February 13, 2019 - It’s always encouraging to hear about Croatia’s young innovators, and today, we have yet another story to bring you - this time, out of Split. Meet EazyOil. 

EazyOil is an automated payment system for gas stations based on the automatic OCR number-plate recognition. The idea was borne by a team of four highly skilled engineers, including Josip Balić (hardware specialist), Matko Đipalo (experienced web developer), Filip Krišto (web and IoT developer), and Duje Roje (embedded developer), who were brought together after winning a ‘hackathon’ contest. It didn’t take long for these four innovators to realize that they might be on to something, pushing them to pursue a new kind of payment system in Split.

So, how does it work?

“You drive towards the pump and our camera detects the vehicle’s license plate. After refueling you are automatically charged aaaand you are free to go. No need to go inside or even reach for your wallet.

It’s time-saving. It’s carefree. It’s easy. Just refuel and Go.

It is the next step toward full automation. The system reduces clutter and simplifies the payment process. It also keeps the gas station running 24/7 without supervision,” reads the description on the EazyOil website - and they even break it down for you in simpler terms here. 

You can also watch a video released by EazyOil earlier this month explaining what they're all about.

But what we found most interesting in the video was their comparison of Croatian startups versus ones in Estonia, outlining just how challenging it is for Croatian startups to succeed at all. 

Namely, Croatia has a population of 4.2 million and Estonia 1.3 million. Of the 149,052 legal entities in Croatia, 145,312 are micro and small companies (97.5%). Out of 69,027 legal entities in Estonia, 68,855 are micro and small companies (99.8%). In Croatia, there are 472,619 employees in these companies, while in Estonia, there are 326,264. 

In 2017, 15,189 new businesses were opened in Croatia, and in Estonia that same year, 21,947. 

With a VAT of 25%, Croatia is second in the EU. Estonia, however, has a VAT rate of 20%, which ranks them 21st in the EU. In Croatia, there is double taxation of profits, and 500 parafiscal charges for entrepreneurs. In Estonia, there is flat tax reform - 20% of income tax and 20% of profit tax - and profit tax is 0% if profits are reinvested

Even more interesting is that Croatia is ranked 74th on the Global Competitiveness Report, while Estonia is 1st. In the Index of Economic Freedoms, Croatia ranks 92nd, while Estonia ranks 7th. Estonia is also ranked first on the startup scene in Europe, with 145% annual growth in employment. Croatia is nowhere to be found. Best yet, Estonia is the first country in the world to introduce electronic citizenship by which you can launch and run a business in Estonia entirely online from any part of the world! 

Since January 1, 2019, an utterly anti-entrepreneur law on contributions has been in force in Croatia, which stipulates that every director of a company is obliged to pay a minimum of 22,824 kuna to the state annually as the legally prescribed minimum contribution base. 

With that in mind, how are Croatian startups meant to survive at all?

Bravo to the EazyOil team for highlighting the issues entrepreneurs face in Croatia, while still pushing to fight the system to develop something of their own. 

To read more about business in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

February 13, 2019 - On this day 108 years ago, the beloved football club of Dalmatia, Hajduk Split, was found. 

Hajduk was born in a Prague pub by four Split students, Fabian Kaliterna, Lucijan Stella, Ivan Šakić and Vjekoslav Ivanišević. Delighted by the football played in the world's top clubs, like Sparta and Slavia, they came to the idea of establishing a football club in Split. Despite the Split people's initial lack of understanding, the idea quickly captivated the city. 

Only the name of the club had yet to be chosen. Professor Josip Barač suggested "the club should be called Hajduk", which was accepted with enthusiasm. Hajduk was officially registered on February 13, 1911. 

The first president of the club was Dr. Kruno Kolombatović, and the first coach Čeh Oldrich Just. In their first official match, Hajduk lost 0:9 to Calcio Spalato. 

Hajduk has made it to the Champions League quarter-final three times

Through its rich history, Hajduk has won 18 Championships in five countries, 15 National Cups and 5 Super Cups, and its biggest European achievements are the three Champions League quarter-finals and one semi-final of the UEFA Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup.

Hajduk boasts the oldest fan group in Europe

As soon as the World Cup in Brazil ended, marked by fantastic and fanatical Brazilians, a group of Split students in Zagreb decided to form a fan group based on the Brazilian Torcida. Hajduk’s Torcida was thus founded on October 28, 1950, by engineering student Vjenceslav Žuvela. Thanks to their loud chants and cheering, Torcida became the twelfth player of Hajduk and helped them win their first post-war title. On October 29, 1950, Hajduk played against Red Star to become the champion of Yugoslavia.

According to the 2005 GfK survey, 24% of the total Croatian population supports Hajduk. Hajduk has fans all over Croatia and even in the world, and there are fans clubs in Australia, America, and across Europe. 

Hajduk is one of the few clubs that has never been relegated from the First League

The Poljud club has never dropped out of the First League, which is rare even in the world. Hajduk's last title, however, was won in 2005, when Niko Kranjčar, Nenad Pralija, Vladimir Balić, Dragan Blatnjak, Hrvoje Vejić, and others were part of the club. 

Who has played for Hajduk?

Many famous Croatian footballers have gone through the Poljud dressing room, and some left an incredibly deep mark in the history of the club like Vladimir Beara, Frane and Jozo Matošić, and Bajdo Vukas.

In addition to them, the Hajduk jersey has been worn by Ivica Šurjak, Stipe Pletikosa, Darijo Srna, Aljoša Asanović, Niko Kranjčar, Milan Rapaić, Slaven Bilić, Ivan Strinić, Danijel Subašić, Blaž Slišković, Zlatko Vujović, Alen Bokšić, Vlade Kragić, Ante Žanetić and many others.

In its 108 years, Hajduk has been led by numerous coaches, and the most significant achievements were achieved by Luka Kaliterna (two championships), Ljubo Benčić (three championships), Tomislav Ivić (three cups and three championships), Stanko Poklepović (championship and super cup) and Ivan Katalinić (two championships, two cups and two super cups).

To the club that lives forever, Happy 108th Birthday, Hajduk!

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Source: Index.hr

February 12, 2019 - Unfortunately, the problems in Split don’t seem to be going anywhere – yes, Karepovac hasn’t stunk us out this year, and Žnjan no longer has 15 different electro beats playing. However, Marjan is under threat and entrepreneurs have been slapped with even more taxes. Fear not! Hack4Split is back to solve the problems out there that we can't. This time with a new look, a new feel and new partners on board. 

After the success of Hack4Split v1.0 which saw 54 participants create solutions for 14 projects, we took your feedback to give you more flexibility and creative control. The two-day event will take place on the 16 and 17 of March.

Over the last six months, we’ve been working with a small group of non-profit organisations to make sure this fjakaton has plenty of impact, while being easy-going, fun and generally fantastic.

There will be ten dilemmas to solve altogether, and all you have to do is select which one(s) you want to work on. We’re looking for programmers, designers, content writers, mechanics, photographers and so many more to help create some good in Split. 

Last year’s winner, SplitBus, brought their own problem, as they created an app that brought you live bus times to your phone. If you have a problem you think you could solve, then you can bring that instead.

So start gathering your team, your ideas and get ready to Hack4Split.

To be part of the day, click here to apply: https://goo.gl/forms/HnjGNVAavjuefvgp2

For more information about the project: http://www.dku.efst.hr/hack4split/

If you’re wondering what the hell a hackathon or a fjakaton is, let me briefly explain. 

A hackathon is a multi-day event where a group of people work intensively to create something, be it an app, website, piece of hardware etc. A fjakaton is the Dalmatian style of this, more coffee breaks, the option to go home and sleep and the occasional breakout of klapa. 

To read more about Split, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

February 12, 2019 - Croatian coastal tourism is developing beyond the sun and beach. Kayaking in Croatia is now big business. 

It has been fascinating to watch the trends in Croatian tourism over the last 15 years. The transformation from cities such as Split from the Gateway to the Dalmatian Islands to one of Europe's hottest spots, for example. Or Bol on Brac reinventing itself as a family and adventure tourism destination after being the biggest party on the Adriatic. 

And while the sun, sea and beach understandably remain the biggest draw, there has been a noticeable rise in different aspects of tourism. Kayaking in Croatia, for example, was an activity which barely existed 15 years ago, but is now a very popular way to explore for half-a-day for beginners, or multi-day, multi-island trips for the more experienced. So popular has kayaking in Croatia become that Rough Guides named it in their list of 17 unmissable things to do in Croatia.

I remember having a beer with one of the pioneers of sea kayaking in Croatia, Vese Huljic of And Adventure, several years ago. As a young enthusiastic local trying to develop kayaking as a tourist activity on her native Hvar, she recalled the bemused looks of locals sitting with their morning coffees watching these young kids carrying kayaks and other equipment to the waterfront. It looked like far too much work when all you had to do was enjoy the sun and think of the beach later. 

Huljic and her colleagues persevered, and an exciting new adventure tourism offer was born. Half-day kayaking tours of the Pakleni Islands in front of Hvar Town, sunset kayak tours, and multi-day adventures. With the only requirement for beginners being the ability to swim, here was a new activity which was open to almost everyone. And with expert local guides to take you to the most hidden coves, there was even the chance to discover local secrets off-limits to most tourists.  

From Hvar to elsewhere in Dalmatia, and kayaking is truly becoming popular. Here is the And Adventure team from their official Facebook page yesterday, exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St. Nicholas Fortress, other military tunnels and the island of Zlarin. Sibenik of course is the only town in Croatia with two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, St James Cathedral being the other, but if you are looking for UNESCO sites to kayak to, you have come to the right place.  

The old town of Trogir, perhaps, as seen in the video above, or Diocletian's Palace in Split, where the kayaking has exploded in recent years. Hvar has its own Stari Grad Plain, and further south, kayaking around the majestic walls of Dubrovnik is an experience most tourists miss.  

And it is not just UNESCO of course. There are many other unforgettable holiday experiences to be had while kayaking in Croatia. Up close and personal with a donkey, for instance. 

To learn more about an aspect of Croatian tourism you had perhaps not yet considered, check out the options with And Adventure.  

February 12, 2019 - Another day, another stellar recognition for the thriving young entrepreneur from Solin, Ivan Mrvoš. 

Chances are, you probably already know a thing or two about Ivan, the CEO and Founder of Include, the leading global manufacturer of solar powered street benches. Their flagship product, the Steora smart bench, is already on 40 markets with more than 930 benches around the world. The Steora benches all have the same core - PV modules, device charging, Wi-Fi, ambient light, data gathering, cooling system, and the dashboard, though there are six different models with additional features - like the super bright 19" display of Steora Urban, or Steora E special features for indoor usage, and more. 

After they were named the European Startup of the Year in 2017, a large investment followed, and the recognitions haven’t seemed to slow down for Include and Mrvoš since. 

Last year, Ivan Mrvoš was nominated for MIT Technology Review's ‘Innovators Under 35’ award in Europe. In 2017, Include was selected among the 50 best innovators in Europe, and on that occasion, Ivan Mrvoš presented the company at the European Parliament in Brussels during the European Innovation Summit.

Back in October, Include won the “Rising Star" award by the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Program, which is described as a program that recognizes and profiles the fastest growing private or public technology companies in Central Europe.

Mrvoš wrote in a Facebook status then:

“Include – the fastest growing company of Central Europe in Rising Stars category by Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Program.

We are the first Croatian company to win in this category, with 1950% growth rate in the last three years of business operations.

Back in 2014, we started out with modest initial capital and big vision - to build the largest smart street furniture production company in this part of Europe. Four years later, with 35 highly skilled employees and products placed in 39 global markets, we can proudly say that winning the Deloitte Rising Stars award is one of our company’s greatest accomplishments so far.”

And just a few weeks ago, the first smart benches hit Qatar, prompting Mrvoš to reflect on the brilliant start to 2019. 

“Our new flagship product (Monna Smart Bench) has sold a total of 14 copies in the first 20 days - 11 for Canada, 2 for Denmark and 1 for the Croatian Market.

- We also sold 35 Steora smart benches worth over one million kuna (which is already the monthly standard that continues to grow), out of which around 20 are Urban and Urban + (benches that have a display for digital advertising purposes). We seem to be creating a new trend in two industries - street furniture and outdoor digital advertising - by merging them into one and further enhancing it because our benches and campaigns are accessed/managed through our web application.

- We’ve opened in one and a half new markets - Bermuda (officially part of the UK, and a week-long fight to decide who will go to install it) and Poland (a much smaller fight), so we are now in 42 global markets

- We’ve hired new employees - business developers, embedded software developers, python developers (ads can be found at: https://www.include.eu/job_opportunities)

- We have continued media coverage outside of Croatia: https://www.gulf-times.com/story/620188/Aspire-Zone-first-to-introduce-smart-benches-in-GC (installation of three Steora Urban+ benches in Qatar) although it is a mistake to say that these are the first benches in the GCC region - no, there are probably thirty or forty.

For the first twenty days - quite solid.”

Today, however, the 23-year-old from Solin has been named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list under the Manufacturing & Industry category in Europe for 2019. 

Ivan Mrvoš took to his Facebook to try to make sense of yet another brilliant acknowledgement. 

“Every time I think: 'ok, we've won all the recognition that could be won' and then life says 'wroooooong!'.

So, today I found myself on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list under the Manufacturing & Industry category for 2019 in Europe. As far as I can see - I am the youngest on almost all lists and the only one from Croatia (if there is someone else on the list - my apologies).

An absolutely huge recognition not only for my work, but for the whole team's work at Include. Great work, team.

And the year has started well, with only 1.1 million kuna worth of products sold in January.”

Include also shared the happy news of their founder and CEO. 

Bravo to Ivan and the Include team! 

To read more about business in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Nada Split celebrated 60 years as a club and their 17th consecutive Croatian championship title with a tour of Scotland. 

February 11, 109 - It’s been a long winter, but we promise it will only get better from here thanks to the Break Time team. 

February 11, 2019 - The 20th round of the Croatian First League began on February 8th with Rudeš and Osijek and ended on February 10th with Hajduk and Lokomotiva. 

ZAGREB, February 10, 2019 - Police in the southern coastal city of Split have arrested three young men on suspicion of attacking three Serbian water polo players on the city's waterfront promenade on Saturday. Two attackers are still on the run, local police said on Sunday morning.

The police said that a club jersey that had been taken from one of the players had been found with one of the men that were brought in on Sunday morning.

The three players are members of Belgrade's Red Star Water Polo Club who had arrived in Split for a game against the local side Mornar BS, which was scheduled for 8.30pm on Saturday. The match was cancelled because of the incident.

The three players were sitting in a cafe on the Riva promenade early on Saturday afternoon when they were approached by five youths who objected to their wearing their club jerseys. The youths first demanded that they take them off and then attacked them. Two of the players, aged 25 and 26, were hit in the back, but managed to run away, while a third escaped by jumping into the sea.

Police soon arrived at the scene, the 29-year-old man was pulled from the sea and taken to the hotel where the Belgrade team were staying. He was later taken to a hospital where he was found to have suffered slight injuries to the head, temple and nose.

The Croatian government strongly condemns this attack by hooligans, and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has discussed the incident with Interior Minister Davor Božinović and Split Mayor Andro Krstulović Opara, government spokesman Marko Milić told Hina.

The attack was earlier condemned by the Croatian Water Polo Federation, the Croatian Olympic Committee and many athletes and politicians.

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić told the RTS public broadcaster on Saturday evening that his ministry would present a protest note to Croatia over the attack in Split. He said that the incident was the result of an ongoing chauvinist anti-Serbian campaign in Croatia, adding that Belgrade would formally demand that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

The Serbian Water Polo Federation and the Red Star Water Polo Club have announced that they will seek increased security measures for their clubs and national water polo team during Euro Cup matches in Croatia.

More news on the relations between Croatia and Serbia can be found in the Politics section.

Three players from the Red Star Belgrade water polo team were attacked on the Split Riva on Saturday afternoon.