About Darko Horvat

Guided by ethics and compassion, Darko Horvat’s vision and desire to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged members of Slovenian society has become the reality that is the Horvat Family Foundation today.

Born in Slovenia in 1966, Darko earned a BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ljubljana, and later continued his professional education with an MBA from Clemson University in South Carolina. Both his innate entrepreneurial talent and passion for cultivating human potential through education both emerged early in his career. Darko founded his first company in 1989 while still studying at university and by the mid-1990s he had established the Institute for International Business Studies – an initiative which successfully facilitated over 100 young Slovenian to graduate from American universities with an MBA.

However, Darko’s interest in nurturing human potential extends well beyond his own business activities. His sensitivity to the socioeconomic difficulties he observed not only in his local community but more widely across Slovenia led to the creation of the Horvat Family Foundation in 2002, with his lifelong dedication to empowerment through education – the core of the foundation’s mission. His determination to provide concrete support for vulnerable population groups across Slovenia has catalysed significant change and a better future for thousands of young people and their families.

Darko also established the Petra Foundation in 2002, promoting peace between Arab and Jewish populations in Israel. He holds an honorary doctorate in philosophy from the University of Haifa and a Young Global Leader Award from WEF Davos.