When an entrepreneurial vision is combined with international knowledge and the right support, an idea can very quickly grow into a global business opportunity.
Among more than 150 successful collaborations within the INDUSAC project, one story has gone a step further – from a development challenge to the founding of a new company with international ambitions.
An idea with global potential
In November 2023, when the INDUSAC platform became publicly accessible, the team from the Jožef Stefan Institute informed companies about the possibility of collaborating with students and researchers.
Entrepreneur Anton Skubic, who already runs a classic café, responded quickly to the initiative. He was thinking of an innovative concept – a virtual café, an online space where people from all over the world could meet, collaborate, and co-create remotely. Not just classic video calls, but a rich, themed, and interactive digital experience.
From concept to a working platform
The opportunity was spread through the Enterprise Europe Network, which allowed the challenge to reach students from various European countries.
In the summer of 2024, a selected group of students, together with Anton, designed the key elements of a modern platform:
flexible themed rooms,
real-time interactions,
emphasis on user experience,
building a sense of community.
Development then moved into the technical phase. Mohammad Farid took care of the development of key functionalities, system performance optimization, and security upgrades. The first working version of the Virtual Café platform was created.
The platform offers users:
a café for relaxed conversations,
a music corner,
an art studio,
a quiet study room for shared learning,
a language hub with native speakers,
a business networking corner,
and the possibility of creating private themed rooms.
The user experience and business model were further supported by data analysis, predictive models, and trend insights prepared by members of the student team.
From collaboration to a company
What began as a co-creation project soon outgrew its original framework.
In the summer of 2025, Mohammad Zeeshan, a representative of the student team, and Anton Skubic began the procedures to establish a new company that will manage and develop Virtual Café on an international level.
During a visit to the Jožef Stefan Institute, they emphasized that the integration of knowledge, entrepreneurial vision, and international cooperation was key to the transition from an idea to a concrete business model.
Mohammad Zeeshan and Anton Skubic at the ”Jožef Stefan” Institute (Photo: M. Verč, 2025)
An example of how the network opens up opportunities
The story of Virtual Café clearly shows how the Enterprise Europe Network can:
connect entrepreneurs with international expertise,
enable cross-border cooperation,
support the development of innovative solutions,
help with the initial growth steps of a new company.
With the support of the network, the new team will continue its entrepreneurial journey and expansion into international markets.