When it comes to European money, many still envision a free opportunity for growth, but Ariana Vela knows that the funds are anything but simple. Vela has been living in the world of project applications, complex tenders, and competitions for years, where only the most prepared win. In the latest episode of Lider’s podcast with journalist and host Roko Kalafatić, Vela speaks candidly about where the real money will be in 2025, who can obtain it, and why some will be left empty-handed.
While some entrepreneurs still believe that it all comes down to a good idea, Vela explains why a good strategy is the most important. Delayed applications, inaccurate calculations, and trivial mistakes often cost hundreds of thousands of euros. Behind every successful project is a team that knows what they are doing – and knows how to play by Brussels’ rules. In the conversation, she reveals how crucial consultants have become for success, as well as what their future will look like when the tap of European money starts to close. Croatian bureaucracy, she says, still hinders more than it helps in many ways, and entrepreneurs waiting for someone to ‘guide’ them could be left shortchanged in the most critical years of funding so far.
