On Thursday, October 16, Zagreb briefly became the epicenter of technology and innovation. The Game Changer 4.0 Superconference was held at the Z Center, once again confirming its status as Croatia’s largest tech innovation event. More than 120 panelists and 1,500 participants, five thematic halls, an awards ceremony, and a vibrant expo zone turned the Z Center into a place where one could see and feel what the future looks like.
“Game Changer Zagreb 4.0 is dedicated to the humanization of technology, exploring how innovation can enrich business and everyday life, not just automate it. The conference shows how digital transformation can be people-centered, through real applications that change how we work, learn, and collaborate. Besides the high-quality content, it brings the recognizable vibe of community, creativity, and energy that gathers leaders and innovators from across the region,” said Matija Vučković, the event organizer.
Throughout the day, the stages hosted prominent names from the local and international scene, including Karlo Ressler (European Parliament), Nikola Kapraljević (Infinum), Petya Rusinova (Visa), Damir Sabol (Google), Georg Bauser (ex-Airbnb), Davor Bruketa (Bruketa&Žinić&Grey), Leonor Diaz Alcantara (Saviesa), Ekaterina Doubinina (Rathbones), Matea Rozina Alexander (TikTok Live), Teo Širola (Museum of Illusions), and many others.
Particular attention was drawn to the Entertainment Zone, where visitors could try the award-winning Croatian video game SCUM by Gamepires. One of the conference highlights was the humanoid robot Captcha, which participated in a lecture and later interacted with visitors, talking to people, answering questions, and showing how the boundaries between humans and machines are becoming increasingly blurred.
The Expo Zone was a hub of interaction and networking, while the artistic dimension of the event was brought by a digital exhibition by American artist Gretchen Andrew, presented by the Shpigl platform. Her works can be viewed at the Z Center until October 19.
During the day, attendees followed a Croatian startup competition, where Juicefast won first place, followed by Agesync in second and Smart Hospitality in third. The day concluded with the Game Changer Awards, celebrating the most innovative projects and ideas across 15 categories, including AI, fintech, sustainability, and the gaming industry.
Winners by Category:
- Agritech of the Year – AGRIVI
- Gaming Racket of the Year – TODAY’S GAME
- Streamer of the Year – MALAJSKI TAPIR
- Ecotech Progress of the Year – JADRANKO
- LinkedIn Power Creator of the Year – DRAGAN PETRIĆ
- E-Commerce Transformation Award – VOLIM LJUTO
- Women’s Equality Award – IVANA GAŽIĆ, ZAGREBAČKA BURZA
- Fintech Project of the Year – OWN SOLUTIONS
- Cybersecurity Project of the Year – DIVERTO
- Gaming Design and Animation of the Year – GAMEPIRES
- AI & Big Data Integrated Project of the Year – MEMGRAPH
- Blockchain Services Project of the Year – ELECTROCOIN
- Medtech Project of the Year – Dr. DRAGAN PRIMORAC
- Travel Tech Project of the Year – RENTLIO
- Game Changer – Baby Unicorn Award – GIDEON BROTHERS
Through Game Changer, it was once again shown and proven that technology is not just a tool, but a story about people, collaboration, and ideas that change the world. For one day, Zagreb truly lived the future. The event reaffirmed the city’s status as a growing hub of the regional tech innovation scene and a place where ideas shaping the future are born.
More information can be found on the official Game Changer platform website.
