Horalix Earns Special Recognition at Adria Future Hackathon 2026
NEWS | April 23, 2026 | Tivat and Kotor, Montenegro
Horalix earned special recognition at Adria Future Hackathon 2026 in Montenegro and secured dedicated meetings with regional investors and VCs.
Short answer
Horalix received a special recognition at the Adria Future Hackathon 2026, held on 23 and 24 April 2026 in Tivat and Kotor, Montenegro. The Horalix team stood out among 10 selected finalists in the regional artificial intelligence and sustainability competition and received a special opportunity to meet investors and venture-capital representatives attending the wider Adria Future Summit.
Horalix recognized at the Adria Future Hackathon 2026
Horalix participated in the Adria Future Hackathon 2026, a 24-hour regional innovation competition organized as part of the Adria Future Summit in Montenegro.
The hackathon brought together selected teams from across the Western Balkans to develop and present solutions connected to artificial intelligence and sustainability.
More than 30 teams registered for the competition, with only 10 selected to participate in the final event. Horalix was represented by:
- Kerim Šabić, CEO and co-founder
- Affan Kapidžić, software engineer
- Neuman Alkhalil, founding AI engineer and chief science officer
Following the final presentations, Horalix received a separate special recognition from the jury.
A special recognition beyond the standard prize structure
The main hackathon awarded first, second, and third-place prizes. Horalix did not receive one of those numbered placements.
Instead, the team received an additional special recognition after standing out to the judges during the final evaluation.
During the judging feedback, Davor Sakač of TS Ventures Fund described Horalix as being “a cut above the rest.”
The recognition included a special opportunity for Horalix to continue discussions with investors and venture-capital representatives present at the event. This gave the team access to feedback and conversations beyond the standard hackathon award structure.
The result was also reported by N1 Bosnia and Herzegovina, which identified Horalix as the recipient of the event’s special distinction.
A selective regional artificial intelligence competition
The Adria Future Hackathon was not an open networking meetup. Teams were selected before the final event and were required to develop, refine, and pitch practical solutions under significant time pressure.
The jury included professionals from investment, corporate innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship:
- Ravik Mima, Keiretsu Forum
- Bojana Maraš, MTEL Digital Factory
- Žan Dapčević, IBEX Fund
- Davor Sakač, TS Ventures Fund
Their evaluation considered whether participating teams were addressing real problems with solutions that could be developed, validated, and scaled.
For Horalix, this was an opportunity to present a healthcare AI product to decision-makers who evaluate companies not only on technical ambition, but also on commercial viability, market need, product strategy, and investment readiness.
What Horalix presented
Horalix presented its work on AI-assisted echocardiography software for hospitals, cardiology departments, and diagnostic clinics.
Echocardiography is one of the most widely used methods for examining the heart, but the workflow often requires cardiologists and sonographers to complete numerous manual measurements before a structured report can be finalized.
Horalix is developing software that helps automate suitable parts of this process by:
- Processing cardiac ultrasound studies
- Extracting structured cardiac measurements
- Preparing report-ready clinical information
- Supporting standardized documentation
- Reducing repetitive post-acquisition work
- Allowing clinicians to review and verify every output
The system is designed as workflow-support software. It does not replace the cardiologist and does not independently make final clinical decisions.
Why the recognition matters
Hackathon awards are most useful when they lead to meaningful relationships, feedback, and future opportunities.
For Horalix, the special recognition created several forms of value:
- Independent feedback from experienced investors
- Greater visibility within the Western Balkan startup ecosystem
- Direct access to venture-capital representatives
- Validation of the problem Horalix is addressing
- New relationships with founders and technology organizations
- Regional exposure for a Sarajevo-based medical AI company
It also demonstrated that Horalix could communicate the value of its technology to an audience beyond cardiology and medical imaging.
To succeed internationally, a healthcare technology company must explain not only how its artificial intelligence works, but also why the product is useful, how it fits into clinical workflows, who is responsible for final decisions, and how it can scale across institutions.
From a hackathon presentation to a hospital-ready platform
Horalix’s long-term focus extends beyond competitions.
The company is developing its CardiologyAI platform for real hospital and cardiology workflows, including cardiac ultrasound analysis, structured reporting, clinical review, and integration with existing medical imaging infrastructure.
The Adria Future Hackathon recognition is therefore best understood as part of a larger journey that includes:
- Clinical validation
- Hospital pilots
- Product development
- International partnerships
- Responsible medical AI
- Investment and commercialization readiness
Did Horalix win first place?
No. First, second, and third place were awarded to other participating teams.
Horalix received a separate special recognition after the jury determined that the company stood out from the standard competition results. This distinction also created an opportunity for dedicated discussions with investors and venture-capital representatives attending the event.
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