ZAGREB, 15 Nov (Hina) - Eleven Croatian companies have been included on this year's list of the 50 fastest growing technology companies in Central Europe compiled by the Deloitte consultancy.
Of the 11 Croatian companies, four made it into the main category "Technology Fast 50", as many were included in the "Companies to Watch" category, and three were described as "Impact Stars".
Over 400 companies from 17 countries, including 29 from Croatia, applied for this year's competition. The companies included in the main category come from seven countries and seven different sectors, with software firms dominating the ranking. Their average growth rate was 1,604%, up from last year's 1,502%. The growth rate is based on their revenues between 2020 and 2023, the period marked by a global pandemic and significant geopolitical tension.
As in previous years, software companies dominate the ranking with 28 placements, followed by fintech (7 placements), media and entertainment (5), environmental technology (4), while hardware, healthcare and life sciences, and communications have 2 placements each.
"More than 400 companies applied for placement on the list that ranks and selects the top 50. Again, Polish and Czech companies 'took over' most of the table with 17 placements each, which is understandable given the size of the markets in these countries. They are traditionally followed by the excellent Croatia with four placements," said Natko Sertić, chief tax partner for the CE South region.
This year's winner in the "Technology Fast 50" category is the Czech software company Oddin.gg with a growth of 7,958%. It has developed a platform for data analysis, odds calculations and other tools in the field of electronic sports and sports betting.
The second placed is also a Czech software company, MAGU, with a growth of 4,248%. It has developed its own platform for selling personal care products and natural dietary supplements.
The Latvian fintech company SIA JEFF placed third with a growth of 3,652%. It has developed a system offering a personalised user experience in stores and on online platforms.
Among the Croatian companies, Stemi ranked highest, in 21st place, with a growth of 1,227%. It has developed a learning platform offering various education programs and workshops intended for students and teachers. Its focus is new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, internet, drones and cyber security, and its aim is to encourage interest in technical and natural sciences.
Devōt, a software and digital solutions development company specialising in building innovative healthtech solutions, ranks 34th, with a growth of 960%. B.I.D. Group placed 37th with a growth of 934%; it has developed a multilingual booking engine used by hotel companies and travel agencies. Aircash, a fintech company that provides money transfer services, ranked 42nd with a growth of 860%.
Companies to Watch
This category includes companies that are too young to meet the criteria of the main Fast 50 category. It was also dominated by software companies, with 15 placements out of a total of 25. The ranking is led by companies from the Czech Republic with 7 and Poland with 5 placements, followed by Croatia (4), Slovakia and Romania (3 each), Serbia (2) and Hungary (1).
The winner in this category is the Czech fintech company Patron GO, with a growth of 1,169%. The Croatian companies included in this category are: Jenz.app, placing 12th with a growth of 410%, Barrek (17th, 273% growth), Amplibit (20th, 239% growth) and Release14 (21st, 236% growth).
Impact Stars
Introduced in 2020, this category includes companies that successfully link great products or services with a positive impact on at least one of the following areas: society, business, innovativeness, environment and diversity.
"Instead of measuring revenue growth, in this category we focus on the outstanding positive impact that these companies have in our society," tax director Katarina Pavlović said.
Three Croatian companies included among the Impact Stars are Falcon Technology, Newton Technologies Adria and Monri Payments.
Falcon Technology is a company specialising in hardware, software and machine development. Newton Technologies Adria is a leader in the development of AI-based voice technology, and Monri Payments is a leading multi-channel payment provider that has developed secure, innovative and integrated payment solutions for companies in various sectors.
CE Tech Rocketship!
This special recognition by Google Cloud and Deloitte awards companies that have developed high-quality, scalable solutions with the potential to serve the most demanding customers in the market.
The winner in this category is the Romanian software company DRUID, which has developed an end-to-end platform driven by artificial intelligence and chatbot solutions, which enables automation of business processes and improvement of the customer experience.
