StartUs Presents: BodyRecog

Describe BodyRecog in 50 or less words.

BodyRecogTM – The Body Shape Tracking App – digitally measures the human body, displays results on the user’s photo, analyzes obtained data, offers health risk assessments and expert recommendations.
It helps users keep their motivation high, and visibly measure how their bodies change over time due to diet and exercise.

Why did you decide to pursue your own dreams rather than someone else’s?

Well, it is my life I am living, not someone else’s. And it is my dreams I am turning into reality, not someone else’s. You can never have deep passion to turn dream into reality, unless it is your own dream, or a dream you share with someone else.

In 7 years from now: How did your startup change the world?

In 7 years, BodyRecog will be used by fitness trainers, nutritionists, physical education teachers and doctors to track bodily changes and health risks of their clients, children or patients, as a result of their given nutrition and exercise programs. Our overall goal for BodyRecog is to monitor personal, national and global health in the near future.

Describe your typical working day from coming to the office to leaving it.

There is no such thing as a typical day! I work whenever I can and as long as I can, doesn’t matter whether it is a workday, weekend or holiday. However, luckily, I also take breaks whenever I need them and as long as I need them. That’s the beauty of being your own boss. You decide your own workday, not somebody else. What work do I do? Whatever is needed, and according to priority, it gets done. In the end, what matters, are you floating on the entrepreneurial river, or sinking? You do whatever you can to keep afloat.

Bootstrapped or financed: What fuels your startup now and what will in the future?

I have bootstrapped, got an angel investment and some state and city subsidies and grants. At this point, I am looking into raising money from VCs, EU funds and crowdfunding. My team is diligently working to meet all the requirements. A true challenge, but we all love a good challenge.

With ferocious competition and a booming trend to build new companies: How do you make sure you don’t get lost in the shuffle?

I don’t worry about the competition. Let them worry about us. We never reveal all we plan to do. That’s our secret of keeping ahead. We always have several options in store, so we can easily pivot if necessity demands it.

What do you look for in team members?

Expertise first and foremost. Second, the ability to get along. We don’t need to agree on things, but we need to be able to agree to disagree, and accept each other’s opinion. However, in the end, since it is my company, I do make the final decision. Based on arguments presented to me, I do change my opinions, and henceforth my decisions. The third quality is not a must-have, but gives advantage over other candidates with the same expertise and communication skills, and it is awareness. Awareness towards health, environment, social impact, sustainable economy, i.e. basically a holistic, open-minded approach to life. Since these issues are of great importance to me, I do prefer team members who share my views on such matters.

Why would a talent join your team?

What we continuously strive for is a work atmosphere of mutual respect, flexibility of thought and flourishing ingenuity. It is our intention to work together to achieve a certain goal, and not to feel as if we were working for someone else. Each team member has to take ownership of his or her part in the project though.

What are you currently most excited about?

I have the chance to present BodyRecog at Ideas From Europe, in the course of TEDx Binnenhof in March 2016. Currently we are in the voting phase, and I would be extremely grateful for your vote, which can be casted here. Also I am the only representative from Croatia so it would be an even greater chance!

What was your most memorable moment so far?

What I am most amazed about is the whole story is that I entered into the world of ICT at all, even if it is for biomedical purposes. I never ever thought I would be an inventor, an innovator, and especially not in ICT. My field has always been the science of life – biology, and all its branches, among which human health is only a tiny part. I find it entirely fascinating. Physics, especially micro-cosmos and macro-cosmos, fascinates me too. I could watch documentaries, read papers etc. on these topics endlessly. Software programming, on the other hand, never truly captured my interest. And now I am creating a software, with the help of my tech partners of course, but I tell them what needs to be done, and they tell me how will be done.

What advice would you give fellow founders for their startup?

Never give up! If you truly believe in your dream, no matter what anyone says, even some expert or investor, continue with it. They don’t have your specific knowledge, wisdom and experience. Only you can decide if you need to pivot – change direction of how you are solving a certain problem, stay on the course, or even choose to do something else. Listen to your own inner voice, your own heart. It will lead you the best. Remember, it is your dream after all, and only you can turn it into reality.

It is so easy to criticize someone’s idea, dream and hopes. Anybody can do that. Let me quote Steve Jobs,

“Here’s to the crazy ones. … Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

And if you are afraid of failure, Elon Musk suggests:

“If something’s important enough, you should try. Even if the probable outcome is failure.”

From me: Join the crazy geniuses! Be a crazy genius! The world will be much more fun! 🙂

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcm6ItMH5LI&feature=youtu.be

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