Zagreb Locals: A Young Entrepreneur With A Unique Idea

Have you ever wondered what it's like to start a business while still in high school? Well, this month we decided to talk to Leo Gregurić, a 17-year old Zagrebian who did exactly that. Today, he is the owner of the successful 3D printing company, 3D Globe and graduating from one of the hardest Zagreb high schools, MIOC.

You may be wondering: how is he doing it all and managing his time while still enjoying his high school days? Well, read our interview and find out more about Leo and his interesting story.

Maybe you will find some inspiration for yourself. 

Image credit: Leo Gregurić

So, to start off - introduce yourself to us briefly. 

My name is Leo and I live in Zagreb. I am 17 years old (in 2 months 18) and I am a student at XV. high school in Zagreb, or MIOC. Outside of school, in addition to running a business, I like to do various activities. I really like a lot of different things. For example, I love to take my bike and go cycling up Sljeme (a mountain peak above Zagreb) on Saturday mornings with my friend. Then we eat lunch at the peak and descend back to the city along a path through the forest.

Apart from cycling, I am a big fan of cars and racing, so sometimes I also love to do go-karting which I simply adore. I also still train skiing, but at a much lower intensity than I did before. In addition, I love windsurfing, so I like to do that when there is enough wind and the conditions are right. It is a great summer activity for me.

Now, let's talk business. :)

How did you come up with the idea of starting your own company at such a young age?

Even in elementary school (13-14 years old), I knew that I wanted to start some kind of a small business someday. I didn’t know what exactly I wanted to do, but I firmly believed I wanted to start something.

The idea for a business with 3D printers was born when back in 2014 I ordered my first at-home 3D printer via Kickstarter. That 3D printer arrived a year and a half after I paid about 200 USD into the campaign of the then newly formed American startup company M3D. When I finally got the printer in my hands, I immediately started using it and a few months later, I used up all the filament (the material the printer consumes). That printer used a special filament also produced by the M3D company, but when I asked them where else I could get it, they told me the nearest retailer was in Poland.

As I already received questions from friends after the arrival of my 3D printer, like where they can buy it in Croatia, my problem with the lack of filament triggered the idea - why shouldn't I be the one selling it here! And so it all started. I initially represented M3D and sold their products, but as time went on and very famous and really great 3D printers of Chinese origin appeared on the market, they technically overtook M3D's offer, so I found myself a new supplier and stopped selling M3D and switched to other brands, the ones that offered the best possible product.

Image credit: Leo Gregurić

It was an important moment of change for the company, and from that moment everything continued to develop,  the results were improving from month to month and today I'm really very satisfied and proud. Although it's not really about large sums yet, for me, as a 17-year-old, what I have is a lot, and that in itself exceeded all my expectations from the beginning of this whole adventure. As for the current situation with the COVID-19, I can say that work "stopped" for a while, although that happened because of me. I deliberately slowed it down because I needed a break.

During the peak of the COVID crisis and lockdown, I printed out safety visors and devoted myself to modifying the current website and sort of abandoned the “sale” part of the work. But, it didn't hurt me. On the contrary, I recharged my batteries and was ready to move on after lockdown ended. 

Ugh, yes, MIOC is a pretty demanding school for me personally. When the school rut starts, that is, during the exam periods, it is quite difficult to put work, sports and socializing into the schedule.

My first year of high school was a big shock to me, but now I’m used to it and I can manage my time much better. Most often in situations where there are a lot of school obligations I get to go out and socialize only on weekends. Or even take some time out and sit down a bit and do something for work.

You mentioned you're a real Zagrebian or as many would say in Zagreb slang "purger" which means your family has lived in Zagreb for a couple of generations back.

Are you especially attached to your neighbourhood, considering that most Zagreb residents will claim that their neighbourhood is the best part of the city? :) 

Indeed, my family has been in Zagreb for many, many years. Since I didn’t go to school in my neighbourhood, during some earlier years of my life I wasn’t exactly very attached to my neighbourhood because all my friends were from another neighbourhood, where my elementary school was. Why was that so? Because my parents wanted me to go to the Silvije Strahimir Kranjčević Elementary School, where Latin had been taught from the 5th grade and Greek from the 7th grade.

A lot of my family members also went to that school, so they wanted that tradition to continue, and they knew it was a good school, so I ended up there. Regardless, as I grew up I got to know my neighbourhood a lot more, and have grown to love it very, very much.

I live in Šalata, my personal favourite place in the city. One specific place that is very interesting to me and I like to go there sometimes and just sit and enjoy, is the wheel at the end of Dvorničićeva Street. The houses there are especially beautiful and I would even say that one day my dream is to have a house right on that street. It is really perfect. And that place in itself is ideal for going to sit and chill, or go with someone and talk for a bit.

Image credit: Leo Gregurić

Given the already great success, we are sure that a bright future awaits you.

Are you planning to study abroad after high school or would you rather stay in Zagreb?

So far, education and business are going well, and I can only hope to continue this way, so whatever happens happens. For a while, I wanted to go to England to study, but I changed my mind, and now I want to stay in Zagreb. The reasons are simple- I feel at home here, and our University and available colleges provide really good education.

Lastly, tell us if you have any special rituals, such as drinking coffee at your favourite cafe, a walk in a city park or something completely different?

I don't go to cafes very regularly. Here and there, but not very often. But I frequently go for walks with my beloved dog or for a bike ride in Park Maksimir or Dubravka woods. These are in fact my favourite forest parts of the city. Apart from a few neighbourhood spots, I have several places in the city that I like to go to. One of them is an amazing ice cream and cake place, Chocolat 041 in Masarykova street where I love to get the ice cream named "Bijeli Zagi".

Header image credit: Leo Gregurić

Author: Darija Ilić