PAMETNA HRVATSKA Luka Kovačić, powered by Janaf

Guest Luka KovačićHosted by Marijana MatkovićMay 3, 2026

Luka Kovačić

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

Some of the most useful innovations come not from market studies, but from personal frustration. Luka Kovačić, a student of mechatronics and robotics, encountered this reality on his family's blueberry farm. The delicate, repetitive task of packaging fruit by hand was inefficient, yet existing industrial machinery was too large and costly for their operation. Kovačić saw a problem that many small producers faced: how to scale precision work without industrial budgets. His solution, an automatic blueberry packaging machine, began as a final thesis project but quickly gained international recognition. Kovačić shares how he translated a common agricultural bottleneck into a compact, automated system. The conversation reveals the determination required to move from a personal need to a tangible product, and the surprising resourcefulness needed to fund and build it from the ground up.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

His family's blueberry farm, producing 50 to 60 kilograms daily, faced a problem: packaging the delicate fruit was monotonous and risked damage. Existing machines were designed for thousands of kilograms, leaving small producers without tailored solutions. Innovation often means building something specific for the overlooked middle ground, rather than trying to adapt down from an industrial scale.

Kovačić designed his machine to be 'compact, small, and can be put aside' during the off-season, recognizing blueberries are a seasonal product. If your core offering is seasonal, its physical footprint when not in use is as important as its efficiency when it is. You design for the full lifecycle, including downtime.

Kovačić began working on the packaging machine only after he had completed his first two years of university exams on time. Deep work often begins after clearing the decks of routine obligations; the freedom to focus, rather than the pressure of deadlines, can be the true catalyst for sustained creative output.

From a young age, Kovačić 'loved taking apart all toys, fixing them,' with Legos being a significant influence, and technical subjects his favorite in school. The businesses that scale are often the ones you've been involuntarily preparing for since childhood, not by following a passion, but by nurturing a deep, hands-on curiosity.

His final thesis project was developed in collaboration with Professor Željko Šitum, who was 'very enthusiastic' about the idea and even helped provide parts. A good mentor doesn't just guide; they become an enabler, providing resources and enthusiasm that can bridge the gap between an idea and its physical manifestation.

Kovačić focused first on securing the PLC, the 'most expensive and crucial part,' knowing that if he couldn't get it, the project wouldn't proceed. When building a complex physical product, identify the single most critical and costly component first; securing that one piece acts as a go/no-go signal for the entire project.

When seeking sponsorship, Kovačić sent emails to general 'info@' addresses but crucially included his private email, university email, and phone number, which led to many companies calling him back directly. When seeking support from established companies, make it easy for them to connect by providing multiple direct contact points beyond generic addresses, acknowledging that a human connection is often the real gatekeeper.

Before contacting potential sponsors, Kovačić first created a full 3D model of the machine so he could 'present something' instead of making 'blind promises.' Don't ask for resources based on an abstract idea; demonstrate a tangible, well-thought-out plan. A concrete prototype or detailed model, even if digital, is the only real currency when seeking external support for a physical product.

Kovačić secured components from multiple specialized firms: Kapetanović sistemi for aluminum, SMC for pneumatics, SET Bjelovar for the conveyor, and RBT Technology for the PLC and sensors. A complex physical build is rarely a single-source effort; it's a testament to assembling a network of niche partners, each contributing specific, critical components.

Explore further

ScenariosBusiness challenges CardsEducational cards TimelineTopic evolution