The spectacular “Zlatna kuna” has been held: Davorin Štetner, the president of CRANE handed out the award to Axilis

“Zlatna kuna“, or the Croatian equivalent of an Oscar in the area of economy – was held for more than 500 prominent figures and the entire Croatian political and social elite. For the first time, Croatian Business Angels Network – CRANE has actively participated in the program and in the choosing of the winner. Members of the Steering Committee, Hrvoje Prpić and Saša Cvetojević, were in the jury for the new,  “Post Startup” category, while CRANE’s president Davorin Štetner was the jury foreman and the presenter of the Post Startup category award.

This year’s “Zlatna kuna“ primarely gathered new and former start-up companies, but also well-known founders such as Mate Rimac, Luka Abrus, Bruno Kovačić, Davor Bruketa and Nikola Žinić. That indicates the existing trend of innovation in Croatia, which is the main prerequisite for changing the business mentality and the view on entrepreneurship. It was a pleasure to see all of the political leaders of the country led by the Prime Minister Plenković, the President of Parliament Jandroković, the President of the Republic of Croatia Grabar-Kitarović, ministers Žalac, Božinović and Ćorić, along with numerous officials who recognized Croatian businessmen as the cornerstones of society!

In the attractive ambience of the National and University Library in Zagreb, the following prestigious economic awards were presented:

Tomislav Ćorić, the Minister of Environmental Protection handed out the “Zlatna kuna“ award for the Innovation category to Altpro d.o.o from Zagreb. Minister of the EU funds Gabrijela Žalac presented the “Zlatna kuna” award in the category of insurance companies to Wiener Insurance – Vienna Insurance Group d.d. from Zagreb. Within the bank category, the “Zlatna kuna” award went to Privredna banka Zagreb d.d. from Zagreb, and was handed out by Richard Weber, the President of Eurochambers.

Davorin Štetner, the president of CRANE awarded Axilis d.o.o. from Zagreb with “Zlatna kuna” for the new Post startup category. Moreover, this year, for the first time,  “Zlatna kuna“ award ceremony included the award for Economic promotion, which went to Rimac Automobili d.o.o. from Sveta Nedjelja and was handed out by Miodrag Šajatović, the chief editor of the weekly business magazine Lider.

The “Zlatna kuna” award for lifetime achievement went to a prominent entrepreneur Stjepan Šafran, and presented by Luka Burilović, the President of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković awarded Bruketa&Žinić&Gray from Zagreb in the category of small-sized companies, while Gordan Jandroković, the Speaker of Croatian Parliament awarded the “Zlatna kuna” to Pet minuta d.o.o. from Zagreb in the category of medium-sized companies. Finally, Kolinda Grabar – Kitarović the president of the Republic of Croatia handed the “Zlatna kuna” award in the category of big companies to Maistra d.d. from Rovinj.

The Croatian Chamber of Commerce had organized a remarkable event, and its partnership with the Croatian Network of Business Angels – CRANE represents only a continuation of the official and high quality cooperation that started by signing the agreement at the Dubrovnik Forum in 2016.