As alumni of the BIRD Incubator, Boont is building a new kind of car insurance—one that focuses on how people drive, not just what they drive. We spoke with founders Žarko Fatović and Josip Maričević, along with licensed actuary and data analyst Zrinka Pavelić, about their behavior-based model, early growth in Croatia, and the next steps as they prepare to expand into new markets.
1. Let’s start with a quick intro: What’s the name of your company, what problem are you solving, and what’s your long-term vision for the company?
We are Boont, a team of disruptors aiming to redefine traditional insurance products. Our goal is to create a car insurance that prioritizes driver behavior and habits over the vehicle itself. After all, cars don’t cause accidents—drivers do. By shifting the focus to individual driving patterns, we aim to offer fairer, more personalized, and data-driven insurance solutions.
2. You’ve reached impressive milestones. Can you share the funding you’ve raised, the size of your team, and what’s next for your growth?
Boont has been entirely bootstrapped, supported by our own investment and contributions from family and friends. Our team currently consists of eight dedicated members: five in customer support, Zrinka as our actuary, and Josip and Žarko as CTO and CEO, respectively.
We’ve been experiencing strong growth in Croatia, our home market, and our next step is expanding into Slovenia in 2025. This marks an exciting phase as we scale our operations and bring our innovative insurance model to new markets.
3. Every startup has key moments that shape its direction. Can you share a story about a pivotal moment that shifted your company’s approach, and how did you navigate that challenge?
Rather than a single pivotal moment, our journey has been shaped by continuous iteration and adaptation. Over the past nine months, we’ve systematically refined our sales strategy, sales funnel, and marketing approach—each change contributing to our sustained growth.
By closely monitoring our processes, identifying challenges, and making data-driven adjustments, we’ve achieved an average monthly sales increase of 25%. This agile approach has been key to our success, ensuring we stay responsive to market needs.
4. How has BIRD Incubator contributed to your growth so far—whether through mentorship, networking, resources, or something else? What’s been the most valuable part of the program for your startup?
BIRD Incubator played a critical role in Boont’s early development. During our most delicate phase, it provided us with a home for six months, allowing us to focus on product development and IT infrastructure.
Beyond the physical space, the incubator connected us with valuable mentors and resources, offering guidance that helped shape our trajectory.
5. Looking ahead, where do you see your company in 3–5 years? What are your most important goals and what’s the strategy for achieving them?
Our goal over the next three years is to fully develop our product and bring our next-generation car insurance to three additional markets and achieve sustainable profitability levels. We are confident that our data-driven approach and commitment to fair pricing for good drivers will enable us to scale successfully.
By continuously refining our model, expanding strategically and staying true to our vision, we believe Boont is on track to transform the car insurance industry for the better.
