The OLLO Audio story began when its founder, Rok Gulič, was trying to mix a CD for his band at home in the evenings after the birth of his twins. Looking for a solution that would not constantly wake his family while still allowing him to produce high-quality mixes, he realized that this was a challenge shared by many audio engineers. Driven by his curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit, he started building the first prototype in his father’s workshop in the heart of the Vipava Valley.
Two years later, he had developed a product that combined natural materials with innovative acoustic engineering and showed great promise. Encouraged by positive early market feedback, Rok joined the Primorska Technology Park and successfully applied for the P2 start-up incentive offered by the Slovenian Enterprise Fund.
In its second year of operation, the company doubled its revenue. In the third year, revenue increased tenfold, and by 2020 OLLO Audio had surpassed €500,000 in annual revenue. This rapid growth created a need for additional working capital, which the company secured through two SID Bank microloans arranged via the financial intermediary Primorska hranilnica d.d. Recognizing the company's potential, their banking advisors—with a strong understanding of entrepreneurship—supported this young, fast-growing, technology-driven business as it expanded from the domestic market into international markets.
With a combination of its own funds and loan financing, the company successfully entered the global professional audio equipment market and evolved into a profitable business that now employs seven people. Its customers include sound engineers working with world-renowned artists such as U2, Adele, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Radiohead, Muse, and many others.
The company’s achievements were further recognized when the jury of the German Design Award named OLLO Audio a Winner 2021 in the Entertainment category. This prestigious award highlights the company’s innovative approach to product design, engineering, and functionality, placing OLLO Audio alongside some of Europe’s most respected and established brands in the industry.