Srđan Kovačević: Co-Founder and CEO of Orqa Full Bio
Srđan Kovačević is a Croatian entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Orqa, a drone technology company headquartered in Osijek, Croatia. The company is known for its first-person-view (FPV) drone goggles and has expanded from drone-racing equipment into defence and enterprise technology.
Kovačević’s career reflects the development of a technology business from a regional startup into an international supplier, with products and partnerships spanning multiple markets.
Srđan Kovačević’s Education and Background
Kovačević studied at the University of Oxford, graduating in mechanical engineering and financial mathematics. His technical education provided a foundation for combining engineering knowledge with business strategy.
He met fellow entrepreneur Ivan Jelušić through Osijek’s technology community. They later worked with Vlatko Matijević, who focuses on product development and engineering. The three founders drew on the local technology ecosystem to develop their business.
Their story also reflects a wider ambition to demonstrate that an internationally competitive technology company can be built outside the largest European business centres.
Founding Orqa in Croatia
Kovačević, Jelušić and Matijević founded Orqa in late 2018 in Osijek. The company initially focused on FPV drone goggles, which allow operators to see a live camera feed from a drone as though they were onboard.
Its first product, FPV.One, was showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January 2019.
The team also won the Idea Knockout regional technology competition in 2018. At that stage, Orqa had 12 engineers working on its products and technology.
The FPV.One Breakthrough
Orqa launched a Kickstarter campaign in June 2019 to support its FPV goggles. The campaign reached its funding goal just two minutes after launch and achieved 200% of its target within five minutes.
The first product batches were shipped to resellers in January 2020. This early demand helped establish the company as a recognised name in the FPV drone equipment market.
Orqa later secured a €5.8 million seed funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. The founding team also received the Founder of the Year award at a Croatian venture capital event.
From Drone Racing to Defence Technology
Orqa has since expanded beyond consumer and racing equipment to become a supplier of drone technology for defence and enterprise applications. The company reports shipping to customers in more than 50 markets and employing over 150 people, with an average employee age of 26.
This expansion demonstrates how specialised drone components can serve a broader range of uses, including industrial operations and defence-related systems.
In June 2026, Orqa signed a five-year partnership worth CAD 150 million with Remote Robotic Systems (RRS). Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković were present at the signing.
The partnership aims to expand production of Orqa systems and components in Canada, with a target of 10,000 systems per month by 2029. Canada also became the first non-EU country to participate in the EU’s SAFE defence initiative through this development.
Challenges and Company Growth
Kovačević has spoken about the importance of proving that a global technology company can be built in a smaller city such as Osijek. The company’s growth has not been without controversy: in 2023, reports emerged that some of its goggles had stopped working, raising questions about a possible firmware licence issue or a time-bomb mechanism.
Despite the challenges, Orqa’s expansion into international markets and defence-related manufacturing has significantly broadened its business.
Srđan Kovačević Profile
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Profession | Entrepreneur and drone technology executive |
| Role | Co-Founder and CEO, Orqa |
| Education | Mechanical engineering and financial mathematics, University of Oxford |
| Company founded | Late 2018 |
| Headquarters | Osijek, Croatia |
| First major product | FPV.One goggles |
| Seed funding | €5.8 million, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners |
| Employees | More than 150 |
| Average employee age | 26 |
| Major partnership | CAD 150 million Orqa–RRS agreement, June 2026 |
| Net worth | – |
| Age and family | N/A |
Kovačević’s work with Orqa illustrates the growth of Croatia’s technology and drone manufacturing sector. From its beginnings in FPV goggles, the company has developed a broader commercial presence and established partnerships that connect Croatian engineering with international defence production.
His professional network includes co-founders Ivan Jelušić and Vlatko Matijević, as well as Kevin Toderel of Remote Robotic Systems.