VRIJEME JE ZA GOSPODARSTVO Goran Becker

Guest Goran BekerHosted by Darko BukovićMay 3, 2026

Goran Beker

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

Most entrepreneurs learn their business by doing, but Goran Beker started by observing the system from three distinct angles: commercial banking, then the public sector agency (HAMAG-BICRO) responsible for EU funds, and finally as an independent consultant. This rare 360-degree view gives him a unique lens on the struggle of micro and small businesses in Croatia to access the capital they need to grow. His firm, INNOM savjetovanje, specializes in helping these businesses navigate EU tenders and financial instruments. His perspective illuminates not just the available funding, but the structural challenges and information gaps that often prevent the smallest businesses from even knowing what's possible. You'll finish this conversation with a clearer understanding of why the biggest opportunities often lie in serving the smallest players, and how the right guidance can bridge the divide between ambition and capital.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Goran Beker's career path — from commercial banking, through a public sector agency (HAMAG-BICRO), to independent consulting — was driven by a desire for self-proof and freedom, where, as he puts it, 'higher risks can bring greater rewards.' Diverse institutional experience, even in seemingly disparate fields, builds a comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem necessary for effective entrepreneurship.

FINA data highlights a stark reality: Croatia has 111,000 micro-enterprises, 10,000 small, 1,011 medium, and only 300 large businesses. The market for business support isn't the visible large enterprises, but the numerically dominant micro-sector that often struggles most with access to capital and information.

Banks frequently treat flat-rate businesses ('paušalni obrti') as individuals rather than viable business entities, making them difficult clients for traditional loans. Conventional financial systems are often not structured to serve the smallest, most dynamic business forms, leaving a gap that alternative funding or specialized consulting must fill.

The current tender for creative industries, part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, is unusual because it explicitly allows flat-rate businesses to apply for up to €300,000 for digitization, hardware, and software. Specific, targeted EU programs can bypass traditional banking biases, creating direct funding avenues for segments of the economy that would otherwise be excluded.

Beker notes that metalworking companies have numerous EU tender options, but service or tourism businesses often find their financing options 'quite limited,' mostly to subsidized loans. Public funding support is not evenly distributed across sectors; some industries are inherently better-positioned to access aid, while others must navigate a much narrower path.

Despite years of discussion, Croatia still lacks a single, centralized information hub where entrepreneurs can find all relevant funding opportunities. Fragmented information, spread across various government agencies and presented in specialized 'meta-language,' creates a significant barrier to entry for small businesses, making intermediaries essential.

When asked if entrepreneurs are turning more to EU funds or still prefer traditional bank loans, Beker points out that the choice isn't just about preference, but about understanding where the funding priorities lie. Entrepreneurs are often compelled to adapt their approach to the specific capital available, rather than seeking capital for their preferred approach.

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