Investment & Fund Management
backed by the European Investment
Full Credential Description
SharpEdge Shop, founded by Luka GrmovĀek, began as a passion project focused on high-quality Japanese kitchen knives. The company experienced over 30% growth in a year, driven by a rising demand for quality kitchen products. However, this growth presented challenges, particularly in financing the necessary stock to meet increasing consumer demand. Luka noted that sourcing Japanese knives is a lengthy and costly process, which left little budget for marketing after reinvesting profits into stock expansion.
To address these challenges, Luka sought an EU-guaranteed loan through Unicredit, backed by the European Investment Fund (EIF). This financing enabled SharpEdge Shop to invest in marketing efforts aimed at expanding into new markets. The company also planned to offer customizations, such as engravings and wooden sheaths, and develop specialized knives tailored for specific culinary tasks, like a prosciutto-cutting knife. The support from the EIF allowed SharpEdge Shop to transition from a hobby into a fully-fledged business, with a dedicated team of 15-20 employees working towards shared goals.