/ newsletters)
- ICTBusiness.info
- Mojbiz
- N1TV :StarhTech Show
- N1TV :TechRadar Show
- Netokracija.hr
- Poslovni.hr
- Prviplan.hr
- StartupCroatia.com
- Startup Digest Croatia
- StartupZagreb.com
- zimo.denvnik.hr
- Inspirational Events: Open, inclusive, beginner startup events (i.e. Startup Weekend, idea fairs, and inspirational meetups)
- CISEx Friday
- CRO Business Cafe
- CRO Business Caffe
- Fuckup Nights
- Lean Startup Drill
- Lean Startup Meetup
- Open Coffee, Split
- OpenCoffee Split
- Software Startup Akademija, Osijek
- StartupGrind-Zagreb
- Startup Inkubator Rijeka
- Startup srijeda by Crane
- Tech PARK Varazdin
- Tvornica Ideja Dubrovnik
- UP Zagreb
- Educate
- Best Practices: Beginner knowledge-sharing events. (i.e. beginner events that serve to educate more than inspirate)
- Agile Adria
- BIOS Osijek
- BizKoshnica
- Impact Hub Zagreb
- Koprivnički inkubator
- OpenCoffee Split
- Plavi ured
- Split Tech City
- Startup Factory Zagreb
- Startup Founder 101
- Startup Inkubator Rijeka
- Tech PARK Varazdin
- Tvornica Ideja Dubrovnik
- Training & Feedback: Skill & Idea development. (Ex. bootcamps and comprehensive training programs)
- Algebra Lab
- Founder Institute
- Idea Knock Out By Bug.hr
- Microsoft Startup Academy
- Startup academy
- Techstar Startup Weekend
- The Inkubator (by Impact Hub Zagreb)
- Validate
- Team Formation: Resources for teaming up. (i.e. events or other resources that facilitate early-stage recruitment and cofounder matching)
- Agile Hrvatska
- AI Future Intelligence
- Big Data Zagreb
- Bitcoin Group Zagreb
- Blockchain Investment Group Zagreb
- Coding Croatia
- Corporate Innovation & Intrepreneurship
- Croatia Startup Founder 101
- Data Science Croatia
- DATA Science Economy Meetup
- eCommerce Hrvatska
- Fintech Zagreb
- Founding Moms Zagreb
- Internet of Things Croatia
- IxDA Croatia
- Lean Startup Croatia
- Lean Startup Meetup
- Startup Grind Zagreb
- STEM 4 Health & AgTech
- TeamUP by FI Zagreb & Lean Startup Croatia
- Travel & Technology
- Zagreb Freelancers
- Zagreb Skills Exchange
- Build First Product: Hackathons & resources to build. (i.e. hackathons and other builder-focused events and resources)
- Adriatic Fintech
- Agile Croatia
- ERSTE Finnovation Hackathon
- Idea Knock Out By Bug.hr
- INNOVATE by SAP
- Lean Startup Drill
- SAP Now
- vblatu Meetup
- Webcamp
2. Launch Stage
In this stage, entrepreneurs establish and formalize the company, develop the product, get feedback from customers, and prepare for the next step.
- Start
- Establish: Law firms and banks for startups.
- Addiko
- Delloite
- Erste
- Oukp.hr
- PBZ Investment Bank
- PWC
- Skerlev in cooperation with BRADVICA MARIĆ WAHL CESAREC Law Firm
- VIPO Group
- Vukmir
- Zagrebačka banka
- Workspace: Co-working and flexible workspaces.
- Algebra Lab
- BizKoshnica
- Center For Transfer of Technologies Zagreb
- Core HUB Zagreb
- Coworking Croatia
- HUB385
- Impact Hub Zagreb
- Lauba
- NovaTech Ltd
- Offspace intelligent offices
- Osijek software city
- PODI Šibenik
- Silos Rijeka
- South East European Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning SEECEL
- STEPRI
- Technology park Varaždin
- Tvornica ideja Dubrovnik
- Urbani Inkubator
- Develop
- Formalize: Accounting, development and HR for early-stage startups.
- Calyx
- Crowe Horwath
- Five Minutes
- Hodicon
- Infinum
- Marker
- Startaparat
- Studio Revolucija
- Talent Lyft
- UX Passion
- Prepare for Seed: Incubators and advanced mentorship. (i.e. advanced knowledge sharing, later stage events and resources for startup teams)
- Algebra Lab
- CISEX
- Founder Institute
- Startup Factory Zagreb
- Launch
- Seed Accelerators: Seed funding mentor programs. (i.e. Techstars and similar programs that provide seed-funding)
- ABC Akcelerator
- Algebra Lab
- Core Incubator
- Eleven Accelerator
- Hub Raum
- LaunchHub
- SPOCK
- Startup Factory
- STARTUP Inkubator Rijeka
- STEP Incubator
- Pitch & Demo: Show local startups for investment (i.e. demo days for companies seeking seed investment)
- AccellBootOs
- Algebra Lab
- BIOS INCUBATOR Osijek
- Eleven Start Trek
- Eleven Start Trek
- Famelab by Open Science Festival
- G2 Conference
- HUB Gacka 16
- Idea Knockout by Bug.hr
- Idea Knockout by Bug.hr
- Impact Hub Zagreb
- Koprivnički poduzetnik
- Lean Startup Croatia
- Moja Zaba Start
- Netokracija
- OpenCoffee Split
- RockPaperStartups, Rijeka
- Shift Split
- Software City Osijek
- Split - SPLIT Tech City
- Startup Factory Zagreb
- Startup Inkubator Rijeka
- Startup Island, Vis
- Startup Island Rovinj
- Tech PARK Varazdin
- TeDx Zagreb
- Tvornica Ideja Dubrovnik
- Voogle Varaždin
- Zagreb Connect
3. Growth Stage
Here, a startup proves their utility, receives recognition, and scales up. This usually requires funding, angels, VCs, and ways to connect them to startups.
- Recognition
- Investor Networking: Connect professional investors with founders. (i.e. events or groups that facilitate connections with professional investors)
- EBAN Winter University
- Famelab by Open Science Festival
- G2 Conference
- Idea Knockout by Bug.hr
- RockPaperStartups
- Shift Split
- Startup Camp Vis
- Startup Island Rovinj
- TeDx Zagreb
- Voogle Varaždin
- Zagreb Connect
- Major Media: Mainstream local business press. (i.e. major local or regional publications that frequently champion local businesses)
- Banka.hr
- Bug.hr
- Business.hr
- Dnevnik
- IQ
- Lider.hr
- Limun.hr
- Mreža.hr
- Netokracija.com
- Poslovni.hr
- Privredni.hr
- Prviplan.hr
- Tportal
- Women In Adria
- Funding
- Angels / Micro-VCs: Seed-stage investors
- 3TS
- Alternative Private Equity
- Capital Day One
- Credo
- Croatian Angel Investors / CRANE
- Earlybird
- Enern
- Eternitas
- Eternity
- Finance In Motion
- Founderbeam
- Founder Invest
- Honestas
- Invento Capital Partners
- Launchub
- Meta Ventures
- Prosperus
- RSG Capital
- South Central Ventures
- Speedinvest
- Traction Tribe
- Growth
- Infrastructure: Office space, HR, insurance & more. (i.e. office space/ HR/ insurance providers for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)
- Allianz
- Instant Offices Croatia
- Expansion: Growth accelerators/consultants. (i.e. programs and business consultants for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)
- AT Kerney
- Delloite
- Ernst & Young
- Interfocus Advisors
- Invento Capital Partners
- PWC
- Roland Berger
- SEE Regional Advisors
- Simulus Group
- The Inkubator
4. Success Stories
Successful homegrown companies that have raised significant institutional funding, employ a large workforce, or have achieved liquidity.
- Agrivi d.o.o.
- Amphinicy Technologies - Blink
- Amplifico - Parklio
- Apenture d.o.o.
- Async Labs d.o.o. - My Beeline
- Bioinventa d.o.o. - Walligami
- Circuit Mess d.o.o. - MakerBuino
- Combis d.o.o. - Olive Manager
- Diversitas IT Systems Ltd -Mash.me
- Dok Ing Automotiv
- Dok-ing d.o.o.
- Drap.agency d.o.o.- V-Health Lab
- Effiepoint
- E-glas d.o.o. - Serwantess
- Eter.io
- Exaltum Ultra
- Fistnet - Dot metrics
- Frames Page
- FSB - RONNA – robot surgeon
- GammaChef
- Gauss d.o.o.
- Genos DNA laboratorij d.o.o.
- Geo3D
- Gideon Brothers d.o.o.
- GisCloud
- H2O Robotics
- Hangar 18
- Hipersfera d.o.o. - Hypersphere
- HUBIGG
- iCat d.o.o. - Electrical Boats
- Include d.o.o. - Steora Smart Benches
- Inetec d.o.o. - Industrial Robotics
- Infinum d.o.o.
- Infobip d.o.o.
- Itel d.o.o. - Sail Router
- J.P. Atelier d.o.o. - My Rent
- Kod savjetovanje - Code Consulting
- Lemax d.o.o. - iTravel
- Locodels
- MadBarz
- Me.mum
- MediaToolkit
- Microblink d.o.o.
- Mobile Vehicle Technology
- Mobilna Informatika - Repsly
- Modulos Sustavi Namještaja d.o.o,
- Nanobit
- Nanody
- Noomly
- Oradian - Instafin
- Pametni bar d.o.o. - Trakbar
- Pet minuta d.o.o. - Five
- Prostec
- Q Alijansa d.o.o. - Q Software
- RASCO Holder d.o.o. - Electrical Communal Vehicals
- Rentlio
- Rimac Cars
- Selk d.d.
- Sentinel Marine Solutions
- Smart Sense
- Smart Technologies - CodeAnyWhere
- Software Sauna d.o.o.
- Solvis d.o.o.
- Stratowave Connect j.d.o.o.
- Studio Rebus d.o.o. - Meridda
- Styria medijski servisi - Data Science
- Tehnix
- Tenzor d.o.o. - Orca FPV.One
- Viagem IT d.o.o. - Orioly
- Viking d.o.o. - Gy3o
- Vollo tehnologije d.o.o.
Supporters
To facilitate the steps, every ecosystem needs strong supporters.
1. Evangelists
Successful local founders who lead the ecosystem & frequently mentor newbies.
- Ante Magzan
- Augustin Jarak
- Branimir Golob
- Brian Pashalich
- Damir Bičanić
- Damir Sabol
- Davorin Štetner
- Davor Runje
- Davor Tremac
- Dino Bendeković
- Dino Ravnić
- Dražen Nikolić
- Flip Stipančić
- Frane Šesnić
- Hajdi Čenan
- Helena Rosandić
- Hermes Ariaga
- Hrvoje Prpic
- Iva Matasić
- Ivana Šoljan
- Ivan Brezak Brkan
- Ivan Burazin
- Ivo Spigel
- Johnathan Cooper
- Kristian Ravić
- Kristina Ercegovic
- Leo Mršić
- Luigi Ammati
- Luka Abrus
- Luka Sucic
- Marijana Šarolić Robić
- Marko Kovač
- Martina Golčić
- Mate Rimac
- Matija Kopic
- Michael Glazer
- Michela Magaš
- Mihovil Barancic
- Milan Račić
- Mirjana Joksović
- Mladen Vukmir
- Monika Mikac
- Nenad Bakić
- Sasa Cvetojevic
- Saša Lamza
- Tihana Petricevic
- Tina Lee Odinsky Zec
- Toni Trivkovic
- Viktor Marohnic
- Vladimir De Franceschi
2. Government
Public organizations that facilitate local economic development
- 57 regional and city development agencies
- American Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
- BIOCENTRE - Biotech Incubator
- BIOS incubator Osijek
- Blue Office (Plaviured.hr) - Zagreb
- Croatian-German Industry and Trade Chamber
- Croatian robotic digital innovation hub (CROBOHUB)
- Doing Business Croatia
- EUC 4 Biz Zagreb
- HAMAG-BICRO
- INNOVATION Centre Nikola Tesla - ICENT
- Invest Croatia
- Local/regional-government-organized Chambers of Commerce (Gospodarska Komora)
- Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Small Business
- Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
- Ruđer Bošković Institute
- Startup Inkubator Rijeka
- Tech PARK Varazdin
- Tvornica Ideja Dubrovnik
- Zagrebački Inovacijski centar - ZICER
3. Talent
Major local business or tech universities and employers that attract and retain local talent.
- Local Universities (universities with prominent technical or business programs)
- Algebra
- Coturgli
- IGBS
- University of Split
- University of Zagreb
- Vern University
- Visoko Tehničko Učilište
- ZSEM
- Local Employers (Major technical employers, like Microsoft or Google, with large local offices)
- Abrakadabra
- Agrivi
- Aseco SEE
- AVAYA
- Bellabeat
- Combis
- Croatian Telekom/Iskon
- Ekonerg
- Ericsson Nikola Tesla
- Farmeron
- GDI Group
- Geophoto
- GISCloud
- IBM Hrvatska
- IN2
- Infobip
- Koncar
- Locodeals
- Microsoft
- Mireo
- mStart
- Nanobit
- Oradian
- Perpetum Mobile
- Rimac Cars
- S&T Croatia
- SAP
- Sedam IT
- Siemens
-
SPAN
-
Tele 2
-
Telegra
-
Vipnet
Learn more about the Startup Ecosystem Canvas here, and leave us your thoughts on the Croatia Canvas on this collaborative Google document, or on Twitter using the hashtag #ecosystemcanvas. This is a perpetual work in progress, and it will be updated frequently, so we want your feedback!
