- October 29, 2024
- Posted by: EBAN Team
- Category: News
The recent egg – enter grow go “Soft Landing – Expanding Beyond Borders” workshop that took place during EAIS24, provided a deep dive on the current transformation, growth and potential of the Greek startup ecosystem. Presented by Roula Bachtalia, Aris Stampopoulos, Fragkiska Tsioutsiou and Thomas Deliopoulos, the team shared crucial insights with a key point being clear: Greece is no longer just a great location for tourism. It is about to become a key player in the Southeast European innovation hub.
A major announcement during the workshop was the launch of the International Entrepreneurship Mini Acceleration Program, a two-month initiative by egg – enter grow go, Eurobank’s business accelerator, in collaboration with EBAN. This program is designed to empower early- stage startups across various sectors, including Life Sciences, Fintech, Agritech, EdTech, and AI, among others. Participants will have access to a vibrant community of mentors, tailored workshops, and networking opportunities, culminating in a one- day pitching event to investors and industry leaders. Applications are now open, and interested startups can submit their pitch deck and team’s introductory template by emailing them to info@theegg.gr. This program was also featured during the EBAN Congress 2024, where it garnered significant attention from participants. As an excellent pathway for startups looking to gain market entry and grow their business, the program offers a unique opportunity for startups to engage with the Greek and European startup ecosystems. General program information is available here and a fillable form here.
The workshop showcased impressive metrics reflecting the growth of the Greek startup ecosystem. With a current valuation of approximately €8 billion today, 830 promising startups, more than 7,000 professionals, 5 unicorns, and 5 emerging “soonicorns”, Greece’s startup and innovation landscape is showing extraordinary potential for the future.
A major focus of the workshop was highlighting the unique position that Greece has managed to create for itself, acting as a gateway for Southeast European markets. The speakers underlined that the strategic location, together with a strong presence of multinational R&Ds and deep tech talent, serves as an ideal setting for startups looking to scale regionally. This positioning gets even stronger when considering the existence of robust diaspora networks, active participation in international events and cross-border partnerships.
Further prominent points included the mention of Equifund II, a €200 million portfolio fund aimed at Life sciences & Healthcare and Sustainability & Social Impact. The aforementioned scheme is part of the larger funding landscape in Greece today, which sees 29 active venture capital funds managing €2.1 billion of investments, serving as evidence for the dedication that Greece shows when approaching the subject of innovation whilst simultaneously providing prominent attention towards startups regardless of their current lifecycle stage.
Success stories shared during the workshop included the notable mentions of:
• EX MACHINA, focusing on IoT analysis of weather-related data
• AUGMENTA, precision farming
• 2BULLMEDITHERAPY ,with diagnostic solutions for aortic aneurysms
• TRIPAROUND, changing tourism operations with innovative technology
These firms set the bar for continuous inspiration for the Greek startup ecosystem’s potential.
Concluding and looking forward, thanks to inspirational initiatives like that of egg, and the support of high growth sectors, Greece stands fully prepared and ready to push further, solidifying its position as an exciting opportunity for angel investors and startups alike.