Infobip Shift in Zadar once again proved why it is one of the most important developer conferences in this part of Europe. Over the course of three days, thousands of engineers, founders and tech enthusiasts filled the Krešimir Ćosić Hall to connect with the region’s tech community. With six stages, and an expo area that was crowded whole day, Shift showed its ability to reach globally with local talent.
Sofascore Booth: Meeting the Community Face to Face
Sofascore was proud to be part of the program with a booth that quickly became a busy meeting point. Visitors stopped by to hear more about our platform, learn about the technology behind it and meet the people who build it. For us, it was an important chance to step out of the office and be directly with the community and listening to feedback.
From Developer to Leader: Toni Bakarčić on Stage
The conference also gave us the opportunity to contribute to the agenda through our speakers. Toni Bakarčić, Engineering Manager at Sofascore, delivered the talk From a Follower to a Leader: Building Yourself and Others. He openly admitted that he is not an expert on every aspect of career growth, but spoke from personal experience about the transition every engineer eventually faces when moving into a leadership role.
“A career path is rarely a straight line. It’s full of ups and downs, and the only constant is the need to keep learning and pushing yourself,”
Toni Bakarčić, Engineering Manager at Sofascore
Starting as an Android developer and now leading functional teams, he explained how stepping into leadership required a shift in perspective.
“When you become a leader, your job isn’t about showing how good you are anymore. It’s about enabling your team to do their best work.”
Toni Bakarčić, Engineering Manager at Sofascore
Karlo Knežević on the Croatian AI Landscape
Alongside Toni’s talk, Sofascore also featured in the panel The Croatian AI Landscape: What’s Next?, organized by CroAI on the Duck Stage. Karlo Knežević joined to discuss the current state of the Croatian AI ecosystem.
Speaking from Sofascore’s perspective, Knežević emphasized the company’s long-term commitment to developing artificial intelligence internally rather than outsourcing.
“For us, AI is not just another feature. It’s part of our foundation, and that’s why we decided to invest in our own teams, tools and processes,”
Karlo Knežević, Head of AI at Sofascore
Knežević pointed out that this approach required significant adaptation and alignment with regulation but gave Sofascore the agility to respond quickly in a fast-changing industry.
The panel highlighted that Croatia’s AI scene has matured in recent years, with more companies embedding AI into their products and services. Karlo’s contribution underlined Sofascore’s view that AI should not just be an add-on, but a foundation for building future-ready solutions.
Looking Ahead After Zadar
Infobip Shift once again showed the strength of the regional tech community. For Sofascore, it was a chance to show what we do and contribute to conversations. Being in Zadar confirmed why staying close to the community is just as important as building great products.