Our Startup Spotlight series introduces you to the entrepreneurs in our community, sharing their unique journeys as founders.

This week, we put the spotlight on Damir Opsenica, Founder and CEO of LIKA, who are redefining marina innovation with smart, connected solutions that streamline operations, enhance safety, and enable sustainable, digital marina management.

What’s your story? How did you come up with the idea for your business?

As someone who spends a lot of time sailing and using marina infrastructure, and after years of experience with companies like Ericsson and Lürssen, we realized the marina industry lacks genuine innovation. Customer experience has barely changed for decades. This insight inspired our smart docking solution — the Smart Pedestal — designed to transform how marinas and their guests interact.

Why does the industry need the solution you’re providing?

The marina industry is still mostly manual and fragmented, with separate systems for power, water, safety, and connectivity. Operations are inefficient, data is underused, and customer experience is outdated. Our Smart Pedestal integrates everything into one intelligent system, making marinas smarter, safer, and more sustainable.

It combines simplification, automation, and data-driven control. Real-time and historical data optimize energy and water use, improve decision-making, and reduce costs. AI provides instant alerts for occupancy, fire, or electrical risks. Guests can check in, control utilities, and pay only for what they use via an app.

Everything is in one box: power, water, waste, AI safety, 5G/Wi-Fi7, and environmental sensors. Modular, durable, and future-ready, it turns manual operations digital, reducing waste, boosting efficiency, and delivering a seamless guest experience.

What have you enjoyed most about starting your own company?

I’ve loved innovating directly with marinas, turning real operational challenges into meaningful solutions. Working alongside people passionate about improving the industry and seeing ideas evolve into products that truly matter is incredibly rewarding.

I also enjoy learning new technologies and collaborating with other innovative players in marine and tech sectors. Ultimately, the satisfaction comes from creating lasting products that combine technology, design, and sustainability.

Read more: Startup Spotlight – Herons Marine 

What challenges did you have to overcome at the beginning?

The biggest challenge was aligning our product with actual market needs. The marina industry has low profit margins and limited resources for innovation, and it can be risk-averse. Funding was another hurdle — opportunities in the Blue Economy exist, but few focus on marina digitalization. We had to adapt, build partnerships, and prove the value of innovation through results.

What’s next for your business? Where do you see it in 3-5 years?

We aim to become a regional leader in marina innovation, expanding from the Adriatic to markets like the Middle East, Austria, and Singapore. We plan to bring in a strategic investor to support international growth and continue developing smart, sustainable solutions, advanced connectivity, and industrial AI applications. Our goal is to scale globally and drive lasting digital transformation in marinas.

Any advice for entrepreneurs just starting out in this space?

Stay close to the customer, solve real problems, and build your first product with your first client. Keep a bold roadmap, believe in your vision, but stay humble to adapt when needed. Your business model should be simple, scalable, and clearly valuable.

And a fun one—what’s a quote or some words that you live by?

Create, play, and keep believing — the rest will follow.