SaaStanak 2024
The conversations were honest, direct, and full of things you can actually use, not just headlines.
People showed up to share what building a company actually looks like — the messy parts, the pivots, the lessons.
Everyone there had something in common: they’re in the middle of building something, and they came to learn from each other.
We came to meet people who’ve been in the trenches. Founders, operators, product leads, sales directors — all sharing what worked, what flopped, and what they’re still figuring out.
And they didn’t hold back.
Poya Osgouei reminded us that context matters. What works for one company at one stage can break another. It’s not about copying tactics — it’s about thinking through the why behind them.
Ivan Ostojic of Infobip made it clear: have a direction, but don’t force it. Stay flexible. Things shift. You adjust. That’s not failure — that’s how you stay alive.
Michael Larche, VP at Dealfront, cut through the noise: intent matters more than volume. Focus your sales time on the signals that show they’re ready, not just interested.
Andrew Davies, CMO at Paddle, nailed something a lot of teams skip — the sooner you get specific about who you’re building for, the sharper your message, and the smoother your sales.
Tomislav Car, CEO at Productive, hit on a simple truth. Strong products come from strong direction. The more clearly you define your edge, the less time you waste chasing the wrong stuff.
Amir Salihefendic from Doist didn’t talk about hacks. He talked about personal growth — and why founders need to level up before they’re forced to catch up.
Thomas Anastaselos of ChartMogul brought it back to basics: good marketing isn’t traffic. It’s turning interest into actual revenue. Measure what matters — and ignore what doesn’t.
Faris Sehovic from Orgnostic shared something we’ll be testing: pick one channel per quarter, double down, then layer in the next. Stack what works. Don’t burn through it.
Nenad Milanović, CEO at CAKE.com, gave a reminder that I felt in my bones— surround yourself with people who challenge you and bring clarity, not confusion. Your company reflects your closest inputs. Big shoutout to Leonard Eldić and crew – Anastas, Igor, Marija, Ana, Ema, Faris (and more) for pulling this off with care and clarity. Even the WhatsApp automation felt thoughtful.
Yes, the speakers delivered. But the side conversations mattered just as much. From hallway chats to happy hour debates, it felt like everyone showed up to connect, not just collect LinkedIn contacts.
One moment we won’t forget? Getting tactical advice from Glyn Lewis at Paddle — who stayed back after the sessions just to answer questions.
That’s the kind of energy SaaStanak brings.One moment we won’t forget? Getting tactical advice from Glyn Lewis at Paddle — who stayed back after the sessions just to answer questions.
That’s the kind of energy SaaStanak brings.
Big thanks to the organizing crew — Leonard Eldić, Ana Butara, Tina-Martina Horvat, Tomislav Dedić, Igor Kranjčec, and Emily Nović — for putting together something that actually felt useful.
No fluff. No filters. Just two days that got people thinking more clearly — and building more deliberately.
Looking forward to the next one.
See you in 2025.
SaaStanak reminded us that building things is easier when you’re surrounded by people who get it.We showed up with goals and left with new collaborators, fresh perspective, and stories worth retelling. We’ll be back next year. No business cards needed.
Behind every event we attend, there’s a spark. A conversation that shifts perspective. A story that sticks. These are the ones worth revisiting.
A Night That Reminded Me Why I Believe in Our Business Community There are events you attend because they are on your calendar, and then there are those that leave a mark. The Business Leader Awards Gala falls into the second category for me. What happened that night was more than a celebration of success.
Not another panel. A reality check. There’s a pattern I keep seeing across B2B SaaS companies. Marketing drives traffic.Sales drives conversations.Tools promise intent. And yet… deals still take too long to close. Not because teams are not working hard.But because they are not working from the same signal. That is what made SaaStanak #5 different.
A day that reminded me where everything started There are events you attend because they’re on your calendar. And then there are events you attend because they feel personal. The Third International Freelance Conference, organised by the Impact Foundation, was the second kind. I didn’t go just as a speaker or guest. I went as