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Daliborka Dragančević
Episode · #494

PAMETNA HR Daliborka Dragašević, powered by JANAF

Guest Daliborka DragančevićHosted by Boris ŽivkovićMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

Many people have unused space – a spare garage, an empty attic, or a garden shed – seeing it as clutter rather than a dormant asset. Daliborka Dragančević saw an opportunity in this overlooked potential, founding Buxa, a platform designed to connect those with surplus space to those who need it. Her work taps into the growing appetite for flexible solutions, turning what was once a liability into a new source of income. Dragančević shares how Buxa addresses practical challenges, from secure transactions to the fundamental human need for trust when entrusting belongings to others. She explains how the platform navigates the complexities of the sharing economy for physical spaces, revealing the subtle signals that indicate real market demand. This conversation offers a look at how a simple idea, grounded in everyday problems, can evolve into a structured business, highlighting the importance of anticipating user concerns and building a clear framework around them.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
The idea for Buxa didn't come from market research, but from a friend in Split who needed temporary storage for her belongings during the tourist season. The most potent business ideas often emerge from solving a specific, acute problem for one person, revealing a broader, unaddressed market need.
02
When researching the market, Daliborka found that "security was the most important and significant challenge" for potential users. For a platform built on trust, an external insurance partnership isn't an add-on; it's a foundational feature that de-risks the transaction and builds immediate credibility.
03
All items stored and paid for through Buxa are automatically insured via a partnership with Adriatic Osiguranje. This automatic coverage transforms a primary user concern into a core value proposition, shifting the perceived risk from the individual to the platform.
04
To get users on board quickly, Buxa requires only an email address and password for initial registration. For new platforms, especially in a sharing economy, a frictionless onboarding process is critical to rapidly build supply and demand.
05
The platform uses a recurring monthly payment system, where Buxa automatically collects rent and then disburses it to the host, deducting its commission. Automating payments and payouts removes the administrative burden for hosts, making it a truly passive income stream and encouraging wider participation.
06
Buxa initially targeted private individuals with unused attics, basements, or garages, but also developed packages for legal entities. While a consumer-first approach is intuitive for sharing economies, building in B2B options early can capture a wider market as the concept matures.
07
Daliborka states that Buxa is not an intermediary; it simply provides a space for advertising. Clearly defining the platform's role—as a marketplace facilitator rather than a service provider—manages user expectations and clarifies legal responsibilities from the outset.
08
The platform was launched in September, earlier than planned, to participate in the Startup Factory accelerator program. Accelerators can force an early market entry, which, while potentially sacrificing some initial polish, provides invaluable real-world feedback and validation sooner than a planned, later launch.
09
Users have complained that the listed prices on Buxa are too high compared to commercial alternatives, despite free listing for hosts until a rental is secured. Even with a novel offering, market perception of value is sticky, and a new platform may need to actively shape those expectations rather than simply listing what's available.
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