The development and dynamics of the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) community in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) are rapidly evolving, largely driven by the significant contributions of events like SaaStanak. Leonard Eldić, the visionary behind SaaStanak, has spearheaded efforts to build and expand this vibrant community, sharing invaluable insights and achieving remarkable milestones over the years. His efforts have highlighted regional differences in local SaaS ecosystems, tackled prevalent issues faced by founders, and explored future growth and innovation within these regions.
The Birth of SaaStanak
Inspiration from SaaStr
Inspiration can take many forms, and for Leonard Eldić, the spark needed to ignite the creation of SaaStanak came when he visited SaaStr in San Mateo in 2021. This visit provided a glimpse into the dynamic world of SaaS gatherings and motivated Eldić to replicate this experience in Croatia. The inaugural SaaStanak event catalyzed a wave of enthusiasm and participation within the local SaaS community, leading to its rapid expansion into six other countries. These countries have since hosted over 25 meetups and are setting the stage for a grand event, SaaStanak 2025, to be held in Šibenik, Croatia. This flagship conference promises to bring together more than 600 industry leaders and SaaS experts in a relaxed Mediterranean setting, fostering a conducive atmosphere for networking, exchanging growth strategies, market expansion tactics, and brand-building insights.
Expanding the Reach
While the impact of SaaS businesses in the CEE region has been notable, a recurring challenge is the tendency to focus on exceedingly narrow niches within individual countries. This limited scope can hinder the potential for broader market influence. The upcoming SaaStanak conference aims to address this issue head-on, featuring prominent speakers like Amir Salihefendić, founder of Doist, and Nenad Milanović from CAKE.com. These experts, along with others, will share their knowledge on expanding beyond local confines and building successful SaaS enterprises. The prevailing trend in the region reveals that many companies are compelled to adopt product-led growth models due to resource constraints and a shortage of experienced growth hires. This has led to a unique but challenging landscape where innovation thrives amidst limited resources. The conference aims to bridge knowledge gaps and offer strategic guidance to navigate these hurdles effectively.
Building a Strong Community
The Importance of Community Building
The essence of any thriving ecosystem lies in its community, a sentiment echoed strongly by Eldić. He underscores the significance of genuine community building, which cannot be owned but must be nurtured through authentic connections, trust, and mutual benefit. True community building requires consistency, commitment, and a relentless focus on delivering real value. Being present, actively listening, and supporting the community form the backbone of a successful approach. Eldić criticizes exploitative models, such as “course-based” Slack channels targeting early-stage founders, for eroding trust and harming the broader ecosystem. Instead, he advocates for creating supportive environments where founders can flourish and learn from each other’s experiences.
Resourcefulness and Adaptability
The SaaStanak community is a testament to the resourcefulness and adaptability of SaaS founders in CEE. These founders have a knack for overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities with limited resources. Countries like Croatia, Slovenia, and Serbia boast mature SaaS products driven by a talent pool nurtured by outsourcing companies and strong regional wage growth. Interestingly, venture capital has played a minimal role in these achievements, with many early successes attributed to bootstrapped or self-funded efforts. This scenario has led to a focus on building globally competitive products capable of scaling without extensive investments in sales teams. The resilience and ingenuity of these founders reflect the broader ethos of SaaStanak, where a collaborative community continually drives innovation and growth.
Overcoming Logistical Challenges
Expanding to New Cities
Logistical challenges are inherent in any growing movement, yet SaaStanak has managed to expand to cities like Ljubljana, Belgrade, Skopje, and Podgorica with relative ease. The accessibility by car from Zagreb facilitated this expansion, although flights posed some difficulties, indicating the need for enhanced regional connectivity. Collaborating with local communities has proven to be a successful strategy in hosting events in new locations, ensuring that the essence and impact of SaaStanak remain consistent across borders. Such partnerships are crucial in navigating logistical hurdles and establishing a robust presence in new cities, paving the way for future expansion and deeper community integration.
Leveraging Regional Strengths
The SaaS industry in CEE is ascending, recognized for its safety, affordability, and lesser regulation compared to other parts of Europe. This favorable environment is attracting foreign talent and investments, presenting a golden opportunity for regional growth. However, there is an inherent risk if companies default to forming sales and marketing teams outside the region. Instead, fostering local ecosystems can yield substantial growth opportunities and harness regional strengths. SaaStanak aims to leverage this momentum, bringing together founders, operators, and growth talent to foster collaboration and innovation, ultimately driving regional transformation. By focusing on collective growth and knowledge sharing, the conference seeks to propel the SaaS industry in CEE to new heights, ensuring sustained success and impact.
Future Directions for SaaS in CEE
Moving Beyond Local Niches
An essential step for SaaS founders in CEE is to look beyond solutions tailored exclusively for local governments or highly specific niches within their countries. There is a noticeable oversupply of HR tools, a pattern rooted in agencies addressing their internal challenges. To break free from this cycle, focusing on vertical SaaS for mid-market and enterprises, developer tools, and marketplace platforms like Salesforce and Shopify presents promising opportunities. Horizontal SaaS for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) also offers room for innovation and easier distribution compared to purely enterprise solutions. While the business-to-consumer (B2C) SaaS segment is more challenging due to limited market size, exceptions like gaming studios demonstrate that successful ventures are still possible in this space.
Evolving with Industry Trends
The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) landscape in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is experiencing rapid growth and transformation, thanks in large part to initiatives like SaaStanak. Leonard Eldić, the creative force behind SaaStanak, has been pivotal in nurturing and expanding this dynamic community. Over the years, Eldić’s dedication has led to the sharing of invaluable knowledge and achieving significant milestones that have propelled the regional SaaS ecosystems forward.
Eldić’s contributions have brought to light the unique characteristics and differences present within local SaaS ecosystems across CEE. Through SaaStanak, he has successfully addressed common challenges faced by SaaS founders in these areas, such as funding, market penetration, and talent acquisition. Additionally, he has provided a platform for discussing future growth prospects and fostering innovation within the SaaS industry in these regions.
SaaStanak has become more than just an event; it is a catalyst for collaboration and knowledge exchange among SaaS professionals. By facilitating networking opportunities and sharing best practices, Eldić has played an instrumental role in creating a supportive environment for SaaS startups and established companies alike. His efforts have not only highlighted the potential of CEE as a hub for SaaS but also inspired many to pursue new opportunities and push the boundaries of what is possible in this field.
