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Krešimir Dubrilović
Episode · #102

PAMETNA HRVATSKA Krešimir Dobrilović

Guest Krešimir DubrilovićHosted by Borislav ŽivkovićMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

Krešimir Dubrilović has spent over two decades in the rent-a-car industry, a sector he describes as one that "gets under your skin" — making it hard to leave once you're in. This deep immersion led him to found Carwizz in 2017, his third venture, which quickly became Croatia's fastest-growing rent-a-car company. By 2019, Carwizz had scaled to 80 employees, 13 branches, and a fleet of over 2,000 vehicles, positioning it as one of the top three players in the market. Dubrilović's perspective offers a clear view into the mechanics of rapidly scaling a business within a mature, highly seasonal industry. He shares how Carwizz navigates the peaks and troughs of the tourism market, strategically targets specific customer segments, and grapples with the industry's unique challenges, from managing massive fleets to competing with informal operations. Readers will understand the strategic choices required to build a market leader from the ground up, even when the market itself presents structural limitations.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
After two decades in the rent-a-car business, having built two startups for others, Krešimir Dubrilović finally launched Carwizz to "capitalize on all the experience" he had accumulated. The third startup isn't just another attempt; it's often the culmination of years spent refining expertise and building a network for someone else, before launching for oneself.
02
Carwizz, founded in 2017, grew to 80 employees, 13 branches, and a fleet of over 2,000 vehicles by 2019, becoming the second or third largest player in Croatia. Rapid scaling in a competitive market isn't just about speed; it's about quickly reaching a critical mass that allows you to compete directly with established players.
03
Dubrilović points out that while overall border crossings might be down, "air guests are constantly increasing" for Croatia, making up over 70% of Carwizz's annual revenue. In a seemingly stagnant market, growth often comes from identifying and exclusively serving the one customer segment that is actually expanding, even if it's not the largest overall.
04
Rent-a-car in Croatia is still seen as "an almost exclusive, luxury service," unlike taxis which have become a daily necessity for a wide range of users. Shifting a service from perceived luxury to everyday utility requires a sustained marketing effort to change public perception and demonstrate value, a process that can take years.
05
Croatia's rent-a-car market is "extremely seasonal," with fleets exceeding 23,000 vehicles in peak season but drastically reduced after October, with cars returned to suppliers. For highly seasonal businesses, off-season strategy isn't about maintaining; it's about systematically shedding assets and adapting to a reduced demand profile.
06
Unlike some competitors focused solely on airports, Carwizz maintains "six or seven branches in city centers" to serve domestic users outside the peak tourist season. Mitigating extreme seasonality requires a dual distribution strategy: serving the core tourist market at transport hubs and cultivating local, year-round demand through different channels.
07
Dubrilović acknowledges the "gray and black economy" in the rent-a-car industry, with individuals renting out private cars for "100 or 200 kuna." Established businesses in fragmented, service-heavy markets must account for and adapt to informal, unregulated competition that operates outside standard business practices.
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