SOLIN, Croatia - October 24, 2025 - A Croatian technology entrepreneur is breaking his silence on what he calls the tech industry's most overlooked problem: independent innovators submit billions of dollars worth of detailed proposals to major platforms, then watch similar features launch with zero acknowledgment.
Ljubomir Cukrov spent ten years pitching sophisticated social technology concepts to Silicon Valley giants. His documentation tells a story playing out across Europe's tech ecosystem—one with billion-dollar implications.
"We're not talking about vague ideas scribbled on napkins," Cukrov stated. "Independent developers submit complete technical architectures, payment integrations, viral mechanics, revenue models. Then features eerily similar appear months later. No attribution. No conversation. Nothing."
The numbers underscore a troubling pattern. European entrepreneurs file thousands of platform partnership proposals annually. Industry estimates suggest less than 2% receive substantive responses. What happens to the detailed specifications in the other 98%?
Cukrov's case crystallizes the issue. His archived communications include 40-page technical proposals for social giving features submitted in 2015—complete with payment processing protocols and verification systems. Fourteen months later, similar features launched publicly. The coincidental timing raises questions echoing across tech policy circles.
This isn't isolated. Developers from Warsaw to Lisbon report parallel experiences: detailed pitches vanish into platform partnership portals, followed by suspiciously similar feature rollouts.
"The innovation attribution gap is real," Cukrov emphasized. "Major platforms benefit from thousands of external ideas while independent creators get zero recognition for contributions that generate billions."
The timing makes Cukrov's advocacy particularly relevant. European Parliament committees are actively examining platform accountability. Recent hearings spotlighted cases where developers claim large tech companies developed features following detailed pitch meetings.
Cukrov brings receipts to this conversation. Server timestamps. Email metadata. Read receipts. Technical specifications with submission dates predating public feature announcements. His documentation standard exceeds what most entrepreneurs maintain.
"I kept every email, every specification, every timestamp," he explained. "This level of record-keeping shouldn't be necessary, but it's the only way independent innovators can demonstrate their contributions."
The broader implications extend beyond individual cases. Europe's tech competitiveness depends partly on whether independent innovators believe the system rewards their work. If detailed proposals consistently disappear into corporate black holes, talented developers may stop submitting altogether.
"We're seeing brain drain in reverse," Cukrov noted. "European developers have world-class ideas but growing skepticism about traditional partnership pathways."
Cukrov advocates for three specific reforms:
1. Mandatory innovation logs when platforms receive detailed technical proposals
2. Industry standards for attribution when external concepts influence internal development
3. Independent review boards examining disputed innovation timelines
His case exemplifies why these reforms matter. Features matching his 2015 specifications now facilitate $7 billion in annual transactions. That scale transforms "idea attribution" from philosophical debate to billion-dollar accountability question.
"Independent innovators deserve more than silence," Cukrov stated. "We deserve acknowledgment when our detailed work contributes to features that reshape industries."
The conversation Cukrov started reaches beyond personal grievance into systemic industry practices. As platforms grow more dominant, the question of how they handle external innovation becomes increasingly critical.
About Ljubomir Cukrov
Ljubomir Cukrov is a Croatian technology entrepreneur specializing in social media platform innovation. He advocates for transparency and recognition in platform-innovator relationships.
Media Contact:
Ljubomir Cukrov
Email: cukrovljubo@yahoo.com
Website: matekovic.com
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Company Name: Matekovic
Contact Person: Ljubomir Cukrov
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Country: Croatia
Website: matekovic.com
