“At ABC Silicon Valley, I learned that being a founder is not just about expertise, but about leadership and storytelling.”
Can you introduce yourself? Tell us your name, where you’re from, and a bit about your background.
My name is Filip, I’m from Novi Sad, Serbia, and I’m the CEO and Founder of Sirius Animation Studios. We specialize in creating stylized characters for commercials, games, cinematics, 3D printing, and other digital projects.
You have a strong creative background. How are you applying your creativity during the ABC Silicon Valley program?
In some places, creativity in visual production might not be as advanced as in Hollywood, but problem-solving creativity is very strong here. That’s where I feel I can contribute the most. Creativity isn’t just about design — it’s about solving problems and thinking differently.
At ABC Silicon Valley, I realized how important storytelling is. It’s not just about what you know, but how you communicate it. I’ve always felt stronger in technical expertise than in presenting myself, so one of my goals here is to improve how I speak about what I do and express ideas more clearly.
As the CEO and Founder of Sirius Animation Studios, what has your entrepreneurial journey looked like so far? What have you gained from ABC Silicon Valley, and can you apply it back home?
I started as a freelancer, just trying to earn some extra money. Over time, more projects came in, and I began delegating work. That’s how the entrepreneurial journey started — I realized I enjoyed building something bigger than myself, which required a team. Today, we are a team of nine.
I would love to apply everything I learned here back in Serbia, but different markets require different mindsets. You can’t simply copy and paste the Silicon Valley approach. Still, seeing how things operate here with my own eyes helped me understand what is possible and what level you can aim for.
What was your favorite part of the program?
Networking, definitely. The people here are amazing — young, ambitious, and like-minded. Through conversations with them, I saw a lot of new opportunities and perspectives.
