CROCAST Brian Senaratne

Guest Brian SenaratneHosted by Siniša ŽugićMay 3, 2026

Brian Senaratne

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

Brian Senaratne's path to entrepreneurship in Croatia is a lesson in following an unconventional compass. He arrived in Zagreb not for a business venture, but for love — a romance that ultimately didn't last, yet left him with a deep affection for the city itself. It was this unexpected connection, combined with a seemingly casual observation during a trip with his brother, that led them to open a restaurant with no prior culinary experience. This isn't the story of a chef opening a passion project, but of a former Microsoft sales executive who, alongside his brother, saw a market opportunity others missed. They plunged into the hospitality sector in a foreign country, driven by a business mindset rather than a love for cooking. Their approach challenges the conventional wisdom that expertise in the craft must precede the venture. The conversation reveals how an outsider's perspective, unburdened by industry norms, can be a powerful advantage when building something from scratch. You will walk away considering how much of what you think you *need* to know before starting a business is actually just a limiting belief.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Brian's initial move to Zagreb was "for love," a relationship that didn't work out, but he "absolutely fell in love with the city" itself. Personal reasons might draw you to a place, but a deeper, unexpected connection to the location can become the true foundation for a new life or business.

The idea for Curry Bowl sparked during a "very drunk night" in Amsterdam, when Brian and his brother saw a Wok restaurant and casually wondered aloud, "what happens if we bring Kottu... to Europe?" Significant business ideas often emerge from spontaneous observations and informal conversations, not always from structured planning.

Neither Brian nor his brother knew how to cook; they hired a chef and flew him to Croatia after signing the lease for their restaurant. A lack of direct domain expertise can free founders from rigid industry conventions, allowing them to approach a new venture with a purely business-driven perspective.

Brian describes his professional background as a "sales business guy from the business side of things" at Microsoft, not a technologist or a cook. The entrepreneurial mindset often identifies opportunities by understanding market trends and financial flows, rather than possessing a personal passion for the product itself.

Starting "from absolutely not knowing anything" was "kind of a blessing," Brian says, because "we didn't have all these stigmas and... we were not boxed in of how a restaurant should be." Being an industry outsider can be an advantage, enabling founders to define a business on their own terms without being constrained by established norms.

Brian recalls that few believe him when he says he served the first guests "just seven days from the moment I signed the lease." What appears reckless from the outside often feels like a logical, exciting next step when you are fully committed to building a new venture.

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