From Vodnjan to New York: Croatia’s startups are thinking bigger

This summer, Scale 2.0 returned as a bold experiment in what it takes to go global from a small but fast-growing startup ecosystem. Designed by Infobip Startup Tribe in partnership with Entrepreneurs for Global Change (EGC), the program offered Croatian startups something rare. No fees. No equity required. Full support. Real access.

The idea was simple. Build in Croatia. Learn in Vodnjan. Grow in New York. Pitch in Zadar.

In June, twelve teams gathered at Infobip’s campus in Vodnjan: Marko Brkljačić from NUOTWO, Diego Ivanovic from Medusa Technologies, Antonio Matušan from Crumbs, Anka Lukić from B2BEE, Ena Fužul and Josip Ivković from Autorun, Jakov Kukin from Luxyon, Maja Štritof Budin from LITORY, Tomislav Rašković from Ziika, Domagoj Boljar from Earthbound, Zlatko and Mirna Horvat from Xolvi, Jure Pavlović from FilmConnect, and Leonard Fabris from Smart Hospitality. There was no glitz, just six days of hands-on work focused on product, go-to-market, metrics, and positioning. It was a test of focus, clarity, and stamina. Some sessions ran late, some ideas didn’t hold up, but six teams stood out: Xolvi, Earthbound, Luxyon, Smart Hospitality, Autorun, and Medusa Technologies.

In July, those six teams landed in New York. They spent a week immersed in one of the world’s most competitive startup ecosystems. The schedule was packed, the sessions demanding. But the learning was real. And so were the connections.

At Corient, Krešimir Marušić shared what every founder needs to understand about startup finance. At WeWork, Travis Feldler broke down how to raise with purpose. Andrew Ackerman taught how to find and manage investor leads. Rachel Rubenstein ran pitch training through the lens of authentic communication. Srdjan Loncar covered angel investing and early-stage strategy. Iva Vukina tackled how to build credibility with both capital and customers.

But Scale 2.0 wasn’t only about sessions. It was about people. There was laughter that reset the energy. Long talks in Bryant Park that drifted from product strategy to personal stories. Subway rides that turned into brainstorms. Rooftop evenings that turned into friendships. Over bagels and late-night slides, these founders built something most programs don’t account for. Real trust. Shared momentum. Unfiltered support. The kind of camaraderie that happens when people show up fully, face the same pressure, and still find time to cheer each other on. There were quiet moments of clarity and quick bursts of insight. Some ideas clicked, others didn’t. But what held was the feeling that everyone belonged in the room. It wasn’t just about growing companies. It was about growing alongside each other.

The program lead, Filip Šašić from EGC, kept everything grounded and moving forward. His role was more than operational. He helped shape the space where all of this was possible.