Mate Rimac has admitted that expanding into too many ambitious projects — including robotaxis — may have taken more of his focus than he expected. The comments come in the first episode of the new Weekend podcast series, launching October 8.
The Weekend festival is launching a new podcast series featuring ten guests from its 19th edition, with entrepreneur and Rimac Group founder Mate Rimac appearing in the first episode.
The episode premieres on Thursday, October 8, on Weekend's official YouTube channel.
During the conversation, Rimac was asked which decision he had made in the past that he now believes may have been the wrong one.
His answer led to a discussion about electric bicycles, robotaxis and whether he had spread himself across too many major projects.
“Maybe I stretched myself across too many things. Electric bikes were OK, they were a cool thing, but they cost me a lot of nerves. Maybe robotaxis took too much of my focus. Did I need that? I don't know,” Rimac said.
He added that he still believes robotaxis could become a major business, but questioned how many large projects he really wants to pursue at the same time.
“I still believe it will be a big thing. But I don't need five big things in my life. I want to simplify my life and work on one or two big things.”
Who can tell Mate Rimac that his idea is bad?
The conversation also explores a challenge faced by successful founders: who can still tell them that an idea is bad without fearing the consequences?
Rimac discusses how leaders can recognize when people around them are simply telling them what they want to hear rather than offering honest criticism.
The episode is part of the new Weekend podcast, recorded during Weekend.19 in Rovinj.
The series brings ten festival speakers into a more intimate setting, with conversations focused on personal doubts, professional boundaries and decisions they might approach differently today.
Ten Weekend.19 Guests Join the Podcast Series
Other episodes will feature journalists, entrepreneurs, creatives and industry leaders discussing questions that go beyond their usual public appearances.
Journalist Mojmira Pastorčić was asked whether a journalist should interrupt a guest who is spreading false information live on air, and when professional courtesy turns into giving too much space to power.
With author and journalist James Bloodworth, the discussion focused on where understanding the anger of lonely men ends and excusing their attitudes toward women begins, as well as whether men drawn to the manosphere are searching for love or social status among other men.
Srđan Kovačević discusses the responsibility of manufacturers and engineers when their technology is used in warfare, as well as whether Orqa could eventually manufacture weapons.
Ranko Rajović addresses whether parents are being sold genuine help for their children or the feeling that they are not good enough parents without it.
Meanwhile, Emil Tedeschi was given a somewhat different question: can he tell when people genuinely enjoy the music he plays, and when they are simply being polite because he is Emil Tedeschi?
The series will also feature Ulrik Haagerup, Pete Radovich, Anđelka Stević Žugić and Milena Radulović.
The conversations are hosted by Nevena Rendeli Vejzović, director of Prime Time Communications, Ivana Tomić, senior communications advisor at Prime Time Communications, and model and entrepreneur Ivana Vukušić.
New episodes every month
Following the first episode with Mate Rimac on October 8, new episodes of the Weekend podcast will be released on the second Thursday of every month.
Selected clips will also be published across the festival's social media channels.
The format effectively extends conversations from Weekend.19 beyond the festival itself, making them available to a wider audience without requiring a festival ticket.
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