30
yearS

Frane graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Computing in Split, and holds a postgraduate Financial Institutions and Markets degree from the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Zagreb. He was elected lecturer by the Rectors’ Assembly. Frane regularly speaks at numerous technology- and entrepreneurship-related events. He is the initiator of several international conferences:  Zagreb Forum (which specializes in Smart City strategies and solutions), Zagreb Connect  (the most prominent startup conference in Croatia) and  Startup Europe Regatta (a business-meets-sports event specializing in sustainable greentech and fintech technologies).

He established the first Croatian acceleration program – Startup Factory and launched Global Growth and Tech Transfer. Frane is passionate about bringing together stakeholders from all levels of society in building a thriving startup ecosystem. Through ZICER, he runs the largest startup hub in the area.

He prepares ZICER’s business plan for the financial year, as well as the company’s financial plan proposals. He writes semi-annual and annual business reports.

Tomislav heads ZICER’s finances and accounting, and prepares financial, audit and other reports. He also manages finances for specific EU projects implemented by ZICER. He closely cooperates with the City Office for Economy, Environmental Sustainability and Strategic Planning and city administrative bodies.

Tomislav graduated from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and has earned a master’s degree in Economics. Since graduating from college, he has been working in finance and accounting.

Vini holds a Master’s degree in Economics (specialising in Sustainable Tourism Development Management) and a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy, complemented by executive education through the EMBA programme at Cotrugli Business School.

She obtained her first Master’s degree at VERN’ University and her second at Libertas International University, integrating expertise in economics, sustainable development, international relations and strategic management.

Her work bridges strategic planning, operational execution, and cross-sector collaboration within innovation-driven ecosystems.

She began her professional career in the financial sector, where she spent three years working in corporate credit risk, with a strong focus on financial statement analysis. In parallel, she has continuously built extensive hands-on experience in the tourism sector, in which she has been actively involved for many years.

At ZICER, she oversees and implements public procurement activities for the organisation, including the preparation of annual procurement plans and the initiation and management of both small-and large-scale procurement procedures. She is also responsible for cooperation with partner institutions and other legal and natural persons at both local and international levels, as well as for projects related to the expansion, development, and improvement of ZICER’s facilities and infrastructure.

She has actively participated in the implementation of EU-funded projects, notably the EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator, which has since been completed. Currently, she is involved in the preparation and implementation of ongoing EU projects, including AI4HEALTH and DIGITRANS.

In addition, she has organised and coordinated numerous hackathons and innovation programmes, such as Culture at Your Fingertips, City Budget at Your Fingertips, Sport at Your Fingertips, the Booksa Hackathon for Writers, and the ZICER–HPB Financial Hackathon, as well as a wide range of other events delivered under the ZICER umbrella.

She is focused on creative accounting and development project financing models, and continuously monitors tax and legislative regulations. She promotes an entrepreneurial culture and the creation of small oases in which entrepreneurs have an environment for unhindered growth and development.

Lidija graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Zagreb.

Ana coordinates ZICER’s startup acceleration programs, drawing on nearly a decade of hands-on experience mentoring and accelerating more than 150 startups.

She graduated from the City University of New York (CCNY) with a degree in Economics. She previously worked with cultural nonprofits in New York City and with a USAID healthcare program in East Africa.

Željana coordinates ZICER’s mentoring network and designs and delivers educational programs, workshops, training sessions, and advisory activities tailored to the needs of startup founders and participants in ZICER’s programs. She brings over ten years of experience coordinating accelerator programs and mentoring startups, supporting their growth and development across stages. In addition, she prepares and implements EU and national projects, overseeing the full project lifecycle—from planning and execution to reporting, monitoring, and activity coordination. She has extensive experience preparing and managing EU-funded (ESF, ERDF, Horizon, Erasmus+, Europe for Citizens) and national and locally funded initiatives focused on strengthening entrepreneurial, innovation, startup, and employment ecosystems.

Željana is also a member of ZICER’s event organization team, where she has served as coordinator and organizing committee member for international conferences and a wide range of ecosystem-building events, including entrepreneurial competitions, meetups, B2B meetings, bootcamps, and hackathons.

She holds a degree in Political Science and has additional professional training in public relations and social skills development.

After obtaining her degree in Economics, she worked for a courier company where she managed internationalization-related affairs as well as human resources. In parallel, Lena ran a small family business and is a certified freight forwarder. She has worked extensively with exporters assisting them with international placement of goods and services. 

Ivana is in charge of public relations, media affairs and marketing activities at ZICER. She organizes conferences, roundtables and media appearances, and creates content for ZICER’s communication channels. She also implements Startup Factory.

Ivana obtained a Law degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, and Marketing degree from Faculty of Economics, University of Zagreb. Previously, she worked in full service media agencies, planning and implementing marketing activities through traditional and contemporary advertising channels, as well as coordinating and implementing client PR activities.

Barbara has more than fifteen years of experience in communications, education, and content development, spanning the corporate sector, entrepreneurship, and educational programs. At ZICER, she is responsible for public relations, content creation, and communication with startups and partners across the innovation ecosystem. She contributes to the preparation and execution of PR activities, writes articles and stories about ZICER teams, leads communication campaigns, and supports the organization of key events.

Since 2022, she has been developing and delivering educational programs, workshops, and content in the fields of storytelling, communication, and personal development. As an NLP Master Coach, she has created her own writing and communication methodologies that integrate psychology, authentic expression, and business strategy.

Barbara has an MBA in Marketing (ZŠEM) and has additional training in NLP, coaching, and emotional intelligence.

Marina provides legal counselling to entrepreneurs, educates entrepreneurs in the fields of commercial, labor and statutory law, counsels entrepreneurs regarding financing entrepreneurial and other projects from national and EU funds, and assists them with applying for grants.

Klementina is responsible for managing the financial records and accounting affairs of the company, which includes handling accounting events and payroll, preparing and submitting tax reports, final accounts, and annual financial reports. Additionally, she participates in the preparation of financial plan proposals and monitors other business expenses.

Klementina completed her professional studies at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and gained 13 years of experience in accounting and finance while working in the private sector.

Ivo participates in the implementation of entrepreneurial support programs and in organizing business consulting and educational activities. In daily communication with entrepreneurs, he provides support at various stages of their development. He also collaborates with with city administrative bodies, institutions, and partners on the implementation of programs and projects aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

He earned a master’s degree in Economic Policy and Financial Markets from the University of Split. His professional experience includes working in a global FMCG corporation, as well as in the banking industry where Ivo led projects and actively contributed to the development of financial market products.

Having a diverse portfolio that includes graphic design, UX/UI, web development, and digital marketing, Maja is responsible for creative and multimedia content at ZICER. 

With years of experience in the IT industry, she has developed an understanding of technological trends and best practices in visual communications design. She is a graduate of the Technical Polytechnic in Zagreb. 

Željko is a graduate of information technology from the College of Information Technologies, with extensive experience in system administration. He is an expert in maintaining and optimizing IT infrastructure and currently provides technical support at Zicer. With dedication, he resolves technical challenges and ensures the smooth operation of systems.

Dino Kalac serves as a Senior Infrastructure Support Specialist at ZICER, where he is responsible for developing and improving infrastructure capacity – from office spaces and equipment to shared facilities that enable entrepreneurs to work and grow effectively. In his daily work, he plans and implements public procurement procedures and other activities related to ZICER’s infrastructure.

He holds a Master’s degree in Public Sector Management and has several years of experience in infrastructure and operational projects. He is involved in preparing internal acts, implementing public procurement procedures, and coordinating various activities.

Dino contributes to a positive work environment with his approach and humor, making work more enjoyable and strengthening team spirit at ZICER. 

Anita is an Expert Consultant and coordinator for occupational safety at work. She works as a professional orientation trainer for the youth, mentor and lecturer on the EDUBIZ project, ZgAktiv, ”A gdje si ti?” and others.

During twentyfour years at ZICER, Anita worked as a business consultant and educator for entrepreneurs and Homeland War veterans, an expert advisor for marketing and education, business education teacher and organizer, as well as took part in national and EU projects implementation. She organized 480 seminars and lectures attended by 9600 participants. Anita also acts as a HAMAG-BICRO mentor within the Student Entrepreneurial Incubator Network project, e-Business coach, and has co-authored a booklet for entrepreneurs Preparing IT Experts for Entrepreneurship. 

She was the Technical Secretary of the Zagreb Local Partnership for Employment of the City of Zagreb.

Anita is a graduate of the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and London School of Public Relations, and practices lifelong learning.

Nikolina graduated from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Textile Technology. However, she’s never worked as a fashion designer as life had different plans in store. Instead, she gained more than 10 years of professional administrative experience leading a call center and managing a retail chain branch.

She has a Public Administration degree from the Faculty of Law in Zagreb. Prior to ZICER, she worked in administration and finance in the private sector.  

She holds a degree in Finance from the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb and possesses considerable accounting experience.

Katarina is responsible for managing procurement procedures for the Company and for collaboration with partner institutions and administrative bodies of the City of Zagreb. She is also actively involved in the organisation and delivery of various programmes and events at ZICER.

She holds a degree in Tourism Destination Management from the University of Dubrovnik. Katarina brings over 15 years of experience in sales, gained through her work at Croatian Post, where she progressed through roles including Sales Representative, Coordinator, and Product Manager. Throughout her career, she has built a strong foundation in sales, negotiation, presentation, and organisational skills, continuously refining them through additional education in business and online communication.

For the last five years, she has been at the service of all employees, members and visitors to the Agency on a daily basis.

Ksenija is in charge of operational accounting and bookkeeping as well as administrative and technical tasks as part of running the company.

During her years of experience in the private sector, she gained experience and knowledge in the field of administration.

Nora supports entrepreneurs through advisory activities, workshops, and educational programs. She assists in coordinating projects that encourage business development and innovation, collaborating with institutions and partners to create new opportunities for growth.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management in English from the Zagreb School of Economics and Management, with international experience from Toulouse Business School in Barcelona. Her work experience includes roles in the public, banking, and consulting sectors.