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Ivan Orać
Episode · #424

MISLIŠTE Ivan Orač

Guest Ivan OraćHosted by Sandro KraljevićMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

Ivan Orać made a decision that brought his mother to tears: he quit a permanent job, secured just a day earlier, to start his own consulting firm. He was barely out of university, with less than a year of corporate experience. This move, driven by a desire to build something of his own, is a story of defying the ingrained fear of entrepreneurship. As the co-founder and director of Genius Consulting, Orać now guides other businesses through the complex landscape of securing non-repayable EU funds. His firm helps clients navigate the prerequisites, application processes, and ongoing obligations that often trip up even seasoned entrepreneurs. This conversation explores the realities behind the promise of EU funding, revealing why many applicants fail and what successful businesses do differently. You will walk away with a clearer understanding of the hidden demands of funding applications and the crucial role of long-term planning.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Ivan Orać quit a permanent job — signed just a day earlier — with less than a year of experience under his belt, a decision that literally brought his mother to tears. He defied the common cultural fear of leaving a "safe" path for entrepreneurship, showing that the right time to start might be when everyone else thinks you're crazy.
02
Most entrepreneurs approach Genius Consulting with the same core problem: "We'd like to invest, expand, and grow, but we lack the funds." This initial inquiry often stems from a general awareness that "something exists" in the form of non-repayable funds, rather than a clear strategy for accessing them.
03
The common belief that EU funds are simple to obtain — "just fill out a form, and the money appears" — is a dangerous misconception. Ivan Orać stresses that securing these funds requires meeting numerous strict prerequisites, from positive historical financials to a clean compliance record.
04
A frequent question Ivan Orać hears is, "Why can't I, with my business problems, get funds, while successful companies get everything?" His direct answer is that EU funds are designed to make successful businesses even more so, explicitly excluding those with various financial and operational difficulties.
05
Many businesses contact Genius Consulting too late, often unprepared for the strict requirements of EU fund applications. For example, a tender for construction might demand a valid building permit at the time of application, a document that takes months to secure and cannot be rushed once the tender opens.
06
A critical mistake entrepreneurs make is inflating financial projections in their applications, hoping to artificially boost a project's viability. Ivan Orać warns that these projections become contractual obligations, and failing to meet them during project implementation can lead to significant financial corrections or even the full repayment of awarded funds.
07
While securing a positive decision on an EU fund application is difficult, Ivan Orać emphasizes that the real challenges often begin only after approval. Businesses must be fully aware of the contractual obligations that follow, as non-adherence during project implementation is where most problems, and financial penalties, arise.
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