Andrija Čolak

Andrija Čolak is an entrepreneur, advisor, and expert in franchise development, business sales, and strategic scaling, with over 20 years of experience in international entrepreneurship

He completed his formal education in Canada, graduating from Douglas College in Vancouver and the British Columbia Institute of Technology, with a focus on marketing strategy and business development.

Andrija began his entrepreneurial journey in 2003 by founding InfoMedia, through which he launched InfoNekretnine – Croatia’s first specialized real estate marketplace. The project quickly became the market leader and a key reference point for property advertising in the country. In 2009, he successfully exited the business when InfoMedia was acquired by an international corporation, marking the end of the first major chapter of his entrepreneurial career

That same year, he founded Surf’n’Fries, an international street food brand that grew into one of Croatia’s most recognizable franchise concepts, now present in more than 20 markets worldwide. For his work and contribution to the franchise industry, he received the International Franchise Association’s NextGen Award in 2015, recognizing him as the world’s best franchise manager under 35.

After stepping out of the operational phase of his own brands, Andrija founded Čolak Franchise Consulting Group (CFCG), Croatia’s first specialized franchise consulting firm. CFCG works with domestic and international brands on developing franchise models, documentation, financial structures, and international expansion strategies.

In parallel, he launched Čolak Business Brokerage (CBB), today the largest business brokerage firm in Croatia, specializing in the sale and acquisition of micro and small businesses. CBB manages the entire transaction process – from preparing companies for sale and creating teasers and sales materials, to negotiations and deal closure – with a strong emphasis on discretion and professional support.

Through his work, Andrija has been involved in dozens of successful transactions and franchise projects across services, healthcare, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. He is a frequent speaker and panelist at conferences focused on entrepreneurship, investment, and business growth, where he shares open and practical insights into the real challenges of scaling, exiting, and building long-term, sustainable businesses.