Croatian IT company Syntio, specialized in cloud data engineering, announced at the end of April a merger with Datatonic—pictured are Scott Eivers, Tomislav Domanovac, Andy Powell, Martina Mandić, Louis Decuypere, and Davorin Cetto.
Datatonic’s globally recognized expertise in cloud data, analytics, and artificial intelligence perfectly complements Syntio’s rich experience in cloud data engineering.
Croatian IT company Syntio, specializing in cloud data engineering, has announced a merger with UK-based Datatonic, a leading partner in ML, AI, GenAI, and Agentic AI systems. Together, the companies will form the Datatonic Group. Both Syntio founders, Davorin Cetto and Tomislav Domanovac, will remain with the company and continue to participate in its leadership actively, ensuring the continuity of the vision that has been the foundation of its success so far.
A Zagreb company among Europe’s tech giants—truly great news!
“Joining forces with Datatonic at this stage in artificial intelligence and data engineering development represents an exciting opportunity for Syntio. The breadth of offerings, geographical reach, and our combined expertise mean our clients now have access to the best technological options as they move toward a data- and AI-driven future,” emphasized Davorin Cetto, CEO of Syntio.
Strategic Leap
According to the founders of the Zagreb-based IT company, the connection between Syntio and Datatonic represents a strategic leap into a new phase of development.
“There are numerous benefits and opportunities for both companies and their clients. First and foremost, this is a unification of the knowledge, experience, and technological capacity of two leading European companies specializing in data engineering, artificial intelligence, and cloud solutions. Datatonic is a renowned Google Cloud partner, while Syntio is known as an expert in building data infrastructure and has a strong presence in the Scandinavian market. This synergy enables both companies to expand their service portfolios—from consulting and data platform design, through data migration and integration, to developing and implementing advanced AI models and generative AI-based solutions. Clients now get end-to-end solutions, meaning they can address all their data and AI needs in one place, with top-tier expertise and global support,” said Cetto and Domanovac to Poslovni dnevnik.
“For Syntio, this connection brings a stronger international presence, access to new markets, knowledge exchange with top experts from Datatonic, and the ability to participate in even larger and more complex projects for global clients. This further cements Syntio’s position as a leader in data innovation on both European and global levels. Datatonic Group, formed by the merger of Syntio and Datatonic, has very ambitious goals.
The primary aim is to become the leading European—and global—company for data and AI solutions, with a special focus on the Google Cloud platform and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). We want to be the first choice for major international companies seeking digital transformation based on data and AI. We aim to enable our clients, through our end-to-end solutions, to make better decisions, automate processes, and create new value using the most advanced technologies,” they add.
Davorin Cetto amd Tomislav Domanovac
Talent Development
In addition to technological leadership, talent development is also a key goal. Thanks to the merger, a strong international team of experts will be formed, continuously learning, innovating, and developing new solutions while setting industry standards.
“We also aim to further expand our presence in key markets, especially in Europe and North America, and continue building long-term partnerships with clients worldwide,” said Cetto.
Syntio was founded in 2017 in Zagreb to combine data engineering and cloud technologies. Although just eight years have passed, growing such a company is undoubtedly a grueling marathon.
“When we founded Syntio in 2017, we had a clear vision: to create a company that would lead the digital transformation of large enterprises through innovative data and cloud solutions. At the time, the market increasingly demanded fast, scalable, and reliable solutions for data processing and analysis, especially in the context of cloud migration. The core goals of Syntio were to enable clients to extract maximum business value from their data, accelerate and simplify data migration and integration, and develop our own tools and methodologies to give them a competitive advantage.
We wanted to create an environment where top domestic experts could work on the most challenging projects for global clients, using the latest technologies and approaches. From the beginning, Syntio was focused on international expansion, as shown by our early move to open offices abroad and start working with some of the world’s largest companies. I can proudly say that Syntio is recognized as an innovator not only in Croatia but also on the European and global stage,” said Cetto.
Currently, the company employs around 90 engineers and AI specialists, primarily working with clients in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, including IKEA, H&M, Volvo, Abbott, and AstraZeneca, as well as local clients like HT and Valamar.
Data Innovation
Syntio’s position in the data innovation landscape is particularly strong. Cetto explains why.
“Syntio has built a strong reputation as an innovator in data engineering and artificial intelligence. This is reflected in several key aspects. First, the company has developed its tools and methodologies, including an internationally patented tool for data migration to the cloud. It allows faster, safer, and more efficient migration of large volumes of data for global clients. Second, Syntio continuously invests in developing advanced solutions for real-time data processing, building data platforms, and implementing AI models that help clients make data-driven decisions, automate processes, and create new revenue streams.
Our solutions are used across various industries—from retail, pharmaceuticals, and the automotive industry to the financial sector. Finally, the company has been on the prestigious FT 1000 list of the fastest-growing European companies for three consecutive years, further confirming our innovation and market success. Syntio is also a partner of leading tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and AWS, giving us access to the latest technologies and expertise,” said Cetto.
Syntio is recognized as an innovator not just in Croatia, but across Europe and the world.
Machine Learning Center
A significant investment in a Machine Learning Center in Zagreb and the hiring of numerous experts has also been announced.
“As part of the merger with Datatonic, Syntio has announced a significant investment in developing a machine learning center in Zagreb. The plan is to establish a new department focused on developing advanced AI and ML solutions, with a special emphasis on applying generative AI in business. By the end of 2025, we plan to hire at least 20 new engineers and data science experts, with that number expected to grow in the coming years. We aim to build a strong team that will work on innovative solutions for global clients. A particular focus will be placed on education and nurturing young talent through internships, workshops, and collaboration on research projects,” said Cetto.
The IT sector remains one of the most dynamic in Croatia. With nearly 7,000 IT companies, it accounts for 4.3% of all companies in the country and 3.6% of total employment. The average EBITDA margin in the sector is 18%, which is 6.9 percentage points higher than the Croatian average, according to the Croatian Chamber of Commerce. In just four years, the number of IT companies has increased by nearly 67%, while foreign market revenues have soared by an impressive 119%.
However, like the rest of Croatia’s economy, the IT sector faces workforce challenges. Syntio is a bright exception—they don’t have a staffing problem.
“I’m proud of the Syntio team—their passion, curiosity, and expertise are the foundation of everything we’ve achieved so far. Thanks to their dedication, new opportunities are opening: working on exciting projects, collaborating with inspiring new partners, and contributing to the development of AI. We’re currently witnessing a wave of extremely high-quality applications for our open positions, and our biggest challenge isn’t a lack of talent but choosing among so many top candidates—which is both a privilege and a motivation,” said Cetto.
Davorin Cetto
Croatia’s Global Role
The wider public is likely unaware of how significant Croatia is on the global AI and ML map. Cetto is very clear on this point.
“In recent years, Croatia has increasingly positioned itself as an important player in machine learning and artificial intelligence, thanks to companies developing innovative solutions for the global market. Although much smaller than the world’s leading centers, Croatian experts and companies are increasingly involved in international projects and partnerships with leading global players.
Croatia has a strong academic community, and the number of startups and tech companies investing in AI development is growing steadily. Croatia has the potential to become a regional AI leader, especially through investments in education, talent development, and innovation support. I believe Syntio is a great example of how a globally successful tech story can be built from Croatia, and I hope our journey will serve as inspiration and motivation for the continued development of the local AI scene,” concluded Cetto.
With their experience in data engineering and infrastructure development, Syntio will help Datatonic Group develop fully integrated, end-to-end solutions that cover the entire value chain—from data collection and processing to the implementation of AI systems for clients in Europe and North America. The long-term goal of the merged companies is to become the world’s leading Google partner for GenAI and Agentic AI.
