For those who are hearing about FBOA for the first time, how would you describe the association and its core mission?

FBOA is an international association built by and for founders. Our core mission is to support entrepreneurs not only in growing their companies, but also in growing as leaders, decision-makers, and humans behind the business.

At the heart of FBOA is the belief that everyone has something to teach and something to learn. Many of our members have moved to a new country and started from zero, often without immediate access to tools like trusted lawyers, accountants, or even a business community.

Doing it alone is hard, and unnecessary.

We focus on real founder challenges: navigating uncertainty, building strong networks, and learning from the lived experiences of others. It’s not about theory or hype, but about practical knowledge, shared journeys, and meaningful connections across borders.

What kinds of founders and companies usually benefit the most from being part of FBOA, and at which stage of their journey?

FBOA is especially valuable for founders who have moved beyond the idea stage and are actively operating a business. This includes early-stage to growth-stage companies, from solo founders to small and mid-sized teams.

Our members are people who carry responsibility, make decisions daily, and understand that entrepreneurship can be isolating, especially when building in a new country. Here, they find peer exchange, mentorship, and real conversations with founders who have faced similar challenges in different markets.

Our community includes people who have been here for 10 years, 8, 5, 3, 1, or even just a few months. What they all share is a genuine commitment to staying, living, working, and contributing to the local ecosystem.

One of FBOA’s strengths is its international outlook. How can you connect Croatian founders with global knowledge, networks, and best practices?

We operate as a bridge between local ecosystems and global founder communities. Through our international partnerships, events, and exchanges, founders gain access to real-world insights from other markets.

This includes learning how founders in different countries approach funding, hiring, scaling, failure, and leadership. It also creates opportunities for cross-border collaborations, new partnerships, and exchanges of knowledge that can be adapted locally, rather than copied blindly.

For Croatian founders, this international perspective helps place their work in a broader context while remaining grounded in local reality.

How do you see organizations like Split Tech City contributing to a healthier and more connected founder ecosystem in cities like Split?

Organizations such as Split Tech City play a crucial role in building the foundation of a local ecosystem.

They create visibility, shared identity, and clear access points for founders, talent, and knowledge.

By fostering community, education, and collaboration, they help ensure founders don’t operate in silos. When local initiatives and international associations like FBOA collaborate, the ecosystem becomes stronger, more connected, and more resilient for everyone involved.

Looking ahead, what is FBOA’s vision for the next few years, and how would you like founders from the Split region to be involved in that story?

Our vision is to continue growing as a trusted, founder-led global network while deepening its local roots. We want regional chapters like Split-Dalmatia to become active hubs of connection, learning, and mutual support.

Founders from the Split region are invited not just to participate, but to help shape the community. By sharing their experiences, challenges, and successes, they contribute to a collective story.

Anything you want to add?

Entrepreneurship is not just about building companies, it’s about building ecosystems where people feel supported, challenged, and understood. FBOA exists to remind founders and builders that they don’t have to do this alone, and that meaningful growth happens faster when knowledge, trust, and community come first.

You also don’t need to be a founder or a foreigner to join. What matters is curiosity, generosity, and a willingness to learn, share, and be part of the group.