Saltwater Nomads is a consultancy and creative studio focused on remote work ecosystems, meaningful tourism, and EU project delivery across the Balkans.
Remote work strategy. Regenerative tourism. EU project expertise.
Founded in 2017, we’ve been shaping the remote work landscape long before it became mainstream — with stand out events in Dubrovnik, Zagreb and hilltop towns no one’s ever heard of. Add speaking or advising at events from Ljubljana to Tirana. We’ve produced 100+ events across the region, blending strategy, storytelling and community — from AI to Antarctica, mountaintops to sea kayaks and the best the Mediterranean has to offer.
We bring deep experience in:
- Strategic advisory for remote work integration and off-season tourism
- Event design for destinations, institutions and global talent
- EU project implementation and stakeholder engagement
- Community-building across digital nomads, returnees and locals
- Ideas and support for people with a local heritage, wishing to base in the region for a week, month or lifetime..
Why Saltwater?
This is a region where resilience reigns and richness is everywhere, for those who know where (and how) to look. We exist to amplify the stories, places and people who are shaping the Balkans today, and to support those on the journey of building something meaningful here.
If this sounds like your kind of thing, there’s your why.
Our coworking spaces and pop-up programs have welcomed hundreds of remote professionals from around the world. Finding connection, purpose and place in lesser-known but deeply meaningful corners of Croatia and the Balkans motivates us. We do it with our eyes shut.
We collaborate with ministries, municipalities, tourism boards, innovation hubs and creative thinkers to build projects that regenerate rural areas, honour heritage and open new paths for global citizens and locals alike.
We are open to new partnerships from 2026.
Bring your bold ideas — we’ll bring the rakija.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Just a small-town girl… who ended up in The New York Times.
Tanja J Polegubić is the founder of Saltwater Nomads, an award-winning consultancy based in Split, Croatia. She is known for bringing digital nomads to the Adriatic long before remote work was mainstream. She is a Rod Stewart fan and co-founded the Digital Nomad Association (DNA) Croatia.
Since 2017, she’s run over 100 events (including one on a kayak), ran a coworking space, and has consulted for the UN and various international government programs. Her passion is property investment, EU tourism and remote work projects; you’ll find her on the mountains of Montenegro, Dubrovnik’s walls or picking olives, at great speed, on an island. Her work has been featured on Al Jazeera, Fast Company and The New York Times. She is in permanent awe of Dalmatia’s landscapes, loves long road trips across undiscovered parts of the Balkans, and always, always has a great playlist going.
Tanja is originally from Canberra, Australia. She refined her design skills in Milano and now proudly calls the Dalmatian coast home. Here, she is currently renovating a stone house in Šibenik, and is optimistic the floor will be even when finished.
You’ll usually find her where there is strong Wi-Fi, coffee and rakija.
ABOUT OUR PARTNERS
Saltwater Nomads may have started with one laptop and a dream (and no business experience), but today it’s powered by a network of partners across the region and beyond.
Based on the project, our extended team includes NY Times journalists, tech founders, event and logistics masterminds, female skippers, social enterprise experts and creative fixers who know how to get things done. Whether it’s hosting a keynote on an ancient wall or sourcing last-minute beanbags for a beachfront keynote – we get s**t done, with finesse!
Together, we bring big-picture thinking and Balkan resourcefulness to every project. And we’re a hoot!
Clients and Partners
We’ve had a series of funded projects, including major EU projects and working with numerous cities and tourist boards. Plus, we’ve engaged close to 90 global speakers and destinations during our event run. If your destination is the next big thing for nomads – come ride the wave!
Clients and Partners
We’ve been funded by EU, city and tourist boards. We’ll get around to updating the full report, soon. Feel free to contact the 90 + speakers and destinations you may have seen at our events – they can attest to our ethos much better than we can.