In short: Robert Nikic is an American entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and Advisor of Innovation & Economic Growth with the United Nations. He was born on June 21, 1992, in Stuttgart, Germany, to a family from the former Yugoslavia, came to the United States as a child after the Balkan wars, and lives in Tampa, Florida and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Robert Nikic is an American entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and Advisor of Innovation & Economic Growth with the United Nations. He was born in Stuttgart, Germany, to a family from the former Yugoslavia. The Balkan wars cost his family their home, and when he was a boy they arrived in New York with almost nothing. He failed at his first companies as a teenager, then founded and led a Florida-based e-commerce company that was named to the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies in 2023 and again in 2024, when it ranked No. 35 in the country.
His advisory work through the United Nations ECOSOC framework centers on e-commerce as an economic development pathway for small and medium-sized enterprises, aligned with SDG 8 and SDG 9.
This is the official biography of Robert Nikic, published on his own website. The facts below are the ones he confirms on the record.
Fast facts
| Full name | Robert Nikic |
| Born | June 21, 1992 |
| Birthplace | Stuttgart, Germany |
| Family roots | The former Yugoslavia (Bosnia) |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Residence | Tampa, Florida, United States and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, advisor and public speaker |
| Current role | Advisor of Innovation & Economic Growth, United Nations (October 2025 to present, New York) |
| Previous role | Founder and CEO of a Florida-based e-commerce company (2018 to 2026) |
| Known for | Building a two-time Inc. 5000 company without outside investment; his TEDx talk on second chances |
| Recognition | Inc. 5000 No. 418 (2023) and No. 35 (2024); Inc. Best Workplaces |
| Memberships | Forbes Agency Council; Fast Company Executive Board |
| TEDx talk | "Unlocking Success: Second Chances Can Change Your Life," TEDxCoral Springs |
| Focus areas | E-commerce, digital trade, small business growth, workforce development, cross-border commerce, SDG 8 and SDG 9 |
| Official website | robertnikic.com |
Early life
Robert Nikic was born on June 21, 1992, in Stuttgart, Germany. His family's roots are in the former Yugoslavia. When Yugoslavia broke apart and war reached Bosnia, the family lost their home, their possessions and the life they knew. Robert, his mother, his father, his grandmother and his brother arrived in New York with what fit into five suitcases (Fatherly; VC Post).
The family started over from zero. The adults took whatever work they could find, learned English as they went, and leaned on the few people willing to give newcomers a chance. Robert has said that coming from war and having nothing taught him the real value of perseverance and hope, and gave him a determination to build a better future for himself and for others who are struggling (Fatherly).
He is a citizen of the United States.
First jobs and first companies
As a teenager, Robert went to work to help support his family. His first jobs in the United States were in restaurants and hotels, including work as a restaurant server, banquet server and front desk manager at luxury resorts (VC Post).
At the same time, he taught himself technology and started his first companies. Several of them failed (Fatherly). There was no family money to fall back on and no investor to cover the losses, so each failure meant starting again with a little more knowledge: how to price, how to sell, how to hire and how to keep going. He calls those years his real business education. You can read more in What Early Failures Taught Robert Nikic.
Founder and CEO
Robert went on to found a Florida-based e-commerce company and served as its CEO from 2018 to February 2026 (LinkedIn). The company gave everyday sellers a way into online retail on major marketplaces in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
He built it on revenue from customers rather than money from investors, and kept the upside with the people who did the work. Under his leadership:
- The company was named to the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies at No. 418 in 2023 (robertnikic.com).
- It returned to the list at No. 35 in 2024, with 7,191% three-year growth (robertnikic.com).
- It was named one of Inc. Best Workplaces, with a team of more than 100 people (IMDb).
His approach to that company is set out in Build Without a Safety Net and Principles: How Robert Nikic Builds Companies.
Advisor of Innovation & Economic Growth, United Nations
Since October 2025, Robert Nikic has served as Advisor of Innovation & Economic Growth with the United Nations, based in New York.
He brings advisory experience through the United Nations ECOSOC framework, where his work has centered on advancing e-commerce as an economic development pathway for small and medium-sized enterprises. His advisory contributions span digital trade accessibility, workforce development and cross-border commerce frameworks aligned with SDG 8 and SDG 9 (LinkedIn).
SDG 8 is the UN goal for decent work and economic growth. SDG 9 covers industry, innovation and infrastructure. Both include targets aimed at small businesses, from access to financial services to fair access to markets and credit (UN, Goal 8; UN, Goal 9). Robert's contribution is the operator's view: what actually stops a good small company from growing, and what would change it. More on that work is at Robert Nikic and the UN's SDG 8 & 9.
TEDx talk and speaking
Robert gave the TEDx talk "Unlocking Success: Second Chances Can Change Your Life" at TEDxCoral Springs (YouTube). The talk draws on his family's escape from war, his early failures and his later success to make one argument: second chances are how people, companies and whole economies find out what they are capable of.
He speaks about entrepreneurship, building without outside investment, second chances and small business growth. His appearances include:
- Television: WFLA Daytime and Great Day Live Tampa Bay (robertnikic.com), and First Coast Living in 2023
- Podcasts: Digital Social Hour with Sean Kelly, Dropping Bombs with Brad Lea and The Wolfe Den Show with MJ Wolfe (Sean Kelly; Apple Podcasts; IMDb)
Recognition and memberships
- Inc. 5000, No. 418 (2023)
- Inc. 5000, No. 35 (2024)
- Inc. Best Workplaces
- TEDx speaker, TEDxCoral Springs
- Forbes Agency Council, member
- Fast Company Executive Board, member
His story has been covered by Fatherly, USA TODAY, Entrepreneur, CEOWORLD, Business Insider, Benzinga and European Business Review. The full list is on his recognition page and press page.
What he believes
Robert's views come down to a few short rules. Build without a safety net. Share the upside with the people who build it. Say the true thing about your own industry. Give second chances, and earn yours. Open the doors you once found closed.
In his words: "A chance to learn. A chance to fail and try again." (robertnikic.com)
Quick answers
Who is Robert Nikic?
Robert Nikic is an American entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and Advisor of Innovation & Economic Growth with the United Nations. He was born in Stuttgart, Germany, came to the United States as a child after his family fled the Balkan wars, and founded a Florida-based e-commerce company that was named to the Inc. 5000 in 2023 and 2024.
When and where was Robert Nikic born?
Robert Nikic was born on June 21, 1992, in Stuttgart, Germany. His family's roots are in the former Yugoslavia.
How old is Robert Nikic?
Robert Nikic was born on June 21, 1992. He turned 34 in June 2026.
What is Robert Nikic's nationality?
Robert Nikic is a citizen of the United States. He was born in Stuttgart, Germany, to a family from the former Yugoslavia, and came to the US with his family as a child.
Where does Robert Nikic live?
Robert Nikic lives in Tampa, Florida, United States and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
What does Robert Nikic do at the United Nations?
He serves as Advisor of Innovation & Economic Growth, working through the ECOSOC framework on e-commerce as a development pathway for small and medium-sized enterprises, aligned with SDG 8 and SDG 9.
What is Robert Nikic known for?
He is known for building a two-time Inc. 5000 company without outside investment, his family's story of starting over in the US after the Balkan wars, and his TEDx talk "Unlocking Success: Second Chances Can Change Your Life."
Where can I find Robert Nikic online?
His official website is robertnikic.com. He is on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Medium and IMDb.
Official profiles
- Website: robertnikic.com
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robertnikic
- X: x.com/robertnikic
- Instagram: instagram.com/robertnikic
- Medium: medium.com/@robertnikic
- IMDb: imdb.com/name/nm14573073
- TEDx talk: YouTube
Press and media requests: press page.
Read more
- From the Balkan Wars to Building Companies
- Principles: How Robert Nikic Builds Companies
- Build Without a Safety Net
Robert Nikic is an entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and Advisor of Innovation & Economic Growth with the United Nations. He writes about what builds and breaks companies, and about the rules that decide whether small businesses get a fair shot. Read his writing on Medium, the Open Doors newsletter on LinkedIn and daily posts on X.
