Orqa CEO Srdjan Kovacevic Named Croatia’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2026
Orqa co-founder Srdjan Kovacevic wins Croatia’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 as the drone manufacturer expands its defense business in the U.S. and Canada.
Srdjan Kovacevic, co-founder and CEO of Croatian drone manufacturer Orqa, has been named Croatia’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2026, following a year marked by new defense industry partnerships, international expansion and investment in unmanned systems.
Kovacevic received the award at a ceremony in Zagreb on October 8, emerging from a field of 30 entrepreneurs representing 27 Croatian companies. The winner was selected by an independent jury chaired by Atlantic Grupa CEO Emil Tedeschi.
The award is part of EY’s global Entrepreneur of the Year program. Kovacevic will represent Croatia at the World Entrepreneur of the Year finals in Monaco in May 2027.
Headquartered in Osijek, Orqa was founded in 2018 and has developed from a specialist in first-person-view (FPV) technology into a manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems, electronics and aerial robotics for civilian and defense applications.
Kovacevic said the company had been built around the ambition to develop technology with a global impact and expressed hope that Orqa’s progress would encourage a new generation of Croatian entrepreneurs.
Orqa’s Growing International Defense Business
The recognition follows several developments in Orqa’s defense business during 2026.
In March, the company raised €12.7 million in Series A financing to support manufacturing expansion and its entry into the U.S. defense market.
In June, Orqa and Canada's Remote Robotic Systems announced an exclusive manufacturing partnership with an estimated value of CAD 150 million over five years. The agreement covers local production of drone systems and components, with cooperation also planned in artificial intelligence and counter-drone technology.
Orqa also reported in August that the U.S. Army’s 2nd Infantry Division had selected its FPV drones following a competitive evaluation. The company did not disclose the quantity or value of the planned procurement.
The company is pursuing a distributed manufacturing strategy, establishing production relationships in allied markets while retaining its engineering and technology development base in Croatia.
The 2026 award makes Kovacevic the eleventh Croatian recipient of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year title.
