{"id":1243,"date":"2026-10-30T13:41:23","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T13:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessplatform.whatswhat.global\/ie\/?p=1243"},"modified":"2026-10-30T16:20:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T16:20:39","slug":"xfusion-founders-stanis-zichler-zeljko-cikojevic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessplatform.whatswhat.global\/ie\/xfusion-founders-stanis-zichler-zeljko-cikojevic\/","title":{"rendered":"The XFusion Founders: Nine Years of Friendship Behind One Fast Year"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1243\" class=\"elementor elementor-1243\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd15dc7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"dd15dc7\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c68a05 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8c68a05\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a903c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"4a903c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"xf-hero-left\">\n\n    <div class=\"xf-hero-left-inner\">\n\n        <div class=\"xf-brand\">\n            WHATSWHAT PRIME <span>\u00d7<\/span> XFUSION\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"xf-hero-content\">\n\n        <div class=\"xf-kicker\">\n            FOUNDERS\n        <\/div>\n\n        <h1 class=\"xf-hero-title\">\n            The XFusion Founders: Nine Years of Friendship Behind One Fast Year\n        <\/h1>\n\n        <p class=\"xf-hero-standfirst\">\n            XFusion is one year old. The friendship behind it is nine. Stanis Zichler\n            and Zeljko Cikojevic on clicking with people, good timing and accepting\n            your partner as they are.\n        <\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"xf-byline\">\n            By <strong>WhatsWhat Prime<\/strong>\n            <span class=\"xf-dot\">\u00b7<\/span>\n            5 minute read\n        <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n<style>\n\n.elementor-widget-html:has(.xf-hero-left),\n.elementor-widget-html:has(.xf-hero-left) > .elementor-widget-container {\n    height: 100% !important;\n    min-height: 100% !important;\n}\n\n.xf-hero-left,\n.xf-hero-left * {\n    box-sizing: border-box;\n}\n\n.xf-hero-left {\n    position: relative;\n    width: 100%;\n    height: 100%;\n    min-height: 650px;\n    margin: 0;\n    display: flex;\n    flex-direction: column;\n    overflow: hidden;\n    background:\n        radial-gradient(120% 80% at 0% 100%, rgba(242,106,46,.22) 0%, rgba(242,106,46,0) 55%),\n        linear-gradient(160deg, #2a1342 0%, #1a0d2b 60%, #12091f 100%);\n    color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.xf-hero-left-inner {\n    flex: 1;\n    width: 100%;\n    max-width: 760px;\n    display: flex;\n    flex-direction: column;\n    padding: 0 70px 70px;\n}\n\n.xf-hero-content {\n    flex: 1;\n    display: flex;\n    flex-direction: column;\n    justify-content: center;\n    padding-top: 25px;\n}\n\n.xf-brand {\n    min-height: 76px;\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    margin: 0;\n    color: rgba(255,255,255,.72);\n    font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\n    font-size: 12px;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    letter-spacing: 2.4px;\n    line-height: 1;\n}\n\n.xf-brand span {\n    color: #f26a2e;\n    margin: 0 6px;\n}\n\n.xf-kicker {\n    display: inline-flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    gap: 12px;\n    margin: 0 0 22px 0;\n    color: #f5a35c;\n    font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\n    font-size: 12px;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    letter-spacing: 2.2px;\n    line-height: 1;\n}\n\n.xf-kicker::before {\n    content: \"\";\n    width: 34px;\n    height: 2px;\n    background: linear-gradient(90deg, #f26a2e, #f5a35c);\n}\n\n.xf-hero-left .xf-hero-title {\n    margin: 0 0 26px 0 !important;\n    padding: 0 !important;\n    color: #ffffff !important;\n    font-family: Georgia, \"Times New Roman\", serif !important;\n    font-size: clamp(38px, 3.3vw, 58px) !important;\n    font-weight: 400 !important;\n    line-height: 1.1 !important;\n    letter-spacing: -1px !important;\n    text-transform: none !important;\n}\n\n.xf-hero-left .xf-hero-standfirst {\n    margin: 0 0 34px 0 !important;\n    max-width: 560px;\n    color: rgba(255,255,255,.82) !important;\n    font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\n    font-size: 18px;\n    line-height: 1.6;\n}\n\n.xf-byline {\n    padding-top: 22px;\n    border-top: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.16);\n    color: rgba(255,255,255,.66);\n    font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\n    font-size: 13px;\n    line-height: 1.5;\n}\n\n.xf-byline strong {\n    color: #ffffff;\n}\n\n.xf-dot {\n    margin: 0 8px;\n    color: #f26a2e;\n}\n\n@media (max-width: 1024px) {\n    .xf-hero-left {\n        min-height: 700px;\n    }\n    .xf-hero-left-inner {\n        padding: 0 40px 60px;\n    }\n}\n\n@media (max-width: 767px) {\n    .elementor-widget-html:has(.xf-hero-left),\n    .elementor-widget-html:has(.xf-hero-left) > .elementor-widget-container {\n        height: auto !important;\n    }\n    .xf-hero-left {\n        min-height: 0;\n        height: auto;\n    }\n    .xf-hero-left-inner {\n        padding: 0 22px 44px;\n    }\n    .xf-brand {\n        min-height: 64px;\n        margin-bottom: 10px;\n        font-size: 10px;\n        letter-spacing: 1.8px;\n    }\n    .xf-hero-left .xf-hero-title {\n        font-size: 34px !important;\n        line-height: 1.14 !important;\n    }\n    .xf-hero-left .xf-hero-standfirst {\n        font-size: 16px;\n    }\n}\n\n<\/style>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f15c62 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0f15c62\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65062a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"65062a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"xf-hero-right\">\n\n    <img decoding=\"async\"\n        class=\"xf-hero-image\"\n        src=\"https:\/\/businessplatform.whatswhat.global\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/10\/xfusion-02-inline.jpg\"\n        alt=\"XFusion founders Zeljko Cikojevic and Stanis Zichler standing with arms crossed in an office overlooking Dubai\"\n        fetchpriority=\"high\"\n    >\n\n    <div class=\"xf-image-overlay\"><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"xf-right-top\">\n        XFUSION \u00b7 FOUNDERS\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"xf-image-caption\">\n        Zeljko Cikojevic and Stanis Zichler at the XFusion office in Dubai.\n    <\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n<style>\n\n.elementor-widget-html:has(.xf-hero-right),\n.elementor-widget-html:has(.xf-hero-right) > .elementor-widget-container {\n    height: 100% !important;\n    min-height: 100% !important;\n}\n\n.xf-hero-right,\n.xf-hero-right * {\n    box-sizing: border-box;\n}\n\n.xf-hero-right {\n    position: relative;\n    width: 100%;\n    height: 100%;\n    min-height: 650px;\n    margin: 0;\n    padding: 0;\n    overflow: hidden;\n    background: #1a0d2b;\n}\n\n.xf-hero-right .xf-hero-image {\n    position: absolute;\n    inset: 0;\n    display: block;\n    width: 100% !important;\n    height: 100% !important;\n    max-width: none !important;\n    margin: 0 !important;\n    padding: 0 !important;\n    object-fit: cover !important;\n    object-position: 50% 30%;\n}\n\n.xf-hero-right .xf-image-overlay {\n    position: absolute;\n    inset: 0;\n    z-index: 2;\n    pointer-events: none;\n    background:\n        linear-gradient(90deg,\n            rgba(26,13,43,.85) 0%,\n            rgba(26,13,43,.40) 9%,\n            rgba(26,13,43,.12) 20%,\n            rgba(26,13,43,0) 35%),\n        linear-gradient(0deg,\n            rgba(18,9,31,.70) 0%,\n            rgba(18,9,31,.15) 30%,\n            rgba(18,9,31,0) 55%);\n}\n\n.xf-hero-right .xf-right-top {\n    position: absolute;\n    top: 0;\n    right: 0;\n    z-index: 4;\n    min-height: 76px;\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    padding: 0 48px;\n    color: #ffffff !important;\n    font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\n    font-size: 12px;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    line-height: 1;\n    letter-spacing: 2.2px;\n    text-transform: uppercase;\n    white-space: nowrap;\n    text-shadow: 0 1px 8px rgba(0,0,0,.35);\n}\n\n\/* Caption bottom-left: the XFusion logo sits bottom-right in most photos *\/\n.xf-hero-right .xf-image-caption {\n    position: absolute;\n    left: 48px;\n    bottom: 26px;\n    z-index: 4;\n    max-width: 300px;\n    padding-left: 12px;\n    border-left: 2px solid #f26a2e;\n    color: rgba(255,255,255,.9);\n    font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\n    font-size: 11px;\n    line-height: 1.45;\n    text-shadow: 0 1px 7px rgba(0,0,0,.55);\n}\n\n@media (max-width: 1024px) {\n    .xf-hero-right {\n        width: 100% !important;\n        height: 100% !important;\n        min-height: 700px !important;\n    }\n    .xf-hero-right .xf-right-top {\n        min-height: 68px;\n        padding: 0 28px;\n        font-size: 10px;\n        letter-spacing: 1.7px;\n    }\n    .xf-hero-right .xf-image-caption {\n        left: 28px;\n        bottom: 20px;\n        max-width: 230px;\n        font-size: 10px;\n    }\n}\n\n@media (max-width: 767px) {\n    .elementor-widget-html:has(.xf-hero-right),\n    .elementor-widget-html:has(.xf-hero-right) > .elementor-widget-container {\n        height: auto !important;\n    }\n    .xf-hero-right {\n        height: auto !important;\n        min-height: 380px !important;\n    }\n    .xf-hero-right .xf-right-top {\n        display: none;\n    }\n    .xf-hero-right .xf-image-overlay {\n        background:\n            linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(26,13,43,.55) 0%, rgba(26,13,43,0) 30%),\n            linear-gradient(0deg, rgba(18,9,31,.65) 0%, rgba(18,9,31,0) 45%);\n    }\n    .xf-hero-right .xf-image-caption {\n        left: 22px;\n        bottom: 18px;\n        max-width: 230px;\n        font-size: 10px;\n    }\n}\n\n<\/style>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce10359 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ce10359\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9051d5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b9051d5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b48da7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"1b48da7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"xf-story-full\">\n<div class=\"xf-story-inner\">\n<!-- =====================================================\nLEFT NAVIGATION\n===================================================== -->\n<aside class=\"xf-story-nav\">\n<div class=\"xf-story-nav-inner\">\n<div class=\"xf-nav-label\">IN THIS ARTICLE<\/div>\n<nav class=\"xf-article-menu\">\n<a href=\"#who-are-the-founders\">Who are the XFusion founders?<\/a>\n<a href=\"#gut-feeling\">\u201cA crazy gut feeling\u201d<\/a>\n<a href=\"#ripe-fruit\">The ripe fruit principle<\/a>\n<a href=\"#four-rules\">Four rules from the founders<\/a>\n<a href=\"#community\">How the partnership shaped XFusion<\/a>\n<a href=\"#what-they-bring\">What each founder brings<\/a>\n<a href=\"#faq\">FAQ<\/a>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"xf-nav-links\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/2x6GT09UFh0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watch the interview \u2197<\/a>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/whatswhat.global\/ie\/stanis-zichler\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stanis Zichler on Whatswhat Prime \u2197<\/a>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/whatswhat.aflip.in\/issue17.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WhatsWhat Prime Magazine \u2197<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<!-- =====================================================\nARTICLE\n===================================================== -->\n<article class=\"xf-story-content\">\n<!-- INTRO -->\n<div class=\"xf-reveal\">\n<p class=\"xf-lead\">\nEvery company has an origin story. The story of the XFusion\nfounders has two clocks: one measures the age of the community,\nthe other measures how long they have known each other.\n<\/p>\n<p>\nThe first clock was approaching one year when Stanis Zichler and\nZeljko Cikojevic spoke with WhatsWhat Prime in Dubai. The second\nclock reads nine years.\n<\/p>\n<p>\nThat second clock explains a lot about the first.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<!-- KEY TAKEAWAYS -->\n<aside class=\"xf-takeaways xf-reveal\" aria-label=\"Key takeaways\">\n<div class=\"xf-box-label\">KEY TAKEAWAYS<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>The XFusion founders, Stanis Zichler and Zeljko Cikojevic, knew each other for nine years before building XFusion.<\/li>\n<li>They describe the decision as \u201ca crazy gut feeling\u201d after years of trust.<\/li>\n<li>Their partnership rule: accept the other person as they are; trying to change them creates conflict.<\/li>\n<li>Their simplest test: if you cannot have a relaxed coffee and be yourself, do not do business.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<!-- WHO -->\n<section id=\"who-are-the-founders\" class=\"xf-article-section xf-reveal\">\n<h2>Who are the XFusion <br class=\"xf-desktop-break\">founders?<\/h2>\n<p>\nStanis Zichler and Zeljko Cikojevic are entrepreneurs who have worked\nin the industry for around ten years, building relationships in the\nUAE and many other countries. Together they co-founded\n<a href=\"https:\/\/businessplatform.whatswhat.global\/ie\/what-is-xfusion\/\">XFusion<\/a>,\nan international community focused on education, connection and\nin-person events.\n<\/p>\n<p>\nStanis is known for his energy on stage and his focus on education.\nZeljko often speaks about mindset, authenticity and what makes\nrelationships last. Their styles are different. Their values, they\nsay, are the same.\n<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<!-- GUT FEELING -->\n<section id=\"gut-feeling\" class=\"xf-article-section xf-reveal\">\n<h2>\u201cA crazy gut feeling\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>\nAsked how they decided to build together, Zeljko does not describe a\nbusiness plan. He describes recognition. \u201cSometimes you just click\nwith people,\u201d he says. \u201cIf you click with the people, it\u2019s done.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p>\nWhen the idea of XFusion came up, both had what he calls \u201ca crazy gut\nfeeling\u201d. Doubt is normal in business, he admits, but this time the\nintuition was clear: do it. They did.\n<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<!-- IMAGE 1 -->\n<figure class=\"xf-article-image xf-reveal\">\n<img\nsrc=\"https:\/\/businessplatform.whatswhat.global\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/10\/xfusion-02-hero.jpg\"\nalt=\"XFusion founders Stanis Zichler and Zeljko Cikojevic on a Dubai terrace at dusk\"\nloading=\"lazy\"\n>\n<figcaption>Stanis Zichler and Zeljko Cikojevic on a Dubai terrace at dusk.<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<!-- RIPE FRUIT -->\n<section id=\"ripe-fruit\" class=\"xf-article-section xf-reveal\">\n<h2>The ripe fruit principle<\/h2>\n<p>\nMany partnerships fail at the first real challenge. Zeljko explains\nwhy theirs has lasted with an image from an orchard: \u201cYou should not\neat a fruit which is not ripe.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p>\nFor him, a good partnership needs both people to be ready at the same\ntime, and to understand how far the other has come in their own\nthinking. \u201cI understand how far he is in his mind, and he understands\nhow far I am.\u201d That mutual awareness gave the relationship the right\nfooting from day one.\n<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<!-- FOUR RULES -->\n<section id=\"four-rules\" class=\"xf-article-section xf-reveal\">\n<h2>Four rules from the <br class=\"xf-desktop-break\">XFusion founders<\/h2>\n<p>Their story can be turned into four practical rules for anyone choosing a business partner:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"xf-reasons\">\n<li><strong>Click first.<\/strong> Natural trust matters more than a perfect plan.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check the timing.<\/strong> Both people need to be ready for the same journey.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do not try to change your partner.<\/strong> \u201cLet the other be who he is,\u201d Zeljko says. Trying to change someone creates constant conflict.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pass the coffee test.<\/strong> If you cannot sit together, drink a coffee and be 100 percent yourself, Zeljko does not continue. \u201cNo relation. No business. Nothing.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<!-- QUOTE -->\n<blockquote class=\"xf-quote xf-reveal\">\n<div class=\"xf-quote-text\">Sometimes you just click with people. If you click with the people, it\u2019s done.<\/div>\n<div class=\"xf-quote-source\">ZELJKO CIKOJEVIC, CO-FOUNDER OF XFUSION<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<!-- COMMUNITY -->\n<section id=\"community\" class=\"xf-article-section xf-reveal\">\n<h2>How the partnership <br class=\"xf-desktop-break\">shaped the community<\/h2>\n<p>\nThe values that hold the founders together became the culture of\nXFusion. They look for the same qualities in the key people who lead\nteams across the community: authenticity, awareness and trust. In\ntheir view, a community grows as strong as the relationships at\nits centre.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n\u201cThis makes our relationship so powerful and so strong,\u201d Zeljko says.\nIn their first year, that strength showed in the speed at which the\ncommunity grew.\n<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<!-- IMAGE 2: VIDEO -->\n<a class=\"xf-video xf-reveal\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/2x6GT09UFh0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<img\nsrc=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/2x6GT09UFh0\/maxresdefault.jpg\"\nalt=\"Watch the WhatsWhat Prime interview with XFusion co-founders Stanis Zichler and Zeljko Cikojevic\"\nloading=\"lazy\"\n>\n<span class=\"xf-play\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n<span class=\"xf-video-text\">\nWATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW\n<b>Stanis Zichler &amp; Zeljko Cikojevic in Dubai<\/b>\n<\/span>\n<\/a>\n<!-- WHY IT MATTERS -->\n<section id=\"why-it-matters\" class=\"xf-article-section xf-reveal\">\n<h2>Why this matters for <br class=\"xf-desktop-break\">other founders<\/h2>\n<p>\nFounder conflict is one of the most common reasons young companies\nstruggle. The XFusion founders do not claim to have a formula, but\ntheir experience points to something simple: a business partnership\nis first a human relationship. Build that well, and the business has\nsomething solid to stand on.\n<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<!-- WHAT THEY BRING -->\n<section id=\"what-they-bring\" class=\"xf-glance xf-reveal\">\n<div class=\"xf-box-label\">WHAT EACH FOUNDER BRINGS<\/div>\n<dl>\n<div><dt>Stanis Zichler<\/dt><dd>Stage energy, a personal story of learning the hard way and a strong focus on education<\/dd><\/div>\n<div><dt>Zeljko Cikojevic<\/dt><dd>A clear philosophy of mindset and authenticity, and a talent for building relationships that last<\/dd><\/div>\n<div><dt>Together<\/dt><dd>Two complementary role models: one who shows how to act with courage, and one who shows how to stay true to yourself while doing it<\/dd><\/div>\n<\/dl>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"xf-divider xf-reveal\"><\/div>\n<!-- CONCLUSION -->\n<section class=\"xf-article-section xf-conclusion xf-reveal\">\n<h2>A partnership the community can see<\/h2>\n<p>\nFor members, the visible partnership between the XFusion founders is\nalso a working example of the values the community teaches. Their two\npersonal stories and XFusion\u2019s own identity reinforce each other: the\nfounders bring different experiences and strengths, and the community carries\nthem forward. As XFusion enters its second year under the motto WE ARE THE\nCHANGE, that partnership remains its foundation. Watch the\nfull WhatsWhat Prime interview to hear Stanis Zichler and Zeljko\nCikojevic tell the story in their own words, and read the cover story in\n<a href=\"https:\/\/whatswhat.aflip.in\/issue17.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WhatsWhat Prime Magazine, Issue 17<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"xf-article-buttons\">\n<a class=\"xf-btn xf-btn-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/2x6GT09UFh0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watch the full interview \u2197<\/a>\n<a class=\"xf-btn xf-btn-secondary\" href=\"https:\/\/whatswhat.global\/ie\/stanis-zichler\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View Stanis on Whatswhat Prime<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"xf-divider xf-reveal\"><\/div>\n<!-- FAQ -->\n<section id=\"faq\" class=\"xf-faq xf-reveal\">\n<h3>Frequently asked questions<\/h3>\n<details>\n<summary>Who founded XFusion?<\/summary>\n<p>XFusion was founded by Stanis Zichler and Zeljko Cikojevic, entrepreneurs with around ten years of experience in the industry.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>How long have the XFusion founders known each other?<\/summary>\n<p>Stanis Zichler and Zeljko Cikojevic had known each other for nine years before building XFusion together.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>What is the coffee test?<\/summary>\n<p>It is Zeljko Cikojevic\u2019s rule for any relationship: if he cannot sit with someone, have a coffee and be fully himself, he does not do business with them.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>What makes the XFusion partnership work?<\/summary>\n<p>According to the founders, mutual trust, good timing, and accepting each other as they are, without trying to change the other person.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/section>\n<!-- SOURCES -->\n<section class=\"xf-sources xf-reveal\">\n<h3>Sources and further reading<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/2x6GT09UFh0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WhatsWhat Prime interview with Stanis Zichler and Zeljko Cikojevic (YouTube)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/whatswhat.aflip.in\/issue17.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WhatsWhat Prime Magazine, Issue 17<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/businessplatform.whatswhat.global\/ie\/what-is-xfusion\/\">What Is XFusion? Inside the Community Built Around People and Learning<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/businessplatform.whatswhat.global\/ie\/stanis-zichler-why-trust-cannot-be-scaled\/\">Stanis Zichler: Why Trust Cannot Be Scaled Centrally<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/whatswhat.global\/ie\/stanis-zichler\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stanis Zichler on Whatswhat Prime<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n\"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n\"mainEntity\": [\n{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Who founded XFusion?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"XFusion was founded by Stanis Zichler and Zeljko Cikojevic, entrepreneurs with around ten years of experience in the industry.\"}},\n{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How long have the XFusion founders known each other?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Stanis Zichler and Zeljko Cikojevic had known each other for nine years before building XFusion together.\"}},\n{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What is the coffee test?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"It is Zeljko Cikojevic's rule for any relationship: if he cannot sit with someone, have a coffee and be fully himself, he does not do business with them.\"}},\n{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What makes the XFusion partnership work?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"According to the founders, mutual trust, good timing, and accepting each other as they are, without trying to change the other person.\"}}\n]\n}\n<\/script>\n<style>\n\/* =========================================================\nXFUSION PALETTE\nplum #1a0d2b \u00b7 purple #3a1d5c \u00b7 orange #f26a2e \u00b7 amber #f5a35c\n========================================================= *\/\nhtml { scroll-behavior: smooth; 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Stanis Zichler and Zeljko Cikojevic on a nine-year friendship, a &#8220;crazy gut feeling&#8221; and the four rules behind a lasting partnership.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1241,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[26,25,28,21,27,14,17,24,22],"keyring_services":[],"class_list":["post-1243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial","tag-business-partnership","tag-co-founders","tag-leadership","tag-stanis-zichler","tag-trust","tag-whatswhateditorial","tag-xfusion","tag-xfusion-founders","tag-zeljko-cikojevic"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>XFusion Founders: Stanis Zichler and Zeljko Cikojevic<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Meet the XFusion founders. 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