Like many children, Martin M., CEO of Devōt, had a knack for taking apart small gadgets. Remotes, clocks, old phones, and game consoles – nothing was safe from his curious hands.

He thought it was fun to investigate the gadgets, see what components they are made of, and then learn how to assemble them back. As a curious kid, he wanted to understand how stuff worked. He now jokes that his main takeaway was discovering that household gadgets seem to have an endless supply of screws!

It's a universal truth – most kids love hands-on projects, turning everyday items into their little adventures. It's amazing to see that nowadays, kids can build their own STEM projects without angering their parents.

When networking does its magic…

Martin first heard about Albert when he found out about his MAKERbuino project. He was fascinated with what Albert managed to accomplish by the age of 18. Albert's journey, from a simple Facebook message to a BBC interview, showcased his bravery and creativity.

Albert and Martin, both influential figures in the tech world, crossed paths at various events. One of those was Deloitte's Award event, where both companies earned spots on Deloitte's CE Technology Fast 50 list as one of the fastest-growing companies in Central Europe. Award ceremonies like that are great for networking and gathering Croatian entrepreneurs to celebrate innovation.

By meeting each other, Martin learned more about Albert's passions and projects and decided to invest in them. It's exciting to see partnerships between companies that cherish knowledge and engineering mindsets.

Why is investment important?

For Albert, CEO of CircuitMess, investments are not just about securing the necessary capital to fuel their growth—they're about building a network of supporters who believe in the same mission to inspire the next generation of creators and engineers. Investments from within Croatia are particularly significant. They represent a vote of confidence in homegrown talent and their ability to compete globally. Local investors not only bring financial resources but also a deep understanding of the local market and a shared commitment to nurturing the Croatian tech ecosystem. Local support empowers CircuitMess to continue developing cutting-edge educational products, scale their operations, and, most importantly, inspire young minds in Croatia and beyond to innovate and dream big. 

Martin's investment strategy involves reinvesting revenue from services abroad into promising Croatian companies like CircuitMess, aiming to transition the Croatian economy from a service-based to a product-based model. Building a product-based company is risky, which is why it's important to have support inside your own country. Supporting Croatian businesses goes beyond financial investment; it's about sharing insights and knowledge and learning from one another. Together, we can pave the way for even more global investments and opportunities. It's inspiring to see engineers and product innovators bring incredible projects to life in the heart of Europe.

And let's face it, there's nothing better than investing in a company that turns childhood dreams into reality.