Antonio Perić Mažar
Episode · #548
POSLOVNI ĐIR Antonio Perić Mažar
Guest Antonio Perić MažarHosted by Mojdana KoharevićMay 3, 2026
Antonio Perić Mažar
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
Antonio Perić Mažar started an IT company in Split over a decade ago when the local tech scene was still nascent. Today, his firm Locastic thrives, and he co-organizes Block Split, a major international conference focused on blockchain technology. What began as a natural progression from freelancing for him and his partners has grown into a significant regional player that actively shapes its ecosystem, bringing global tech conversations to a city known primarily for tourism. This conversation explores how to build a tech business in an unexpected location, the evolution of a niche industry from speculation to serious development, and the surprising synergy between technology events and local economies.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Ten years ago, when finding a job in IT was harder and the industry less developed in Croatia, Antonio and his partners, already freelancing, found it a 'logical next step' to start their own company. Sometimes, the lack of traditional opportunities in a nascent market is the very signal to create new ones, especially when you already have a track record of independent project work.
02
Block Split explicitly avoids discussions on 'speculation or crypto prices,' focusing instead on 'technology and the development of business models and projects on the blockchain.' In a volatile and often misunderstood industry, clearly defining your event by what it *refuses* to cover can attract a more serious audience and build credibility for the underlying technological advancements.
03
Comparing the blockchain landscape of 2018 to today, Antonio notes it was then a 'rather immature area' where it was 'much harder to find people who even wanted to talk about it.' The growth of a nascent industry isn't just about adoption; it's about the emergence of a critical mass of experts and the development of supporting infrastructure like dedicated startup stages at conferences.
04
Even during the current 'crypto winter,' Antonio observes that interest in blockchain and Web3 is not dropping drastically, unlike in previous downturns. He believes this is 'somehow the time when the most good things are developed on the blockchain.' Market downturns in emerging tech often clear out speculative noise, creating an environment where serious builders can focus on fundamental innovation.
05
Companies attending Block Split often bring 'twenty or so employees' and stay for 'a week before or a week after the conference' for internal team building. Strategic event planning in a tourist destination isn't just about attracting attendees; it creates extended stays and economic activity beyond the event itself, benefiting local tourism while using the location to attract global tech talent.
06
The monthly 'Tinel' meetups, hosted in Locastic's office, expanded into an annual 'mini-conference' at unique locations like Klis Fortress, drawing 250 people. Scaling community engagement doesn't always mean going big; it can mean evolving a regular, intimate format into a larger, special event at a unique location, creating a memorable experience that reinforces community identity.
07
Antonio notes that 'mostly younger people enter such startup ventures... because they have the least to lose, realistically, either during college or right after.' The willingness to take entrepreneurial risks is often inversely correlated with accumulated obligations. Those with fewer commitments are often the first to explore new business frontiers, not just because of ambition, but because their downside is contained.
08
It is 'normal that some people are not interested' in starting a business, preferring a 'good job, a well-paid job, which they can have today, and they don't want additional stress or additional obligations.' A healthy ecosystem includes both entrepreneurs and those who prefer stable, well-compensated employment; the availability of good jobs for skilled professionals is itself a sign of a maturing tech industry.