---
title: "Robert Nikic Featured in Fatherly (2024)"
description: "Fatherly tells Robert Nikic's story: fleeing war in the former Yugoslavia with nothing, failing as a teen founder, and building an Inc. 5000 company."
canonical: "https://robertnikic.com/recognition/fatherly"
author: "Robert Nikic"
advisory_role_profile: "https://reseated.com/robert-nikic"
type: "WebPage"
---

# Robert Nikic Featured in Fatherly

From war refugee to Inc. 5000 founder.

Ex-Yugoslavia → New York (The journey) · #418 (Inc. 5000)

## At a glance

- Outlet: Fatherly
- Format: Contributor profile
- Published: April 2, 2024
- Topic: From war refugee to Inc. 5000 founder
- Robert's role: Founder and CEO
- Journey: Former Yugoslavia → New York
- Last updated: October 17, 2026

## What Fatherly reported about Robert Nikic

### Before the business

Fatherly's profile starts long before any company. Robert's family fled war in the former Yugoslavia. They lost their home and possessions and arrived in New York with nothing but the clothes they wore.

### Failing young

As a teenager, Robert launched several technology ventures. Fatherly reports that each one failed, and that each taught him something specific about what entrepreneurs actually need, from simple tools to reliable suppliers.

### What it became

Those lessons became the foundation of the platform he later built as CEO, which reached #418 on the Inc. 5000. The article quotes him on what the early years gave him: "Coming from war and having nothing teaches you the real value of perseverance and hope."

Related: [Men's Journal on the same journey](https://robertnikic.com/recognition/mens-journal) · [Dropping Bombs on escaping war](https://robertnikic.com/recognition/dropping-bombs-brad-lea)

> "Coming from war and having nothing teaches you the real value of perseverance and hope." (Robert Nikic, Fatherly)

## In Robert's words

"Coming from war and having nothing teaches you the real value of perseverance and hope." That's what I told Fatherly, and it's the most honest summary I have. We left the Balkans with almost nothing and started over in New York. My teenage startups failed one after another. Later I worked 18-hour shifts to save money. When I finally built a company, we did it without outside investors, and it reached the Inc. 5000. I think about my parents a lot, because they gave up everything for a second chance. Since 2026 I've worked on SDG 8 & 9 so other families get one.

## Key takeaways

- Refugee beginnings: The family fled war in the former Yugoslavia and arrived in New York with nothing.
- Failure as training: Each failed teenage venture taught him what founders need.
- A platform built from those lessons: The company he later led was designed around those needs.

## Where this fits in his story

- 2011: First platform launched (this feature)
- 2018: Relaunched as a full platform
- 2023: Inc. 5000 debut at #418
- 2024: Climbs to #35
- 2026: Steps away to work on SDG 8 & 9

## Where it led

Then, he got a second chance in a new country. Now, under SDG 8.5, he works on decent work and second chances for people rebuilding their lives. Fatherly, a publication about family, framed his story around what his parents gave up. That framing explains why he cares about systems that help families who start over.
See: https://robertnikic.com/united-nations-sdg-8-and-9

## Questions

### When did Fatherly feature Robert Nikic?

April 2, 2024.

### What did Fatherly report?

That his family fled war in the former Yugoslavia, that his teenage ventures failed, and that those lessons shaped the platform he later built.

### What does Robert Nikic do now?

He works on United Nations SDG 8 & 9, including second chances under SDG 8.5.

## Original article

Published in Fatherly, April 2, 2024 (Fatherly contributor): https://www.fatherly.com/life/robert-nikic-tech-ceo

## About Fatherly

Fatherly is a digital media brand focused on parenting and family life. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatherly)

## About Robert

Robert Nikic is an entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and Advisory Council Chair at Reseated Councils (United Nations SDG 8 & 9). He came to the United States as a refugee, and from 2011 to 2026 he built and led an e-commerce company that was twice named to the Inc. 5000. Today he works to make it easier for anyone, anywhere, to start a business and grow it.