Category: Stories from our entrepreneurs

Charles' story begins where most good ideas are created, on the ground, with a real problem for which there is not yet a solution.

If you ask Karl how it all started, he won't reach for spectacular answers. He'll just say he's the kid from the garage.

He was always interested in how things worked. Disassemble, repair, reassemble, but in a smarter way. It was his most natural way of learning. So it's no surprise that this is where an unexpected business story came from.

The goal is simple, Facilitate heavy and physically strenuous polishing work, address chronic labour shortages in nautics i enable the job to be faster, more precise and reproducible.

In practice, this means that instead of people working for hours in dust and demanding conditions, most of this work is taken over by the robot. In doing so, masters can do what brings greater value – quality control, customer communication and work organisation.

From idea to prototype

It all started with a conversation in the workshop. A friend who works in a dry marina complained to him that polishing and maintenance of ship hulls demanding work. Physically strenuous, long-lasting and increasingly difficult to sustain as the workforce is shrinking.

If there is a robot vacuum cleaner and a robot lawnmower, why wouldn't there be a robot for preparing ship hulls?

It was a question that came quite naturally when you've been dealing with robotics and autonomous systems for years.

And that's how it started. The first step was modest. Paper sketches and 3D models and a small prototype that looked more like Frankenstein It's about the product, talking through laughter.

But it worked well enough to take him to the first key feedback:

If you bring this to the end, you will have as much work as you want.

There was a click there. Karlo decided to start his own business, assemble a team and seriously deal with the development of the product. He points out that motivation was a combination of the desire to do something tangible that solves a specific problem and the need to start in Croatia high-tech The story of the sea as part of its identity.

Challenges?

Charlemagne doesn't make the beginning any better.

Everybody. Technically, financially, organisationally. Everything you can imagine.

Space and equipment

For a robot of these dimensions, it was not enough just a laptop, it needed a workshop, a place for grinding, welding, folding. At first, everything was “on loan” a little garage, a little friend’s workshop.

Finance

Hardware development is expensive. It is necessary to buy engines, electronics, construction, compressors… And each test means the risk that something can be destroyed and that it should start over.

Knowledge and experience in manufacturing

The technical part (electronics, programming, sensors) is close to it, but production, logistics, certificates, sales is a completely different story.

Contacts in industry

Although he knows individuals, he did not have a wide network in the world of marinas, shipyards and equipment suppliers. Everything was built slowly, conversation by conversation.

Psychological part

When something is done that no one has done before, the question arises: “Am I crazy or do I see something that others don’t yet see?”

But through every problem he learned something new. Little by little, the prototype became more stable, smarter and closer to the market version.

Moment of confirmation

We let the robot work. Nothing special, just a test. And suddenly a group of people gathered around us to look at it. Then I realized there was a real interest.

It wasn't a big scene, but it was a clear confirmation that it was moving in the right direction.

Incubator support

Entering into Torpedo Business Incubator He brought a lot more than the office. It was the moment when the idea from the garage began to turn into a project with a clear direction and structure.

Space and infrastructure

Having your own desk, office and a place where you can receive a partner or investor sounds banal, but it makes a huge difference. Suddenly you're not just a character with a good prototype, It's someone who works from a serious environment. It changes how others see you, but also how you see your own business. The ability to test, meet and work in peace gave him a stable base for everything that followed.

Advice and mentoring

At the consultation, he went through the topics that the novice entrepreneur needs the most.

This helped me translate my idea into a language that banks, funds and partners understand.

Network of people

Karlo points out that this is the most valuable part. In the incubator he met other entrepreneurs, mentors and experts in sales, marketing, rights and product development.

Sometimes it's enough for someone to open the door and say, “This is a team that does something interesting, listen to them.” This kind of recommendation and support cannot be bought, and it is she who has accelerated the first steps of Harter Robotics.

TECH LAB

Working with ours was particularly important. TECH LAB. Last version of the robot housing Carpathia It was printed in our 3D lab.

What's next?

Today it is Hartera Robotics Much more than an idea on paper. The team has functional versions of the robot Carpathia, tested in real conditions in dry marinas, where the robot did concrete polishing work on the hulls of the vessel. The reactions of the owners and marinas were extremely positive, which confirmed that they are solving a real and important problem.

In parallel, they are working on further development: improve automation, more precise hull tracking, safety systems and preparation for future serial production.

Currently, they focus on two key things:

• arranging pilot cooperation with marinas who want to be the first to introduce this type of robotization and
• preparing the ground for scaling production and going to the wider market.

And the moment that still remains dearest to Karl is very simple and very human, the moment when the robot starts working, and a group of people spontaneously gather around him in a few minutes.

When someone who's been working for 20 years manually says, ‘Okay, this is really the future’, you know you've hit a real problem.

Karl's Message to Future Entrepreneurs

When asked what he would say to those who are just starting out, Karlo says that he has learned most of the lessons “in the hard way”. The most important thing is that you don't have to wait for the perfect moment.

Get going before you're ready. The first version may be ugly and full of mistakes, but without it there is no second, better.

It also emphasizes how important it is to talk to people who have a real problem that you are trying to solve, not just with your own ideas. In his case, he was mostly helped by those who work in the marinas every day.

The second thing he regularly emphasizes is the importance of the environment.

You don't have to be an expert on everything. It's enough to know who to ask and that your ego doesn't mind asking for help

Every business trip has bandages. Some ideas need to be fired, some need to be adapted, and some need to be completely changed. It's a normal part of the process. And through all this, he says, one must not forget about oneself because entrepreneurship is not a sprint, but a marathon.

In the end, he adds a thought that perhaps best describes how Hartera Robotics came into being:

If there is a problem that bothers you for a long time and everyone takes it for granted, there is a great chance that there lies a good entrepreneurial story.

Charles' story does not come from theory, but from dry marinas, conversations with masters and constant testing until the solution gets better.

Hartera Robotics is no longer a hobby or sketch, but a real product that solves a real problem. The road to this was full of attempts, mistakes and ascents, but also confirmation that the market needs such technology. And that's the essence of this story. Sometimes it's enough to notice the problem, take the first step and be persistent long enough to turn it into a solution that really benefits people.

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Draft Lab the Architectural Office from Rijeka, which signs projects of various scales, from residential and tourist facilities to business and public architecture. Their approach is characterized by a clear concept, thoughtful design and functional solutions with an aesthetic step forward, which makes them a reliable partner for demanding projects.

It was founded by Mate Viduka, an architect who, after years of working in the profession, wished to create his own space of freedom and expression.

The idea of independence

The story of the Draft Lab began four years ago, out of a desire for independence and the intention to develop as an architectural office with its own approach to design.

Starting an office was a big challenge, combining creativity with entrepreneurship and finding a balance between creating and running a business. Nevertheless, despite the uncertainty, he decided to step into independence and open up a space where ideas would have freedom.

For Mata, this step was not just to start a business, it was the moment when he decided that he wanted to create an architecture that bore his signature.

The incubator as a support in the first steps

Entering into Torpedo Business Incubator It has opened up new possibilities that have greatly helped the further development of the office.

Like many who start their own business, I had a lot of questions at first, from organizing business and finding the first clients, to getting to know the administrative and legal framework of entrepreneurship. And it was in the incubator that I got exactly what I needed most at the time, support and direction.

In addition to the workspace and access to the infrastructure, Porin provided Draft Lab with advisory support. Mate points out that our expert team helped him avoid beginner mistakes.

The environment brought him special value, working in space with colleagues from the construction and engineering professions with whom he cooperates and exchanges knowledge. For him, this community is precious. Often, in conversation with colleagues, an idea or solution is born that he might miss.

One of the successful collaborations with Porin was the production of 3D Model Projects, which helped me take the presentation to a new level.

Growth through projects and people

The last six months have brought a new phase of growth. The Draft Lab He hired his first employees., and due to the increasing volume of work more jobs are planned.

The volume of projects is increasing and, with it, the diversity of challenges. We are increasingly working on more attractive buildings, which gives us more freedom to think and shape the space.

Our goal is for the investor to recognize the value of our vision and give us the freedom to creatively shape it through the project. Then, spaces with distinctive character, thoughtful functionality and elaborated details are created.

View in advance

The Draft Lab today represents an architectural office with consolidated practice, focused on the integration of technical expertise, design clarity and functional requirements in modern projects.

Future plans focus on further expansion and development. Not just through projects, but also through people.

Every beginning carries a dose of insecurity, but the most important thing is to stay steadfast and believe in what you do. Surround yourself with people you can learn from and don't be afraid to ask for help. It is togetherness and support that make a difference, and for me it was precisely Porin. Not just because of the space and infrastructure, but because of the knowledge and experience that is shared there.

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When emotion is turned into work and the event into a story – it is created Vanavi Experience.

For Iva Vavan, the founder of a brand that brings people, brands and communities together, the business is not just the organisation of events. This is the Art of Creation Experiences that remain in memory.

From an idea to an experience that connects

In the world of tourism and event management Iva has been for more than twenty years. She worked, learned, created and at one point felt that she wanted something of her own.

It took me a long time to be encouraged and go alone. The idea was smoldering for a long time, but it wasn't until I felt like I wanted something of my own that Vanavi was born. It all began out of love for people, experiences and creating an atmosphere that connects. My first project was small, but with a big heart. Since then, everything has rolled, like a series of small successes leading to a larger goal.”

Today, Vanavi Experience signs events that have "things" – energy, emotion and storytelling.

Its world consists of stages, halls, streets and squares, places where the emotion turns into an event and the event into an experience. From business conferences to cultural events, each project carries a recognizable Vanavi seal, warmth, professionalism and detail that remains in your memory. A special segment consists of conceptual events tailored to the client's needs, where each idea is conceived, guided and implemented to the smallest detail.

Two worlds under one brand

Through years of experience, Iva has developed and Vanavi KIDS, a brand that brings together children’s events, interactive walks, workshops, quests and animations at weddings and festivities. This segment, he says, was created from the desire to offer children quality, educational and entertaining content, and parents moments of carelessness and togetherness.

For Iva, Vanavi Experience and Vanavi KIDS are two worlds that overlap in the same mission, that is, creating experiences that connect.

Vanavi also signs numerous other projects that connect people, ideas and emotions. There are Miss Business, a programme linking female entrepreneurs from all over Croatia, TEEN Tok, a parlour through which adolescents learn about self-confidence and communication, and Mentoring programme “Are you?”, through which young people create their own portfolio and learn how to introduce themselves to the world.

For me, every project is a new level, a new ‘level’. When I look behind me, as if I were passing through the tunnel of my life, and whenever I would turn into a smaller passage, let the "centrifuga" take me back to the main tube. And so, level by level, forward.

Support on the way from Startup to Porin

Iva describes her entrepreneurial journey as a step-by-step process. The first serious one was made in Startup Incubator of the City of Rijeka, where, as part of the 14th generation, she learned to turn her ideas into a structured plan.

Like anyone moving into something of their own, I had an idea, but not all the links and order of priorities. The startup incubator helped me put everything in my head. I learned how to set goals, look at the business more widely and think like an entrepreneur.

After her experience in Startup, she continued her development through Porin Virtual Incubation, where it still builds a network of collaborations, connects projects and develops a brand.

Lesson from the Stage

When asked what she would say to those who are just thinking about starting their own business, Iva sincerely replies:

Don't be ashamed to ask. And don't expect it to be perfect or as planned every day. Entrepreneurship is a winding slide of emotions, from excitement and pride to fatigue and doubt. But if you believe in what you do, if you love your job and the people you work with, every rise and fall makes sense.

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For many, starting your own business means leaving security. For Gabrielle Perolie, it was a way to remain true to himself.

A graduate civil engineer, with years of experience in a stable and successful company, could peacefully build a career. He had knowledge, experience and a secure position, but also a sense of being in place.

Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, Gabriel learned from a young age that existence depends on his own effort and results. The idea of someone else setting the limits of his success was his side. That's why, when the world slowed down in 2020, he decided to speed up. Without a detailed plan, but with a clear sense of direction, he left a safe job and stepped into the unknown.

It was a year of corona, perhaps the most ungrateful moment for new beginnings. But I felt that at that moment I had to make a move, quit and put myself in a completely unstable position from which the next steps would crystallize. And so it was.

At a time when many were imprisoned in their safe zones, he opened a craft. First clients, little work, a lot of plans and a clear decision not to stay small. From day one, the project had a name and identity: the Constigo Group. It sounded ambitious. Branding as a group when there's only one man behind that story. But for Gabrielle, it was a reminder of where she wanted to come.

Building without a blueprint, but with a vision

Gabriel did not build Constigo according to other people's patterns. His business trip did not have a classic blueprint, but it had a direction and purpose. In every sense, it was a project of growth from the inside out, personal as well as professional.

But he realized that the set goals would be very difficult to reach on their own. He was joined by a partner with whom he already shared his private trust and soon his business ambition. They started without capital, but with an idea that made sense. They wanted to create an integrated system in construction and real estate that would reduce market fragmentation.

Today Constigo operates through three legal entities, with headquarters in Rijeka and Zadar. They cover the entire coastal belt, from Istria to Dalmatia. The team includes engineers of various technical professions, licensed experts in real estate traffic and development, and experts in marketing and promotion.

Our aim has never been to be ‘another construction company’. We wanted to combine everything that makes the project possible, from idea and documentation to realization and promotion. That makes us different.

Incubator as a connection point

As a Zadran with acquaintances from the faculty and student affairs, Gabriel sought not only space, but also context. He needed a place where he could network knowledge, experience and new contacts. That's when our story came in. Torpedo Business Incubator.

Besides space, the incubator gives you the feeling that you're not alone. You have someone to exchange ideas with, ask advice, compare experiences with. That's invaluable.

During the incubation period, Constigo grew rapidly. From the initial idea, the group grew into a modern system with its own investment portfolio, and today participates in the realization of large city projects, among which is the new terminal Žabica.

New cycle – ongoing construction

Constigo came to the full shape that Gabriel imagined at the beginning of his business trip. The group consists of three legal entities, each operating in its own narrow area, and together they form a full range of services.

There is already its own portfolio of real estate investments on whose development it is intensively working, as well as investments of various domestic and foreign investors. Currently, the focus is on the investment cycle and the preparation of project documentation for EU funds.

But they don't stop there. They have also developed Modeko, their own brand of modular wall systems that enables faster, higher quality and more sustainable construction. They have invested a lot of time and resources in development, but are looking forward to the realization of such projects in the future.

When asked what he would say to those who are just thinking about entrepreneurship, Gabriel answers without reservation:

Put yourself constantly out called comfort. It is only from this situation that development arises. Sweat and stress due to being aware of the uncomfortable situation you are in brings the result. That's what I consciously do to myself.

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Do you want to build your story with the support of an incubator?

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