Startup Greece Talks

Angel Investors Talks | EP#07: Dimitris Zografos, Angel Investor, VC Lab Fellow, Business Development at PitchBook Data 06.05.2026 24min

In the last episode of the angel investor series, we talked with startup ecosystem builder, Dimitris Zografos, to unpack how early-stage investing really works. We talk about his best investment and biggest failure, and why he believes teams can win in any industry if they pivot well and find the right market. Dimitris also shares the criteria he prioritises when funding startups, what his ideal founding team looks like, where he’d place €1M today, and practical advice for Greek founders, especially those building outside the big hubs.ℹ️ Dimitris Zografos has been an angel investor at HeBAN (Hellenic Business Angels Network) since 2020 and has been working in Business Development at PitchBook Data since 2019. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Sheffield and an MSc from Henley Business School in England. During his Bachelor’s studies, he also worked as a Summer Intern, supporting and helping organise university events. After graduating, Dimitris returned to Greece to gain professional experience before moving back to England in 2019 to join PitchBook Data. He is actively involved in the startup and investment community, combining data-driven insights with hands-on early-stage investing, and brings strong expertise in market research, relationship building, and ecosystem development to support founders and investors alike.

Angel Investors Talks | EP#06: Ariadne Velissaropoulos, Angel Investor 22.04.2026 22min

In this episode, we welcome Ariadne Velissaropoulos, an investor backing diverse founding teams. She explains what she notices first in a pitch and the one diligence step she never skips. We touch on Greece’s moment for founders, thinking beyond your home market, and the realities women founders navigate, plus what truly separates a good idea from an investable team. Watch to sharpen how you prepare for your next raise. ℹ️ Ariadne Velissaropoulos is an investor backing start-ups and scale-ups with a focus on diverse founding teams. She serves on the boards of Petros Petropoulos AEBE and The HOME Project, and is an Ambassador for the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. Born in Greece, she moved to the United States at age 12 and later lived in the UK and Switzerland. With 20+ years in public-markets investment management, Ariadne brings a global lens to championing women’s entrepreneurship—supporting women-owned start-ups in Greece and worldwide.

Angel Investors Talks | EP#05:Michael Panesis, Educator, ecosystem builder and angel investor 06.04.2026 27min

In this episode, we unpack how investments really happen—from networks, feedback loops, and warm introductions to what actually gets funded. We dive into the role of people vs business plans, idea vs MVP vs traction, and what matters more: founder vision or team strength.ℹ️ Our guest Michael is an entrepreneur, educator, angel investor, and business executive with deep roots in IT. He’s been the “first” COO/CIO/CTO more than once, turning technology into business value across software, automotive, financial services, information services, semiconductors, and consumer goods. Specialities include early-stage startups, angel investing, higher-ed entrepreneurship, corporate development, strategy, and turnarounds.

Angel Investors Talks | EP#04:Alexander Caravitis, Co-founder & CEO of Hosthub.com. Ex co-founder of Viva Wallet 18.03.2026 28min

Today's guest Alexander Caravitis took the unconventional path: studied translation, skipped an MA to join a 1996 internet startup, then spent two decades across web/product roles. He became a partner at Realize S.A. (2005), co-launched Viva.gr (2006), co-created Viva Payments / Viva Wallet (2010), and later co-founded Syncbnb (Hosthub) in 2017—scaling globally with backing from top Greek investors.In this episode, we unpack how angels decide when to invest, how much to write, and what they look for in teams. We dive into AI’s real impact, which sectors deserve a €1M bet, and why you no longer need Silicon Valley to scale.

Angel Investors Talks | EP#03: Evangelos Kotsonis, Entrepreneur, Corporate Leader, Angel Investor 04.03.2026 27min

In this episode, we welcome Evangelos Kotsonis, an entrepreneur turned angel who prefers to jump in at the very early stage. Evangelos believes investors should bring more than capital, offering hands-on support, candid feedback, and practical know-how. He urges founders to keep an open mind after funding, stay receptive to advice and new approaches, and focus on finding the right business model for their niche.

Angel Investors Talks | EP#02: Maria Koletsou, Super Angel, Founder of Blossom Ventures 18.02.2026 30min

In this episode of SG Talks, we sit down with angel investor and entrepreneur Maria Koletsou for a very honest conversation about startups, funding, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts. Our guest, Maria Koletsou, is the Founder of Blossom Ventures (LSE alum, mum, angel investor), building Europe’s leading female investing networkℹ️ Maria began her career in finance at Bear Stearns and Renaissance Capital before founding Novus Finance, where she spent over a decade raising nearly €3 billion and advising more than 120 companies from pre-IPO to post-IPO stages. After exiting Novus Finance, she founded and exited five companies while continuing to invest through a family holding office. In 2024, she founded Blossom Ventures to build a female angel investors’ club aimed at increasing women’s participation in angel investing and strengthening support for female founders within the startup ecosystem.

Angel Investors Talks | EP#01: Jon Vlachogiannis, Super Angel, Serial Entrepreneur 09.02.2026 31min

In this first episode of the SG Talks angel investors, we welcome Jon Vlachogiannis, an early-stage investor and entrepreneur. He shares his journey from arriving in the United States with just $300 and why stepping beyond Greece was pivotal for his growth. Jon explains his philosophy of backing bold ideas before perfect data exists and why calculated risk is part of the game.ℹ️ Jon Vlachogiannis is an early-stage investor who supports founders at the pre-seed and seed stages, focusing on disciplined risk-taking when outcomes are still uncertain. He works closely with teams on strategy, fundraising, and go-to-market to help convert potential into traction. A former Director of Engineering at Splunk, he’s a sought-after speaker and holds 20+ patents in distributed, real-time systems.

Ep. 100 – Can One Platform Fix the Chaos for Startup Incubators? | Dimitris Dimosiaris, Founderhood 30.04.2025 35min

Here we are with the cherry on top of this month, the 100th episode of our SG Talks!Almost all startup incubators and accelerators struggle with too many tools to cover all their services and communicate with all the professionals involved in their program. This creates confusion, frustration and loss of time and money.Here's where Founderhood, an all-in-one solution and platform for innovation stakeholders in the startup ecosystem, plays a key role.In this episode, Dimitris Dimosiaris, Co-Founder of Founderhood, talks about his mission to create a future where Greek and international founders won't be hindered by their distance from major innovation hubs. From Dimitris's perspective, a startup's success should depend mainly on their ideas, the people, and their teamwork.---------------------------------------------------------Visit the Founderhood website: https://thefounderhood.com/Our amazing host: Thanos ParaschosFind out more here: https://startup-greece.org/podcasts/Our Website: https://startup-greece.org/Follow us on our social media: https://linkr.bio/StartupGreece

Ep. 99 – Can You Really Start Investing in Greek Real Estate with €100? | Georgios Stavrakakis, Estate Fleet 23.04.2025 26min

In this episode of SG Talks, Thanos sits down with Georgios Stavrakakis, the Founder and CEO of Estate Fleet, to unpack the opportunities and challenges of investing in the Greek real estate market, especially for those starting with a limited budget. Georgios shares how Estate Fleet is reshaping access to property investment, offering a fresh alternative for aspiring investors. Forget the overwhelming capital requirements and complex management, Estate Fleet simplifies the process by allowing anyone to start investing in income-producing rental properties from just €100.Estate Fleet is on a mission to remove the traditional barriers of high down payments and operational stress, they’re enabling everyday people to earn passive income and benefit from property value appreciation without lifting a finger.Whether you're a first-time investor or exploring new ways to diversify your portfolio, this episode is packed with practical insights and innovative thinking that could change the way you look at real estate in Greece.(00:00) Intro(00:37) This-or-That(01:10) Georgios' background(04:42) What is Estate Fleet?(06:00) How did Georgios realize Estate Fleet was needed?(09:53) How does Georgios and Estate Fleet operate?(11:00) How many properties does Estate Fleet manage?(12:26) Georgios' impression for the Greek market(14:12) Vision for the future and next steps(19:15) Real estate markets with Greece's similar problems(21:10) Will the real estate bubble burst in Greece?(25:10) How long does it take for individuals in Greece to buy a property

Ep. 98 – Is AI the Future of Law? | Kriton Papastergiou, Casepal 26.03.2025 28min

This week on SG Talks, we welcome Kriton Papastergiou, Co-Founder & CEO of Casepal, an innovative AI-powered platform transforming legal workflows. Kriton shares the vision behind Casepal and how it is redefining the way legal professionals work by leveraging cutting-edge AI. In this episode, he delves into how Casepal enhances legal research, analysis, and drafting, enabling law firms, in-house teams, and legal professionals to focus on complex legal challenges and high-value cases. Tune in to discover how AI is revolutionizing the legal industry and what the future holds for AI-driven legal work. Don’t miss this insightful conversation! Kriton Papastergiou is an AI specialist dedicated to developing secure, practical, and impactful AI solutions for the legal industry. As a key contributor to Casepal, he focuses on integrating AI into legal workflows, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and security. With expertise in artificial intelligence and legal tech, he is committed to bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world legal applications.

Ep. 97 – Can DevOps Teams Avoid Risky Code Deployments? | Dimitris Kiriakakis, Warestack 19.03.2025 18min

This week on SG Talks, we welcome Dimitris Kiriakakis, Technical Advisor of Warestack, a developer tool that helps teams manage every code change with best practices! Dimitris shares his journey and the vision behind Warestack, illustrating how the platform enforces best practices across the DevOps lifecycle. In this episode, he delves into how Warestack helps teams by flagging skipped checks, blocking risky workflows, and standardizing processes to bridge gaps in toolchains. Tune in to discover how Warestack is transforming fragmented workflows into predictable, reliable pipelines, minimizing lead times, and revolutionizing DevOps. Don’t miss this insightful conversation!Dimitris Kiriakakis is an experienced software developer with over 10 years of expertise in full-stack web and mobile development, specializing in cloud architectures, microservices, and modern frontend frameworks. He is proficient in Java, Kotlin, TypeScript, and backend technologies such as Spring and NodeJS, delivering scalable and high-quality solutions across various industries.

Ep. 96 – How Is AI-Powered Immunotherapy Changing Cancer Treatment? | Fanny Giannou, Alithea Bio 12.03.2025 41min

This week on SG Talks, we welcome Fanny Giannou, Co-Founder of Alithea Bio, a pioneering startup transforming cancer treatment through innovative immunotherapy solutions. Fanny shares her journey and the vision behind Alithea Bio, illustrating how the company blends cutting-edge science and technology to create safer, more effective cancer therapies.In this episode, she delves into how Alithea empowers biotech innovators with advanced tools for target discovery, validation, and toxicity prediction, driving progress in the fight against cancer. Tune in to discover how Alithea Bio is shaping the future of healthcare and making a profound impact on this global challenge. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation!Fanny Giannou is a Women TechEU 2024 awardee and an HSG/ETH Executive MBAX candidate. She holds a Master’s in International Economics from Sorbonne University and Humboldt Universität.With over 15 years of experience in international business development, Fanny has worked in strategic and management roles for multinational companies before founding Alithea Bio. Since 2022, she has led Alithea’s international business strategy, securing funding for the CyberChampion 2024 company and significantly increasing revenues.Leveraging Alithea’s global reputation in the TCR field, she is now reinventing its data and AI strategy to position the company as a leader in precision immunotherapy.

Ep. 95 – Why Should Adult Learning Be a Global Priority? | Dimitrios Bissias, Eftopia® 05.03.2025 27min

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Dimitrios Bissias, Founder and CEO of Eftopia®, an education company committed to making education, training and research available to literally all adults learners.Eftopia®, according to what Dimitris has told us, is an EdTech company with more focus to the Education pillar in its client-facing mode, as the technology part is instilled to the company in the form of innovative processes and business models.Eftopia® has also entered the DeepTech field, and more specifically the vertical of Web 3.0Dimitris shares the inspiration behind Eftopia®, using the lens of his education background and work experience.He discusses how Eftopia® currently provides affordable, fit-for-purpose, ethically sourced, mainly asynchronous, contextualised and independent Massive Open Online courses with optional tutoring support and also, engages in the publication of corresponding research output.Dimitrios Bissias is an educator, entrepreneur, and lifelong learner - passionate about higher education and innovation.As the Founder & CEO of Eftopia®, he believes that "learning is equity" and that education and research can transform the world.With a multidisciplinary education background in Finance, Economics, and Management by Research, Dimitrios Bissias has work experience in teaching, sales, and operations and is currently building a startup from idea to execution.He advocates for flipped classrooms, open pedagogy, and dialogic learning environments with the ultimate goal to democratize education for all adult learners. Tune in to explore the future of education and how Eftopia® is making the world a better place.StartUp Greece Talks EP#95 by Thanos Paraschos (Managing Director, Startup Greece) and Dimitrios Bissias (CEO, Eftopia®), is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Don’t miss this insightful conversation! Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eftopia-orgX (Twitter): @Eftopia_orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eftopiagroupInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eftopiagroupTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eftopiagroup

Ep. 94 – How Is FindYourCoach Making Professional Coaching Accessible to Everyone? | Lenia Anastasopoulou, FindYourCoach 26.02.2025 30min

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Lenia Anastasopoulou, Co-Founder of FindYourCoach, a platform transforming business coaching. Lenia shares her background and the inspiration behind FindYourCoach, explaining how the platform connects individuals and businesses with certified coaches to enhance leadership, communication, and team-building skills. She discusses how the platform’s personalized approach to coaching helps clients improve performance, reduce stress, and achieve long-term growth. Tune in to explore how FindYourCoach is redefining professional development and making coaching accessible to all. Don’t miss this insightful conversation!Lenia is a recent graduate of the Department of Economics at the Athens University of Economics and Business. She has a strong passion for education, entrepreneurship, and continuous learning. Through her active involvement in organizations such as AIESEC and KETHEA, she has developed a deep appreciation for teamwork and personal contribution.Known for her attentive and engaging nature, Lenia is a thoughtful listener upon first meeting and quickly establishes a warm and lighthearted rapport. Her peers describe her as a calm and optimistic individual with a distinctive perspective. She embraces the guiding principles of "seize the day" and "follow your dreams" in both her personal and professional endeavors.

Ep. 93 – How Is MyNavlo Transforming Fleet Management in Yachting? | Dimitris Lazanas, MyNavlo 19.02.2025 42min

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Dimitris Lazanas, one of the Co-Founder of MyNavlo, a platform revolutionizing operations for yacht charter operators. Dimitris shares his background as a web developer and the inspiration behind MyNavlo. He explains how the platform simplifies fleet management, booking, financial reporting, and customer relationships while reducing errors and saving time. Tune in to explore the future of maritime technology and how MyNavlo is making waves in the industry. Don’t miss this insightful conversation!Dimitrios Lazanas is a Full Stack Developer with expertise in building data-intensive, real-time applications, including betting platforms and ERPs. Skilled in ReactJS, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, he specializes in developing responsive, user-centric single-page applications. On the backend, he leverages NodeJS for scalable services, Puppeteer for data scraping, and optimizes SQL databases.

Ep. 92 – Can Tech Really Modernize the Wine Industry? | Elias Gagas, OENsights 12.02.2025 44min

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Elias Gagas, Co-Founder of OENsights, a groundbreaking platform transforming the wine industry. Elias shares how he came up with the idea for OENsights and brought it to life. He explains how the platform uses digital tools to help wineries improve their online presence and engage more effectively with customers. Tune in to discover how technology is reshaping the future of wine and what’s next for the industry. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation!Elias Gagas is a technology and innovation enthusiast with a razor-sharp business acumen and a 360-degree perspective across all business functions. A natural problem solver and out-of-the-box thinker, he thrives on tackling intellectual challenges and exploring uncharted territories. With a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from the Athens University of Economics and Business, a Master’s from Columbia University, and a TRIUM Executive MBA (NYU, LSE, HEC Paris), he seamlessly bridges technology and business strategy to drive growth and uncover new opportunities.

Ep. 91 – How Is BLINKO AI Reinventing Banking for the Next Generation? | Konstantinos Kousouris, BLINKO AI 05.02.2025 30min

This week on SG Talks, we’re excited to sit down with Konstantinos Kousouris, Co-Founder of BLINKO AI, a forward-thinking fintech startup. In this episode, you’ll learn how BLINKO AI is transforming the banking experience with its AI-driven chat solution, tailored specifically to meet the needs of Gen Z. By offering 'text to banking' services and personalized financial advice, Blinko is setting a new standard in how young people interact with their banks. Don’t miss this insightful conversation about the future of banking!

Ep. 89 – Can Wearable Tech Help Kids with Autism Manage Noise Sensitivity? | Maro Manoli, E-mbracelet 05.02.2025 32min

Join us for an inspiring episode of SG Talks, where we sit down with Maro Manoli, the CEO & Co-Founder of E-mbracelet. This dynamic team of five young entrepreneurs has developed an innovative solution to address noise sensitivity, a challenge faced by 50% to 70% of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). E-mbracelet provides real-time data and personalised insights, empowering parents and caregivers with the tools to offer informed, tailored support. In this episode, you will learn more about this innovative startup and its mission to create a lasting social impact.

Ep. 90 – Why Real-Time Data Is the Future of Preventive Health | Evangelia Athanasiou, SENSSOS 29.01.2025 25min

In this insightful episode of SG Talks, we are joined by Evangelia Athanasiou, Co-Founder of SENSSOS, a health tech startup. Discover how this group of four innovative young professionals is developing cutting-edge biofeedback tools for individuals and healthcare providers. Their technology combines electrophysiological and motion data with Extended Reality (XR) to deliver real-time, data-driven insights and corrective feedback on critical physiological factors like muscle activity and posture. Tune in to learn about their new and innovative way to transform healthcare.

EP#78: Alex Papacharalampous, Founder of Efficious 01.08.2024 50min

🚀 Introducing Alex Papacharalambous, the visionary CEO behind Efficious! With a passion for reshaping traditional business models, Alex has pioneered a groundbreaking solution to tackle resource inefficiency head-on. Leading Efficious, he made a paradigm shift in how companies exchange underutilized assets, from machinery to resources, fostering a dynamic ecosystem of collaboration. 🔧 Dissatisfied with the status quo, Alex Papacharalambous recognized the untapped potential in optimizing resource utilization. As CEO of Efficious, he spearheads a platform where businesses can seamlessly trade surplus resources, transcending the limitations of traditional monetary transactions. His innovative approach not only promotes sustainability but also cultivates a culture of symbiotic exchange, driving efficiency and value creation. ℹ️ With his heavy baggage composed of a diploma in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science, Alex envisions a future. One in which access to resources is not defined by financial barriers. With Efficious, he is providing a platform where startups and established enterprises alike can thrive through resource optimization.