MAKING IDEAS FLY
THE "i" MAN.
INTRO
I am a passionate entrepreneur with great CEE experience, deep knowledge and creative skills in business development. I started my career in a family business at the age of 16. Since then I went on to enjoy many years of entrepreneurial activities, developing various projects and organisations along the way. People see me as a unique combination of vision, wit, grit and execution to go from idea to a successful company.
AUTHOR
I wrote my first book about Venture Capital in the SEE region “Tvegani kapital: Si upate tvegati?” in 2001. My contribution was also in “Foundations of Marketing” by John Fahy, David Jobber by McGrow-Hill. Study books, diploma mentorships, venture reports, seminars and articles are published regularly.
My latest bestseller “The Slovenia book” is published already in 3rd edition with more than 10.000 copies.
PROFESSOR
I graduated from programs at Harvard Business School, University of Amsterdam, CEEMAN’s International Management Teachers Academy and University of Ljubljana, and I now regularly share my knowledge and experience as a lecturer and Guest Speaker through keynotes, panel presentations, and workshops. I serve as a Visiting Professor at Master program at ESSCA – École Supérieure des Sciences Commerciales d’Angers teaching about how to start new ventures and how to do business in East Europe. I am also continuously teaching courses on Creating Venture Opportunities, Marketing, Business Communication and Entrepreneurship Leadership at IEDC – Bled School of Management, executive education center based in the Slovene Alps.
CONSULTANT
As the founder and owner of a venture builder centre, IQbator, the first private business incubator in the SEE region operating since 2001, I have invested in and supported more than 1000 startups. As an active board member of Business Angels of Slovenia and an active Business Angel investor my investments have included InYourPocket city guides, Optiprint, Everet Group, The Slovenia media house, The Slovenia Book, Sosed, VentureLab, E-Hub, AP&Partners, Seniorji, Lagos, Teletip AG, etc.
INVESTOR
My unique mixture of business practice and more theoretical knowledge proved particularly useful in my consulting to more than 60 dynamic companies in the SEE region and also to the Slovenian Parliament. My startup mentoring experience since 1999 is counted in thousands of startups and founders.
PERSONAL LIFE
Niko lives in Europe just 30 minutes away from the Slovene Alps and the seaside with his wife Nana and their two daughters.
