“Through cycling I learned not to win”
Founders of Solvership, a leading domestic analytics and artificial intelligence company: “If you don’t use the data you have, if you don’t use AI, you’re missing out on the opportunity to monetize it.”
In the world of business success, Solvership is an inspiring example of how the combination of business experience, sports values, and teamwork can be transformed into a successful business model. Dražen Oreščanin and Anita Cvetić Oreščanin, founders of Solvership, in a new episode of the DBL Podcast, shared their experiences and insights from the world of data and analytics. As sports enthusiasts, they highlighted the ways in which sports have shaped them, and in a conversation with Barbara Cerinski, they also looked at how they give back to the community through their startup incubator.
Through data to success
Once Poslovna inteligencija, today Solvership focuses on analytics and big data management, which has become the backbone of their business model. Dražen Oreščanin explains how big data has become key to successful business: “Data is specific because this is the era of data. So, data, artificial intelligence, the entire global economy, everything that happens is based on that” – Solvership has long established itself as leading experts in its field. The company, which today has around 200 employees with offices all over the world, started as an idea of Dražen Oreščanin and Lidija Karaga. As Anita Cvetić Oreščanin says, when they started, they thought they would be a big company when they had 10 employees, and that they actually had no idea where this business would take them. “We were excited and young. Today I see that we were kids. All three of us changed along the way.” This flexibility and willingness to learn allowed them to adapt to changes in the market and remain relevant.
It’s not all about work, there’s something in sports too
Dražen Oreščanin, who was an active cyclist in his youth, points out how sports values have helped him in his business life: “I learned not to win. So, cycling is not a sport like, I don’t know, tennis. One wins and one loses. In a cycling race, there are 200 people at the start. One will win. The others won’t lose. They just won’t win.” Playing sports has also taught Dražen about teamwork, discipline and accepting results that are not always what is expected.
Giving Back to the Community: Bird Incubator
Solvership actively gives back to the community through its startup incubator Bird, which supports young entrepreneurs in developing their ideas. Dražen Oreščanin explains: “This means that if you are a young company that is just starting to make some kind of product based on artificial intelligence. Then apply. If you get into the program, then you have mentors who work with you”. This incubator is not only for young people, but also for all those who have innovative ideas and want to realize them.
Anita Cvetić Oreščanin adds that their incubator is part of their strategy to give back to the community: “We believe that this is how we give back to society what we get from it. And then you understand how people are happy to help when you have a good idea.” This approach is not just a business model, but also a way of life that includes continuous learning and development.
The business-marriage journey of Anita Cvetić Oreščanin and Dražen Oreščanin is a positive and inspiring story of how business experience, sports values and teamwork can be combined to achieve success. “You have to get involved, you have to work, you have to learn, you have to enjoy what you do, you have to be a good colleague, you have to have fun and create something,” concluded Anita and Dražen.
—
This is just part of the conversation from the new episode of the DBL Podcast – watch the whole show on our Youtube channel and don’t forget to subscribe!
