"Guys, we need help. How about helping us make a demonstration video of the Catapult?"

That's kind of how it started the story of the world's greatest company. OK, maybe we're exaggerating a little. Or maybe not. Well, you be the judge.

When we thought about how students could STPŠ Trbovlje to make a demonstration video of the Catapult, we didn't and didn't get a really good idea. It is difficult to show in a short, concise and understandable way all the offer that Katapulta has for entrepreneurs. It is not a traditional business accelerator ...

"The easiest way to record this would be to use the support at Catapult yourself and see first-hand how we can help you."

"If so ... we will find her!" they were confident. Well, it's not that easy... But it hadn't been a few minutes, and the ideas were flying, when suddenly, we don't know exactly when or how, the word came: "SHIT!" 

We, the non-Trbovlje people, just looked at them strangely. "A leprechaun?"

"Yes, a lark. How do you not know what a leprechaun is? Every Trbovlje resident knows it's a napolitanka."

Idea on idea, accepting good suggestions and discarding bad ones crystallised the TOP idea - what if we made a multifunctional tool in the form of a pencil sharpener, incorporating everyday tools that every person in the 21st century would need (USB stick, key tracker, opener, etc.)? The purpose of the product would be to reduce the number of tools we have on our keys into a single device.

We thought it was a good idea. Not good - it's top-notch!

When it is still Jure Knez, owner of Katapult and majority owner and co-founder of Dewesoft, listened in silence for a while to our explanations, then firmly confirmed: 'Guys, this is the top! Why don't we really do it? Here, we at Katapult will help you. Just do it!" they knew, "That's it!"

And so began the exciting journey of Škrinka. Team: Dominik Janc, Danijel Tomić, Roj Klopčič and Jan Lah Škrbec. 

If someone had said to these four students the day before, "Hey, you're going to start your first startup at 16, 17 years old", they would have just looked at them blankly. "Ah, you're crazy." Here they are, on this journey that started on 17 March 2022. Young "to-be" entrepreneurs are developing Škrinco.

From idea to practice ... 

With the help of the mentors at Katapult, they first made a simple and clear plan: defining the project leader and the role of each team member (marketing, software, recording and production, hardware development, etc.), assigning tasks and responsibilities, setting a timetable and weekly meetings, etc.

And ACTION! 

They now meet every week and are actively developing ŠKRINCOand, in parallel, build marketing and business management skills.

One of their first questions was: 'Can we already open our own LLC as a minor?' Go to Markot, our accountant, and he will explain the basics of accounting. 

Furthermore:

• They did market analysis - a simple questionnaire asked people what they would like to see in Škrinci. They received more than 500 completed questionnaires, which are helping them to develop the product further. At Katapult, we helped them with our newsletter recipient database to reach more people.
• They did the Skrinca.com website and they are already doing the marketing. When copywriting is a challenge, Katapult finds writer and publishing manager Petra Škarja to help. "Of course, with pleasure!"
• Developing the housing - we took them to Boštjan Petek, who runs Dewesoft's machine shop, to see if he could help them. In the building next door  METAL catapultwhere they can make almost anything out of metal.
• Electronics is a challenge - who do we have at Katapult to help them? ElderON would be able to ... Let's go to them. We also have an L-tek in the house who can lay circuits.
• They develop software. For the Škrince tracker, we connected them with Chipol to use their technology (integration is the law!).
• The first (major) challenges have also already been encountered - a law says you can't have products in the form of food... We quickly called our law mentor - Jernej Goričar - to find a solution together.
• Sales. Sales are key. Jernej teaches them how to present a product well and sell it to potential customers in 3 minutes. They have already received one major order for corporate gifts (Jure, we're taking you at your word!).
• We connected them with our external mentor, Matej Kebrič, to produce a first draft of a 3D drawing of Škrinka, 
• They have already had their first public presentation of the ŠKRINCA business idea. 
• They have already made a first print of the product, with the help of a professional 3D printer at Katapult.
• They received "Honourable mention of the Engineering Spark" (bravo!)
• ...

Now boldly move on!