On Tuesday 16 July 2024, the Greece Startup Conference 2024 was organized by Startup Network Europe, at the premises of the Alexander Innovation Zone. The conference, an initiative of Adam Fulham, founder of Startup Network Europe and with the support of AZK, for the second year in a row in Thessaloniki, brought together 80+ startuppers, offering a unique opportunity for networking and exchange of knowledge between the innovation ecosystem.
The event was welcomed by the President of the Board of Directors of AIZ, Dr. Panagiotis Ketikidis, who pointed out the importance of:
The conversation was followed by a greeting from Dr. Evdokimos Konstantinidis, representative of the Medical, Physical and Digital Innovation Laboratory of AUTH and ENoLL (European Network of Living Labs), who talked about innovation and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of the 4th helix for the successful cooperation of the public, private sector and the academic community.
• Bootstrapping: It is important to know about self-financing and using limited resources. Inventiveness and innovation are key to a sustainable startup.
• Financial Understanding: Learn key financial concepts to make decisions and manage your business effectively. Knowledge is power.
• Customer-centric Innovation: Your best investor is your customers. Listen to their needs and take advantage of feedback from them.
• Scale Assessment: As you expand, you constantly evaluate and adjust your business plan. Stay flexible and ready to adapt to changes when necessary.
The panel was attended by four founders of major startups of the European innovation ecosystem, with Mr. Chrysovalantis Koutsoumpos, CTO at EveryPay, to start the discussion. He was referred to the actions that a startup should do before scaling up.
Key takeaways:
• Creating new product categories: Create new product classes to differentiate your startup in the market.
• Human resources with values: Make sure your team shares the same core values. Use a framework to be fair and keep your employees committed. Set your strategy with clear goals and precise results.
• Adaptability: Adjust your skills to the value proposal of your business. This will seal the growth of your startup and ensure that you stay on track.
The conversation continued with Mr. George Fylaktopoulos, CTO at Comidor, who talked about Artificial Intelligence in Industry.
Some of his most important arguments concerned:
• Process Targeting: Artificial intelligence dominates business process management (BPM) by targeting and optimizing specific processes, making them more efficient and effective.
• Innovation with AI: The integration of artificial intelligence into low-code platforms enables faster development, automation and personalized user experiences.
• Impact on Industry: These innovations lead to significant improvements in operational efficiency, reducing costs and allowing more flexible operations.
The discussion continued with Mr. Wout Eggink, founder of TwinAI, who raised the question “Why do Startups fail?”, answering:
“Many people think they understand why startups fail, but the reality is often more complicated. It requires:
- Perseverance and Flexibility: Persistence is important, but you must balance it with flexibility.
- Idea Testing: Conduct thorough market research to validate your concept and understand your audience.”
Finally, Mr. Konstantinos Fetfatsidis, founder of 9T Labs & NeXTGen, concluded the discussion with the most important points of his speech to lay on:
- Greek success in the US: Greek entrepreneurs have a history of success in the US market.
- Product and Market Combination: Avoid the error of expansion before achieving a stable position for your product in the market.
The speeches were followed by a short Q&A section and networking with pizzas and beers, offering a pleasant and constructive atmosphere for all participants.
We greatly thank Adam Fulham, our speakers, and all those who contributed to the success of this memorable event!
