The document highlights Athens, Greece as a competitive environment for startups, emphasizing its strategic location, talented workforce, and various economic sectors such as life sciences and maritime. It details the affordability of living in Athens, the successful startup ecosystem, and the presence of major incubators and research institutions. Additionally, it encourages entrepreneurs to consider Athens for their ventures, citing favorable conditions and government support.

1. Athens, Greece
Konstantinos Michanetzis,
MIT Enterprise Forum Greece
CEO, Sylipsis Corporation.
SXSW 2019, Austin Texas

2. Athens ?!?

3. Athens Metro Area, Area: 2,928 km2, Population: +4 mil

5. Affordable
Combo meal in fast
food restaurant3-7€
Monthly rent for a
45 m2 furnished
studio including
utilities
400€ Internet 24 Mbps
access per month20€
Take out
coffee/tea
(hot or cold)
1-3€
1 glass of
beer / wine in
neighborhoo
d pub
3-4€

6. Highly Talented Workforce

7. Location, location, location…

8. Available Funds

9. Verticals and Technologies
• Life Sciences
Almost 70,000 trained doctors
• Maritime
Largest fleet in the world
• Hospitality
30 million visitors (2017)
• Energy
Solar, geothermal and wind
potential
• Agriculture
Unique flora
Software, Big Data Analytics, AI/ML, Electronics, Biotech

10. Athens Maritime
Innovation Center
WWW.ATHENSMARITIME.COM
A full spectrum maritime center of excellence
strategically located in the Mediterranean Sea for worldwide maritime technological innovation,
with optimal access to the Athens shipping cluster.

11. COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
Global Leadership - Industry Concentration & Clustering - Talent Pool - GeoStrategic
Location
ATHENS MARITIME INNOVATION CENTER
WWW.ATHENSMARITIME.COM
Athens
Cluster
Strategic
Location
Expertise &
Talent Pool
Global
Leadership
& Brand
Prime Port
& Costs
Industry
Density =
Access

12. Startup life in Athens
Incubators Competitions / Acceleration Programs Major Events
Universities and Research Centers

13. Some recent success stories …
Raised over $34 mil Raised over $30 mil Raised over $11 mil Raised over $6.5 mil Raised over $30 mil
Acquired by myTaxi
Acquired by Glispa
Global Group
Acquired by Splunk Acquired by Samsung
Acquired by PCCW
GLOBAL

14. Source: Found.ation
Top 10 Greek Startup Exits

17. I challenge you to think … differently!

18. … and consider Athens, for your startup
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Athens, Greece

19. • Great weather conditions all year
round
• Endless opportunities for great
culture and sporting activities
• Strong engineering and science
skills at reasonable cost
• Fluent English speaking staff
• Convenient location at the cross-
road between East and West
• Access to the €400 million plus of
EquiFund
• Friendly tax/business legislation for
companies not selling directly in
Greece (Law 3427/05)
What you’d get …

21. Thank you!
Konstantinos Michanetzis
kmihanetzis@mitefgreece.org