Worcon and MIRET among 10 Promising Croatian Startups in 2021
February 26, 2021 - Although Croatia is better known for tourism, the world of Croatian startups is an increasingly fascinating - and successful - place.
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.
Red Cross Pays 80% of Earthquake Relief Donations to Victims
ZAGREB, 26 February, 2021 - The Red Cross Croatia has so far paid 80% of the HRK 51 million raised as earthquake relief to 31,835 households whose properties were damaged.
HCK executive president Robert Markt told a news conference in Petrinja on Friday that the Red Cross had started distributing aid to the owners of damaged properties in Sisak-Moslavina, Karlovac and Zagreb counties.
Over the past three weeks, 34,580 claims for financial aid have been submitted and another 354 are being checked for compliance with the set requirements, he said.
Single-person households to receive HRK 900, others HRK 1,900
Markt went on to say that 10,039 claims for aid had been submitted by single-person households, which would each receive HRK 900 (€119), while 21,796 had been submitted by households with more than one member, and they would each be given HRK 1,900 (€251).
"We had expected that we would be able to help every household more significantly, but the unexpectedly large number of claims has determined the final value of grants," said Markt.
He added that 80% of the funds raised had already been paid into the earthquake victims' bank accounts and that Croatian Post would deliver the remaining ones to earthquake victims in the next few days.
"That way we have done everything we have announced and promised," he said.
He noted that the amount of grants was not conditional on the degree of property damage, announcing that the funds to be collected subsequently would be distributed in line with the same model or would be donated for the renovation of kindergartens, depending on the amount raised.
Markt thanked all citizens and companies in the country and abroad for helping the Red Cross raise more than HRK 51 million.
Of that amount, 1.7 million was donated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and national Red Cross organisations.
Markt stressed that the Red Cross toll-free phone line would be open until March 28 and that more donations were expected.
Turkey Willing to Help Croatia in Reconstruction of Quake-Hit Areas
ZAGREB, 26 February, 2021 - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited the city of Petrinja on Friday, saying that Turkey, which was one of the first countries to send relief aid to the quake-affected areas in Croatia, was willing to continue helping this region.
Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman thanked Turkey for the rapid response and delivery of generous humanitarian assistance.
Immediately after the 29 December 6.2 strong quake in Sisak-Moslavina County, which claimed seven lives and caused extensive damage, Turkey sent 272 heaters and 480 tents to the affected region.
The Turkish minister recalled that after Izmir was hit by a 7.0 strong quake on 30 October last year, resulting in hundreds of casualties, Minister Grlić Radman had immediately contacted him to offer assistance.
With that dose of understanding and friendship, we then wanted to be the first to come to your aid, Cavusoglu said. He conveyed Ankara's readiness to help Croatia in future reconstruction projects in this area.
The Turkish official added that his country lies in a seismically active region and has gained experience in dealing with the aftermath of such disasters.
In August 1999, a 7.6 strong quake hit the city of Izmit and killed 17,000 people. In 2011, an earthquake left more than 500 people killed in the city of Van.
We shared this destiny with you in a sad and sorrowful way, Cavusogly said.
Ankara has sent 10 experts from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) to Croatia.
Furthermore, 200 prefab housing containers have been delivered from Turkey to Croatia, said Minister Tomo Medved, who heads the task force dealing with the aftermath of the 29 December quake.
Medved expressed gratitude and said he was sure that Croatia and Turkey would continue fostering their friendship.
In the Šešerin container settlement, Cavusoglu handed keys to the donated containers.
Grlić Radman described the donation as a strong form of solidarity.
Cavusoglu is the first Turkish foreign minister to visit Croatia after 12 years.
Turkish assistance also included the donation of 500 blankets, hygienic articles and food as well financial assistance from several Turkish companies.
People also ask Google: How Many Days Should I Spend in Dubrovnik?
February 26, 2021 - Continuing the TCN series answering the questions posed by Google's People Also Ask function - how many days should I spend in Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik, the walled city Lord Byron once called the 'Pearl of the Adriatic,' has dazzled tourists for decades.
Historians claim that tourism first really set off in this picturesque walled city in 1945. Its inclusion in UNESCO's World Heritage List over 30 years later only heightened its fame.
The breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s pushed Dubrovnik into the spotlight once again, however not for its grandeur and charm, but as the target of the Yugoslav People's Army during the Seige of Dubrovnik. Intensive shelling blasted the medieval city walls, and over two-thirds of buildings in the historic core were damaged. The tourist jewel in pieces.
But even after its darkest days, Dubrovnik shone again thanks to an extensive reconstruction between 1995 and 1999. The Adriatic Pearl was polished to its pre-war perfection, and it has been Croatia's champion of tourism ever since.
I first visited Dubrovnik on my first trip to Croatia in 1996, not yet six years old and just after the war. I have photos of me striking poses on Stradun, slurping ice cream melted from the hot summer sun, and chasing pigeons around St. Blaise Square. The city's monumental effect on me as a child never dwindled, and its magic only grew as I got older.
As a teenager, I would dream of visiting the baroque city during month-long stays in my mother's village of Kosa, just outside Metkovic and only 45 minutes from Dubrovnik. On Dubrovnik day trips, I begged my mother to dress up with me for fancy fish lunches and sunset gelato. It was my favorite Croatian city, without a doubt.
We have brought dozens of friends from the US to Dubrovnik, staying for days in old-town apartments we wished we maybe hadn't booked after schlepping oversized luggage up 100 steep steps. But once the golden hour lit up Stradun, nothing else mattered - and the magic of Dubrovnik was infectious.
But that was over a decade ago.
If Dubrovnik wasn't already popular then, today is it one of Europe's top travel destinations and a summer haven for cruise ship tourists who pile into the town for a day. A victim of 'overtourism' next to Venice before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the city's charm has often been met with critique and tourists wishing they hadn't visited in the summer after all.
But there are ways to beat the bustle and ensure you get the most out of what Dubrovnik has to offer, so you too can experience its perpetual allure. Just read carefully.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Dubrovnik?
While I thought it was tough to decide how many days you should spend in Split, quantifying it for Dubrovnik is infinitely harder. If you asked me in 2006, I would say a week, in 2010, maybe 3 days, and in the last couple of years, I would say no more than a day.
Though I would hardly agree with that now.
Factoring the potential of summer crowds (though we can't predict they'll return so fast after COVID-19), the key to Dubrovnik is taking your time.
How long should I spend in Dubrovnik to see the Old Town?
Truth be told, Dubrovnik's center looks much mightier than it really is. This rather compact old-town town could be explored on a speedwalking tour in just a few hours, but that's not as much fun.
To really explore the cracks and crevices of Dubrovnik's old town, I'd recommend one day - minimum. This gives you time to wander and stop to examine numerous historical attractions like Onofrio Fountain, built in 1438, the Franciscan Monastery (which is also home to Europe's oldest pharmacy), and the baroque Church of St. Blaise (circa the early 1700s).
Don't forget the Rector's Palace, which held the Rector's seat of the Republic of Ragusa, nor can you miss the Romanesque-style Cathedral of the Assumption, designed by Roman architect Andrea Buffalini, which dates back to the 12th century. The 16th-century Sponza Palace is best seen at dusk, while the 31-meter-tall Bell Tower can be used as your marker as you wander around town.
You'll certainly need time to peruse the shops hidden in high alleyways and people watch with a probably over-priced beverage on Stradun, which won't matter much to you then as you embrace the history around you.
How much time do I need to see the city walls?
Dubrovnik's main attraction, its walls, has guarded the town for centuries. Built between the 12th and 17th centuries, these defensive stone walls are almost two kilometers long and wrap around the Old Town with scenic views overlooking Dubrovnik's red rooftops and sparkling Adriatic Sea.
You haven't really been to Dubrovnik unless you've examined the city from this height, and history will continue to reveal itself at every tower, fort, and turn.
By entering from the busy Pile Gate, you'll find that walking the walls will take around two hours, that is, if you really take your time to enjoy it. Should you choose to visit in summer, it's best to book in advance and book to tour the walls in the morning - you'll thank me later.
Because you'll likely need to rest after this wall-workout, don't rush to see the next thing - take the day in Dubrovnik to relax at a cafe or beach!
How many days should I spend in Dubrovnik to visit Mount Srd?
One of Dubrovnik's top recommendations is Mount Srd, which you can reach in style with the cable car (5-10 minutes to the top), by hiking (about an hour), or driving (13 minutes from Pile Gate). Offering incredible panoramic views of Dubrovnik and the Adriatic, no matter which way you choose to make it to the top, you'll be rewarded with a panoramic restaurant, buggy tours, and the Croatian Homeland War Museum, which exhibits the Croatian War for Independence in haunting photographs from 1991-1995.
Depending on what you choose to do, you could make Mount Srd a full-day activity!
Can I see everything on Lokrum in one day?
Just 15 minutes by boat from the Dubrovnik Port is Lokrum, a small green island oasis that dates back to pre-historic times (1023). The perfect day-trip idea, Lokrum, is a natural habitat that boasts a botanical garden, medieval Benedictine monastery, nudist and rocky beaches, and even a Dead Sea-like saltwater lake.
You can easily spend the day on Lokrum to beat the summer heat and crowds. This forested wonder even has a restaurant!
Can I see the Elaphiti Islands in one day?
I didn't visit the Elaphiti Islands until maybe my 6th or 7th time in Dubrovnik, and I'm so sorry I didn't go sooner. The Elaphiti Islands, which get their name from the Greek word elafos, are a small archipelago of several islands slightly northwest of Dubrovnik. The three most famous are Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan, populated by less than 1,000 people in total, though 13 islands make up the archipelago.
Tranquil, forested, and mostly car-free, the Elaphiti Islands offer a picturesque escape from the busy city. While you can visit Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan by ferry, the timetables could get a bit tight, so booking a private speedboat tour for the day ensures you get the most out of your adventure - and lunch at an island konoba to boot!
How many days should I spend in Dubrovnik if I'm a Game of Thrones fan?
Calling all Game of Thrones fans! If you didn't know by now, Dubrovnik was transformed into King's Landing for the hit TV series, and you'll notice many famous scenes just by walking around the Old Town. For example, Cersei Lannister's steps of 'Shame!' (or Dubrovnik's Jesuit Stairs), St. Dominic Street (most marketplace scenes in King's Landing), while the Rector's Palace, Rupe Ethnographic Museum, Fort Bokar, Fort Lovrijenac, Ploce Gate and more all have their chance in the spotlight.
There are several Game of Thrones tours you can choose from, most lasting around two hours, which will not only take you to filming locations but give you the history spiel of the city, too.
You can also head 30 minutes outside of Dubrovnik to the Trsteno Arboretum, whose gardens are featured in seasons 3 and 4!
How many days should I spend in Dubrovnik, depending on the season?
Summer is without a doubt the busiest time in Dubrovnik thanks to the scorching hot sun, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is the best time to visit. Trying to do everything you want in a day or two during the summer could be an impossible task, given that long lines and crowds make many tourist activities tough to tick off. If you have time to spend in Dubrovnik in the summer, do it, and book yourself accommodation outside the bustling Old Town so you can maintain a somewhat slower summer pace.
Spring may be the best time of the year to visit Dubrovnik for various reasons - 1) usually good weather, 2) tolerable crowds, less traffic, and emptier walls, and 3) more affordable prices. Most tourist attractions are open as well, and booking in advance is probably not necessary. Summer flight schedules to Dubrovnik usually kick off in the spring, making it easier to get in and out.
Winter in Dubrovnik exposes the city's local life, which is often hard to experience any other time of the year. Dubrovnik is still enhanced by events in the wintertime, like Advent Christmas markets, its Winter Festival, and, of course, the celebration of its patron saint, St. Blaise. The weather may be cooler, but the vacant streets give the town a new kind of enchantment that only winter can bring.
Conclusion: How many days should I Spend in Dubrovnik?
Another impossible question to answer, I believe it all comes down to why you're visiting in the first place. If you want to be fully immersed in the history, culture, and beauty of Dubrovnik, do yourself a favor and don't cut your trip to one day. However, if you're only looking to walk walls to say you did it and prefer a quick gander around town, one day is plenty.
Keep in mind that the time of year you choose to visit will have a huge part in how your trip plays out. Even so, we're pretty sure you'll feel the magic no matter when.
To follow the People Also Ask Google about Croatia series, click here.
Dinamo Draws Tottenham in Europa League Round of 16!
February 26, 2021 - Dinamo draws Tottenham in the Europa League round of 16!
Dinamo will play against Tottenham in the Europa League round of 16 after they knocked out Russian club Krasnodar at the start of the knockout phase. Interestingly, Tottenham knocked out Austrian club Wolfsberg, who Dinamo played in the group stage.
The matches are played on March 11 and 18, and the draw for the quarterfinals and semifinals is on March 19. Dinamo will host the club led by Jose Mourinho in the first game.
There were no winners in this phase of the competition and clubs from the same country and clubs that played in the same group stage group could meet. Tottenham is one of four clubs with Manchester United, Ajax, and Arsenal that the Croatian champion wanted to avoid.
Mourinho’s side got off to a great start to the season and was at the top of the Premier League, but are in poor form in 2021. Namely, Tottenham has lost five of their last six games in the league and has been knocked out of the FA Cup by Everton. The winner of the Europa League will win a place in the Champions League next season. Winning Europa League is Tottenham's biggest chance for the Champions League, as they are currently in 9th place in the Premier League.
Tottenham’s biggest stars are Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son. They have scored 13 goals each this season. Gareth Bale also returned to Tottenham from Real Madrid last summer.
According to Transfermarkt, Tottenham is worth as much as EUR 720 million, while the Croatian champion is exactly seven times less.
Last 16 Draw:
Granada - Molde
Slavia - Rangers
Manchester United - Milan
DINAMO - Tottenham
Olympiacos - Arsenal
Roma - Šahtar
Ajax - Young Boys
Dinamo Kijev - Villarreal
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Cafe Terraces to Work from 6 am to 10 pm, No Music, Says COVID Response Team
ZAGREB, 26 February, 2021 - As of 1 March, cafe bars and restaurants will be allowed to reopen their terraces and can work from 6 am to 10 pm but without any music, and indoor sports training will be allowed provided that strict health protocol are observed, the national COVID response team said on Friday.
The team's head Davor Božinović told a press conference that the new decision means patrons can be served on terraces from 6 am to 10 pm but only on open terraces and barriers on terraces need to be removed to allow the air to circulate.
The distance between tables needs to be at least 3 metres which will enable guests to sit at a distance between each other of at least 1.5 metres.
Music will not be allowed so guests do not have to speak loudly above the music and spread aerosol which increases the chance of infection.
Entry into premises is only allowed to visit the bathroom and patrons are obliged then to wear masks.
Indoor sports training will be allowed but without contact between athletes, and gyms have to be ventilated regularly and at least 20 square metres per person must be ensured.
Masks are mandatory on entering and exiting gyms and a record must be kept of attendance.
Dressing rooms and showers are not to be used but if necessary then only two people at a time.
Other rules previously introduced for shopping centres, transport and border crossings remain in force.
The head of the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), Krunoslav Capak said that there was talk of allowing open-air fairs to be held and that will be one of the next decisions to come.
Health Minister Vili Beroš underscores that the epidemiological situation is uncertain and citizens' behaviour must not relax if measures have been. He called on citizens to get vaccinated.
Zagreb, Karlovac, Sisak Counties Sign Letter of Intent for Common Development
ZAGREB, 26 February, 2021 - Zagreb, Karlovac and Sisak-Moslavina counties have, by signing a letter of intent on Thursday night, shown interest in common development and in that regard, a development agreement is being prepared for signing for about ten projects valued at €50 million and more, the Karlovac County administration said.
On Thursday evening the three county prefects and heads of their development agencies met with Veterans' Affairs Minister Tomo Medved and Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds Nataša Tramišak, and during the meeting it was said that the Regional Development Act enables strategic objectives to be achieved faster through common areas of cooperation and by financing joint projects from EU and national sources.
Tramišak described the development agreement as a "tool to achieve strategic development" and one of the preconditions is to select with the ministry about 10 strategic projects, each with an individual value of €50 million or more, that will require the support of several ministries and guarantee the development of the counties.
Medved offered his full support to the efforts for a joint development agreement between the three counties to be signed because that will enable an equal regional development and broader support from the government and relevant ministries for individual projects.
County prefects Martina Furdek Hajdin, Ivo Žinić and Stjepan Kožić agreed that the problems encountered by all three counties are very similar, from floods to a poor demographic situation and sparsely settled rural areas that cannot compete with developed European regions.
Žinić believes that development would benefit from projects for transport infrastructure and religious, health and conference tourism, while Kožić believes that the urgent repairs in the aftermath of the earthquakes are a priority as that would prevent migration. Kožić also believes that one of the most urgent priorities is broadband Internet.
Furdek Hajdin cited agriculture and tourism as possible projects for cooperation.
"It is up to us how we will prioritise the development of our counties, and European funds will contribute towards achieving the set objectives in the National Development Strategy until 2030. In that regard, the support of the government and its ministries is of exceptional importance," Furdek Hajdin said.
Croatia's GDP Contracts by Record 8.4% in 2020
ZAGREB, 26 February, 2021 - Croatia's GDP contracted by a record 8.4% in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, with the decline slowing down in the last quarter compared to the previous quarters of the year, the State Bureau of Statistics (DZS) reported on Friday.
GDP fell by 7% in the fourth quarter of 2020 year on year. The decline was slightly lower than forecast by analysts.
Six analysts polled by Hina projected the Q4 GDP decline at 7.3%, their estimates ranging from 6.5% to 8.3%.
It was the third quarter in a row that GDP had fallen on the year, resulting from restrictive measures aimed at curbing the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the fall in Q4 was less than in the preceding quarters. GDP contracted by 15.4% in Q2, the biggest drop since 1995 when DZS started tracking such data, while dropped by 10% in Q3.
GDP contracted by a record 8.4% for the entire year. Before that, the record fall of 7.3% was recorded at the start of the 2009 global financial crisis.
Croatia Logs 505 New Coronavirus Cases, 14 Deaths
ZAGREB, 26 February, 2021 - In the past 24 hours Croatia has confirmed 505 new cases of coronavirus and 14 related deaths, the national COVID response team said on Friday.
There are currently 3,046 active cases in the country, including 780 hospitalised patients, 73 of whom are on ventilators, while 13,534 people are in self-isolation.
To date, a total of 1,332,840 people have been tested for the virus, including 5,071 in the past 24 hours.
Since 25 February 2020, when the first case was identified in Croatia, there have been 242,097 registered cases of coronavirus and 5,503 COVID-related deaths.
A total of 233,548 people have recovered from the disease, 378 of whom in the past 24 hours.
14 Day Croatia Quarantine Returning for Coronavirus Patients
February the 26th, 2021 - The previous fourteen day Croatia quarantine for those confirmed to be infected with the novel coronavirus was shortened to ten days (with the exception of passengers arriving in the country from countries with special epidemiological measures placed on them), but now the fourteen day rule is set to return.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Croatian Institute for Public Health director Krunoslav Capak has said that new instructions on new quarantine measures and testing will be published today.
"We'll be making a return to quarantine/self-isolation for fourteen days for every category of peson. It was previously lowered to ten days, this was done mainly to speed up the return of healthcare workers to their work positions following exposure to a positive person or infection.
We will now bring the fourteen day Croatia quarantine rule back because most healthcare professionals in the country have now been fully vaccinated. We have fewer coronavirus sufferers, but we don’t know how prevalent the British strain currently is within the population. That will all be announced today,'' said Krunoslav Capak, who previously warned of a growth in the number of new cases of almost 35 percent in just one single week.
"We don't have enough data on it yet. I mentioned some observations in Europe, they don't have enough reliable data yet either. It is estimated that this strain is taking precedence in Europe. It [the British strain] has also now been confirmed in two Hajduk players and in two samples from the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. That's the latest information from today,'' said Professor Alemka Markotic.
What this means is that if you're instructed to go into self-isolation, either because you've tested positive or because you've been in close contact with a positive person, you'll need to remain indoors for fourteen days, not ten days, regardless of your situation.
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