Navigating the Croatian Startup Ecosystem

What is a Startup Ecosystem?

First, let’s define what a startup ecosystem consists of and what its goal is.

A good ecosystem should provide quality support to entrepreneurs, making their startup journey easier and more successful. Ultimately, it should be able to grow the number and percentage of successful startups. For an entrepreneur, the ecosystem should navigate them through every step of the way, offering support whenever necessary. 

Here’s a comprehensive list of the members of the Croatian startup ecosystem and what you can expect from them.

Startups

We've singled out some notable startups and scale-ups for a quick overview:

Infobip (Communications/Telecommunications)

Rimac Automobili (Automotive)

Bellabeat (Healthtech)

Photomath (Edtech)

Sofascore (Sports Tech)

Agrivi (Agritech)

Aircash (Fintech)

Cognism (Martech)

Repsly (Retail Tech)

Gideon (Robotics)

Of course, there are many other interesting startups in Croatia and the mapping is currently in progress so hopefully we'll be able to link to a quality map here soon. 

Incubators and Accelerators

In Zagreb:

Impact Hub Zagreb: Part of a global network offering coworking space, mentorship, and support for social enterprises

Founder Institute Croatia: A global accelerator with a chapter in Croatia providing a structured program for early-stage startups, including mentorship, networking, and training

Bird: Offers various startup support services, including mentorship and access to funding

ZICER (Zagreb Innovation Centre): Provides resources and support for startups, including office space, workshops, and access to a network of investors and mentors

Smion: An accelerator supporting innovative startups with mentorship and funding

In Osijek:

BIOS Poduzetnički Inkubator: An incubator in Osijek providing office space, mentorship, and networking opportunities

In Novska:

PISMO: An incubator in Novska providing office space, mentorship, and networking opportunities for gaming startups 

Venture Builders/Startup Studios:

Martian: Supports startups through venture building, offering resources, mentorship, and funding

Bornfight: Focuses on building and funding tech startups, providing them with technical and business expertise
 

Government and Public Institutions

HAMAG-BICRO: The Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovations, and Investments, offering grants, financial support, and advisory services for startups

Croatian Chamber of Economy: Provides networking opportunities, resources, and advocacy for businesses

City of Zagreb: Local government initiatives supporting startups and entrepreneurship through grants, events, and infrastructure development
 

Universities 

University of Zagreb: Offers entrepreneurship programs, has technology transfer offices (example: NUQLEUS), and supports innovation through research and development

University of Split and University of Rijeka: Both have programs and initiatives to support startups, including incubators, research facilities, and mentorship programs

Algebra LAB: offers entrepreneurial education and mentors, a network of professional contacts
 

Investors and Venture Capital

South Central Ventures: A regional VC firm investing in Croatian startups, providing capital, mentorship, and strategic support

Fil Rouge Capital: Offers funding and support to early-stage startups, including seed and pre-seed investment

Feelsgood Social Impact Investment Fund: Focuses on social enterprises and startups with a positive impact, providing financial support and mentorship

SQ Capital: Provides investment opportunities for startups, including funding and strategic guidance
 

Events, Conferences, and Competitions

Zagreb Connect: A startup competition and conference offering networking opportunities and exposure to investors and industry leaders

Idea Knockout: A competition for innovative ideas, providing exposure and potential funding opportunities for startups

Infobip Shift: A large developer conference organized by Infobip, offering networking opportunities and exposure to global tech trends

Zagreb Slush’D: An event inspired by the famous Slush conference, bringing together startups, investors, and industry experts
 

Support Networks and Communities

CRO Startup - Croatian Startup Association: Provides advocacy, networking, and support for startups, promoting the growth of the startup ecosystem

CISEx: Croatian Independent Software Exporters association, providing support and networking for software startups

CRANE: Croatian Business Angels Network, offering investment opportunities, mentorship, and networking for startups

DIGITAL DALMATIA is a project initiated by the Split-Dalmatia County, with the intention of encouraging and developing the ICT sector and to build startup ecosystem in the county
 

Media

Netokracija: A leading tech blog and media outlet covering startup news and events in Croatia and the region.

Poduzetnik: A media outlet focused on entrepreneurship, providing news, insights, and resources for startups.

Poslovni Dnevnik: Business news portal covering economic and startup-related news.

Lider: A business magazine covering the entrepreneurial landscape, offering insights, analysis, and news relevant to startups.

Coworking Spaces

In Zagreb:

Hub385: A well-known coworking space in Zagreb that hosts events, workshops, and provides a collaborative workspace for startups.

WESPA Spaces: Provides coworking options in Zagreb with flexible office spaces and a supportive community.

See more coworking spaces across Croatia and a guide through coworking spaces.

Final comments


The Croatian startup ecosystem is dynamic and growing, supported by a mix of successful startups, accelerators, coworking spaces, government initiatives, universities, investors, and a vibrant community of entrepreneurs. This comprehensive network provides aspiring entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship, and funding necessary to navigate and thrive within the ecosystem. It's still a pretty young ecosystem and we have much more to learn and achieve but we believe we're on the right track which is greatly inspired by some amazing startups that already paved the way and achieved great success globally.