January the 26th, 2023 - One year has passed since the former Split software agency Typeqast was taken over by the Dutch company Valcon, and it is now operating under that same name.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the Split software agency Typeqast began operating in the largest Dalmatian city back in 2017 as a team consisting of 11 people, and in the first year alone they grew to 45 employees. They celebrated their fifth birthday with almost 450 employees and 70 active projects, engaging in work mainly for clients across Western Europe in countries like Great Britain, as well as across the pond over in the USA.

Last year at this time, they were acquired by the Dutch company Valcon, which sought to strengthen its technological and data business segment by taking over the Split software agency Typeqast, and one year after that acquisition, the Split-based agency became a full member of the wider Valcon Group. Accordingly, it now operates under a new name - Valcon - and boasts a new visual identity.

Valcon, which is otherwise a consulting, technology and data company, came into the Croatian sphere with the acquisition of the Split software agency Typeqast and further strengthened its ambitions for significant growth across the Southeastern European region. Through Typeqast, Valcon got its hands on a company with rich experience and knowledge in software development for both Western European and American clients and entered the challenging field of IT.

The former Typeqast, and the current Valcon, have offices in Zagreb, Split, Rijeka and Osijek, the Netherlands, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania, and the aforementioned rebranding applies to all of those offices. Here in Croatia, Valcon continues to operate in the same way as it once did and through the same offices.

When it comes to this country, the agency has recently been increasingly involved in low-code development and have the largest team of all working on the Mendix platform. A Data team was formed within Valcon, which grew beyond all expectations in 2022, and significant growth is expected in the future as well.

A low turnover of employees, as well as increased employment, generated the need to expand the capacity of the agency's Croatian offices, so the Split, Osijek and Zagreb offices were all expanded.

Marko Baric, one of the co-founders of Typeqast and now the director of Croatian Valcon, believes that this partnership with Valcon has given the company additional strength and that it will speed up the next stages of development going forward.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated business section.

January 28, 2022 - The software company Typeqast, which has been operating in Croatia since 2017 and employs about 200 people in offices in Split, Zagreb, and Osijek, has become part of the Dutch consulting company Valcon Group. 

Antonija Bilić Arar of Netokracija reports that with this merger, the Dutch Valcon strengthens its technological expertise and business data and, through Typeqast, gains a company with extensive experience and knowledge in software development for Western European and American customers and enters the IT segment. Typeqast, on the other hand, is becoming part of a large consulting firm with more than 1,200 employees, offices in the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany offering clients business, organizational, technological, strategic, and analytical advice.

Typeqast is officially a Dutch software company, but one of the co-founders and directors of the Croatian company is Marko Barić from Split. From the first day, the company also operated from Croatia and, in five years, has grown into a respectable software company. Barić says the partnership with Valcon will give Typeqast additional strength and speed up the path to the next stage of development.

The partnership with Valcon is a great professional and personal success for him, Barić told Netokracija.

"For me, this is a big moment, as I am one of the co-founders of Typeqast; I have been with the company since day one and have lived with it for the last five years through the dynamic ups and downs of a fast-growing technology company."

Typeqast has been thinking for half a year about joining a more prominent partner that would open the door to new, even bigger clients, so Barić reveals why they chose Valcon:

"We have been in intensive negotiations with several potential partners. After several months of talks with Valcon, we decided to move into a shared future, as we had known each other from before. Namely, the Valcon Group is one of the existing clients of Typeqast, and together we develop low-code solutions.

And we must share the way we think about the direction in which we want to develop Typeqast. It was essential for us that the future partner be someone who deeply understands the issue of outsourcing IT services and has a no-nonsense mindset," said Barić. 

Barić adds that they did not want to be "swallowed" by a significant corporate player who would become just one in a series of companies in the portfolio. That is why the desire to maintain autonomy around business and running a business was crucial to partner with Valcon. Therefore, he emphasizes that Valcon operates in Croatia in the same way and through the same offices as before. The only thing that will change is that it will grow even faster:

"I am proud that we have reached 200 employees and five offices in 3 countries relatively quickly, and with this partnership with Valcon, we have secured a bright future for the coming years. Our ambitions are very high, and we plan to exceed 500 people in our development offices over the next two to three years."

For more, check out our dedicated business section.

It’s no surprise that more and more young people are leaving Croatia in search of a better life, while on the other hand, more and more foreigners are coming to live in Croatia. Today, we bring you the story of one foreigner who left the ‘American dream’ to live in Split, reports Novi List on April 22, 2019. 

How did a 30-year-old who studied and worked in Los Angeles decide to work and live in Croatia, and precisely Split? How do foreigners increasingly choose Croatia as a place to live in the middle of the great wave of youth emigration to Ireland and other countries around the world?

Meet Balki, born in India who left to study and work in Los Angeles. In the 'City of Angels', he worked in the IT sector in the video game industry and wore the title of a Games User Experience Researcher and Technical Analyst. Despite a good job in Los Angeles, four years ago, Balki decided to make a significant change in his life and move to Split. However, he did not plan on staying in Split long, but only for a short time before returning to America.

Balki had heard about Croatia and its history. He knew Croatia was a developing country. And he saw it as a personal challenge after which he would return to America.

However, while working in Los Angeles., an opportunity from Balki's company opened to work at a branch in Split. Balki, determined and open to new ideas, wanted to take advantage of the offer and experience what it was like to live somewhere in Europe. After scrolling through pictures of the Dalmatian capital and making several video calls with the employees in Split, Balki decided to give Split a chance.

“I have to admit, my first reason for coming to Split was more logistic, it was easier to get a work permit in Croatia,” Balki said honestly.

But as the conversation continued, Balki spoke about the people he met who became friends for life. Balki quickly accepted the way of life in Croatia and how day-to-day living is far more enjoyable than in Los Angeles. Furthermore, Balki found a new job in Split and is employed by the international IT company Typeqast. Balki said he is delighted to work with clients from all over the world and with his talented colleagues.

"Although L.A. is a city full of fun, Split has something that calls you to stay, and it has become more difficult to think about returning to L.A."

This successful 30-year-old lived on the coast of Chennai, where he grew up before moving to L.A. and Split where he lives today. 

"I love life on the coast and everywhere is beautiful, but I have to admit that no one likes their coast and sea as much as the Dalmatians do. Every day I am thrilled with the beauty of the Croatian coast.

As far as work differences are concerned, I can say that in the companies I've worked for so far, everything runs at a high level and it is not too different from America. It's great to work in international companies because there are no language barriers for working with foreign clients and all communication takes place in English, so it's not important whether you live in Croatia or anywhere in America. But one everyday thing I was surprised and thrilled about was the 'coffee break'. Although it sounds like a waste of time, Croatians actually use them very wisely, and because of them, you can be more efficient at work. It’s fascinating. At the moment I am so pleased with my job and the support we have from the leadership of the firm that I no longer think about when I will return to L.A.”

How is the emigration of young people from Croatia seen by someone who came from L.A.?

"I think in most cases the emigration of the youth has almost become a normal thing and young people are trying to test their limits. This ‘brain drain’ is more seen as a result of youthful curiosity than bad conditions in the state. On the other hand, there is, of course, a state that in my opinion does not give enough support to young people."

While a good job and working conditions are essential to the quality of life, those who work in Croatia also have its natural beauty, pleasant climate and at any moment someone, someone to drink coffee with. Balki is yet another example of a foreigner who came for work and stayed for the Croatian way of life. 

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

Split's IT industry continues to grow. 

Split is quickly becoming a major IT hub of Croatia, and the latest story of Typeqast is further proof of the city's tech potential.