Announcing the winners of Zagreb Connect concluded the EBAN Winter University 2016 conference
- 30. studenoga 2016.
- Posted by: Zimo Digital
- Category: Nekategorizirano @en

The eventful two days of the EBAN Winter University 2016 conference culminated with the announcement of the Zagreb Connect startup competition winners. After two days of presentations, 45HC, Gowaft and NanoDIY were selected as the best startups among the 20 finalists.
The winners of Zagreb Connect, a startup competition organized in cooperation with the City of Zagreb were announced on the last day of the EBAN Winter University 2016 conference. In the preceding exhaustive three days the finalists were preparing presentations, sharpening their presentation skills and subsequently had the opportunity to present themselves to the business angels on stage in the Lisinski hall.
The jury had a difficult task of selecting the best of the best. However, among the twenty finalists, 45HC left the most convincing impression on business angels, thus wining the first place and a cash prize of 20,000 euros. This digital company with an efficient logistics network for overseas cargo shipping also won a trip to the Silicon Valley.
The second place and a cash prize of 10,000 euros went to Gowaft from the UK and their innovative way for carrying heavy objects around town, while the third place went to NanoDIY, a startup that enables printing on any type of textile. For this idea, they won a cash prize of 7,000 euros and the promo package from NovaTv.
Since this conference is special in every way, one of the prizes came from the audience that was able to vote via the official conference application. This prize of 5,000 euros in total went also to NanoDIY.
As a co-organizer of the conference, the City of Zagreb was awarding a special prize. Mirka Jozić, the Head of the City Office for Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, delivered the award of 5,000 euros to the Vollo startup. Besides the cash prize, Vollo also won the one-year program for preincubation/incubation at the Zagreb Technology Park. Additionally, in partnership with the Embassy of Israel, the winners of Zagreb Connect are going to travel to Tel Aviv where they will get aquainted with the startup community of Israel.
As organizers of the Zagreb Connect startup competition and EBAN Winter University 2016 conference, Croatian Business Angels Network CRANE and the City of Zagreb expressed their gratitude to everyone who entered the finals and presented themselves at the conference.
“Just like we have announced, we prepared an extraordinary spectacle in Zagreb. I am extremely happy and proud because we managed to show what Croatia can do and hopefully opened the doors for new investments. We congratulate all the finalists who participated in Zagreb Connect and EBAN Winter University conference, events that represent the beginning of our support on their way to success. All of the startups on this stage tonight represent an investment for a better future and a better Croatia, and one day they will play an important role in our economy.” said on this occasion Davorin Štetner, the President of the Croatian Business Angels Network – CRANE and the conference organizer.