Endeavor, the international organization that enhances innovation ecosystems in 40 countries, is celebrating 10 years of presence in Greece this year, where it selects and supports some of the most successful companies. The community created by the organization is of unique importance to the country. Hundreds of entrepreneurs, executives and investors have come together in a joint effort to create an international innovation ecosystem in Greece.
As part of this effort, Endeavor Greece, for about 2 years, has launched the ScaleUp program. With the help of Endeavor’s international community, the program seeks out and supports the most promising (Greek or non-Greek) technology entrepreneurs around the world who want to connect with Greece and the wider region of SE Europe.
The organisation welcomes to the 4th cycle of the program 18 fast-growing companies of innovative entrepreneurs, including for the first time, a company from Poland, which gives a regional character to the programme, and is an important element for the development of the country’s innovation ecosystem in the future.
The companies entering the 4th cycle of the program are:
•Bryq,
•Connectly,
•Cube RM,
•Goodpath,
•HarborLab,
•iCOMAT,
•LANGaware,
•Lendis,
•My online therapy,
•Omilia,
•Pop Market,
•Seafair,
•Seismos,
•Smartify,
•Τransifex,
•Two.,
•VersaBox,
•Vertoro.
Each of them has significant growth prospects in one of the following sectors: DeepTech, EdTech, FinTech, Smart Cities, Healthtech and Consumer Tech. The 18 companies have so far raised 137.7 million euros in capital and the locations based vary, with 30% based in Greece and 70% abroad.
Upon entering the program, companies gain access to high-level mentoring with qualified, internationally recognized executives, top investors, strategic guidance to expand into new markets by leveraging Endeavor’s global network and supporting talent discovery and attraction.
During the multi-level selection process, the prospective entrepreneurs were asked to prove that their company has the potential to achieve spectacular growth and offer real value to the local community. In fact, in the last stage, they stood up to Members of Endeavor’s board of directors and successful internationally renowned executives, who offered constructive feedback and voted unanimously for the new entrepreneurs of the Scaleup.
More specifically, 43 world-renowned personalities were involved in this year’s selection process, such as Markos Veremis (Co-founder and President of Upstream and Partner of BigPi Venture Capital, Member of the Board of Directors of Endeavor Greece), Andreas Stavropoulos (Partner, Threshold Ventures, Member of the Board of Directors of Endeavor Greece), Belvyn Lubega (Director at GO1, Endeavor Entrepreneur), Konstantinos Papamiltiadis (VP, Platform Partnerships at Snap Inc.) and Evangelos Kotsovinos (Global Head of Infrastructure at American Express).
“The program began with the aim of selecting and supporting the most promising Greek entrepreneurs, both inside and outside the country.We are particularly pleased that it has now transcended the domestic borders, since for the first time one of the companies selected has been founded and operates exclusively in Poland. This event marks a new era in the course of ScaleUp, giving it a regional character and proving once again the value it offers to the entrepreneurs it supports.”, stated Maritina Grelloni, Head of Portfolio Growth of Endeavor Greece.
In addition, Ioanna Giannakopoulou, ScaleUp Program & DeepTech Portfolio Lead at Endeavor Greece, mentioned that the ecosystem is evolving and seems to be adapting to the needs of the times, stressing that last year, in the midst of a health crisis, the sector with the largest representation was that of Healthcare, while this year the Smart Cities sector is in the lead, highlighting a possible trend for this year.
Endeavor Greece has supported over the last 2 years through ScaleUp 41 fast-growing businesses, which with the launch of the 4th cycle increase to 59. Through the services it provides, the organization aims to strengthen the Greek innovation ecosystem and create real value for Greek society.