Scale 2.0 finale: Croatian startups step up at SHIFT in Zadar

The final chapter of Scale 2.0 unfolded at Infobip Shift, where nine startups pitched their vision to an international jury and a packed audience. It was more than a pitch competition. It was the culmination of a journey that began in Vodnjan, passed through New York, and ended under the spotlight in Zadar.

On stage, the lineup reflected the diversity and ambition of startup scene: Diego Ivanović from Medusa, Arber Kadia from Patoko, Leopoldo Angelini from Menumal, Domagoj Boljar from Earthbound, Marko Brkljačić from Nuotwo, Ivan Grubišić from Walletap, Zlatko Horvat from Xolvi, Antonio Matušan from Crumbs, and Tudor Brad from Betterflow.

Among them, five carried the Scale 2.0 badge: Medusa, Earthbound, Nuotwo, Xolvi, and Crumbs. These were the teams that had trained together in Vodnjan, sharpened their strategies in New York, and now stood ready to compete in Zadar. Their presence on stage was proof of how far they had come and how much stronger their pitches had become.

The jury, made up of Filip Dragoslavić, Tunya Irkad, David Clark, Toomas Bergmann, Božidar Pavlović, and Jana Budkovskaja, had the tough task of choosing the winners.

In the end, the results spoke volumes. Antonio Matušan and Crumbs claimed first place with their platform tackling food waste, while Leopoldo Angelini and Menumal secured second place with their vision for smarter restaurant operations. Diego Ivanović and Medusa Technologies rounded out the top three with their bold solutions at the intersection of innovation and practicality.

For the founders, this was more than a competition. It was the proof of concept that Scale 2.0 delivered: that with the right mix of mentorship, exposure, and global perspective, Croatian startups can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best. The pitches were sharper, the confidence stronger, and the ideas clearer, a direct reflection of the months spent building in Croatia, learning in Vodnjan, and growing in New York.

But perhaps the real win was something less tangible. Over bagels and late-night slides, subway rides and rooftop conversations, these founders built a sense of trust and shared ambition that carried them all the way to Zadar. It was visible on stage, not just in their pitches but in the way they cheered for each other.

Scale 2.0 ends here, but the founders’ journeys do not. From Vodnjan to New York to Zadar, the message is clear: Croatia’s startups are no longer thinking small. They are thinking global.