3 startups from the Balkan countries that grew large
3 innovation and digital news in 1 minute. Every Monday. Episode 351
Rimac — an exceptional name and car components
Founded by 35-y-old, high profile Mate Rimac in Zagreb. Rimac Automobili specialises in components and software for high-performance electric vehicles. High-performance: velocity and sports. To showcase components, Rimac developed a car, the Rimac Nevera, the fastest accelerating EV in the world, built with almost exclusively Rimac components. Opinion: Founder Mate Rimac retrofitted an electric motor and drivetrain to his old BMW, that’s how the company started. From there grew into a major component supplier for EVs of various manufacturers. In 2022 Rimac merged with Volkswagen high-performance brand Bugatti.
35 year old Mate Rimac is now CEO of Bugatti-Rimac, impressive!
Slice software for local Pizza shops, founded by a Macedonian
Slice provides services and software for small local pizza restaurants. Mainly helping small pizzerias with better online representation e.g. websites with ordering feature and online advertising. Slice is also a wholesaler for local pizza shops to source supplies like pizza boxes, plastic cutlery at discounted prices. Opinion: Slice claims “earn more, work less”, by offering software and services to small local pizza restaurants that mainly help them earn more online orders. Founder Illir Sela started Slice after working for his family small pizza shop.
Founded by Macedonian entrepreneur Illir Sela, now based in NYC and $125m VC funding.
Plum automated savings app, founded in Athens
Plum is an automated savings and investing app. A bank account aggregator, not a bank account itself. Pockets are sub accounts, there is also an interest pocket, like a savings account. Banking, investing and trading offers are offered with partners (banks, regulated fintechs). Opinion: The number of stocks and funds that are available to trade on Plum depends on subscription tier, very limited in free tier and increases with the paid premium subscriptions. Plum claims to have 1,727,475 customers, states this very precise number on its website.
Founded in Athens, now based in London, $82.4m funding.
