Student Leona Maslać redefines the future of smart windows
Have you ever found yourself squinting at your laptop screen because the sun was beaming directly through your window, or sitting in a room that felt more like a greenhouse?
That exact frustration, and a conversation about window tints, is what sparked an idea for Leona Maslać, a freshman Global Business Management student. What started as an ordinary class assignment has rapidly evolved into a startup project called PCT Windows (Premium Customized Tint Windows). In just nine months, Leona went from sketching out ideas in a first-semester classroom to pitching her project to real investors and landing a spot in the Top 10 at the Student DIGI Awards 2026.
Taking the project public
"My project about PCT Windows began as an ordinary final project for my Business 1 course, which I thought would be a shame to leave it just like that, and decided to continue its development even after finishing the course and the final project," she says. Stepping out of her comfort zone has allowed Leona to experience the business world firsthand. She has already built a website, produced promotional videos, and even stood in front of established business professionals to pitch her idea. "This was definitely a new and pleasant experience for me, especially pitching PCT Windows in front of businesspeople whom I haven’t met before," Leona shares. She has even stepped into the classrooms of juniors and seniors as a guest speaker to present her project, proving that a great business idea doesn't have an age requirement.
The tech behind the tint
Leona describes her project as fully customizable dynamic-tint glasses that operate on a combination of SPD technology and Liquid Crystal modulation (PDLC). “Imagine your windows acting like smart sunglasses that you can control from anywhere in the room with a wireless remote”. According to Leona, "They are designed to be able to switch to any tint level from 1% to 99,9%, meaning from fully transparent windows to full privacy modes instantly."
The project aims to solve everyday annoyances like glare, eye strain, and unpredictable room temperatures. But Leona didn't stop at temperature control; she added a highly creative twist. "In addition, while in opaque mode, PCT Windows could also be used as an interactive screen to project ads, videos", she explains.
Heading to Silicon Valley
While Leona admits that navigating the entrepreneurial landscape comes with hurdles, like the high cost of development and finding material suppliers outside of Croatia, her momentum isn't slowing down. She credits her first year of college for giving her the foundation to succeed. "If I hadn’t been a student here, it is very possible that PCT Windows would still have been only an idea in my head that would not have been developed any further from that point," she reflects.
The next chapter of her journey is perhaps the most exciting! This summer, Leona is heading to the ABC Bootcamp in Silicon Valley to learn from industry giants like Google, Tesla, and Oracle, and to visit Stanford University. Looking ahead, she is focused on pushing PCT Windows closer to becoming a commercial reality. "I hope this journey will take me to the real-world business landscape and allow me to experience how real business is done, especially how elite global companies interact with the rest of the world," Leona says.
