Putting the pieces together
240507 / London
2 years ago
40 events,
in 6 cities
130 speeches,
100s of participants




                  6
2009




       7
we came a long way
                    y-w ise
                unit
           c omm
still,
the ecosystem is broken
how can we
get there?
to start-up, you need

•brainpower
•community
•funding
•advisory
brainpower
•1.7% of greeks holding
 MSc or PhD
•#1 in EU regarding
 people studying abroad
•top in availability of
 scientists and engineers
to start-up, you need

•brainpower
•community
•funding
•advisory
to start-up, you need

✓ brainpower
•community
•funding
•advisory
to start-up, you need

✓ brainpower
•community
•funding
•advisory
start-ups @ OC

•they exist
•able to succeed
•interest is huge
•potential is even bigger
to start-up, you need

✓ brainpower
•community
•funding
•advisory
to start-up, you need

✓ brainpower
✓ community
•funding
•advisory
to start-up, you need

✓ brainpower
✓ community
•funding
•advisory
venture capital
•lots of traction lately
•a number of new funds
•significant capital
 available
•yet, no liquidity. why?
funding, worldwide
availability




               seed   VC rounds   public
funding, in greece
availability




               seed   VC rounds   public
0
  high-tech, early stage
investments in GR, 2007
      (in €, EVCA)
venture capital
•no angel / early stage
•risk averse
•lack of knowledge in the
 tech field
•no relevant network
to start-up, you need

✓ brainpower
✓ community
•funding
•advisory
to start-up, you need

✓ brainpower
✓ community
- funding
•advisory
to start-up, you need

✓ brainpower
✓ community
- funding
•advisory
advisory

•more vital than money
•providing expertise,
 directions & contacts
•you need the best, with
 a network of global reach
advisory
•harder to find than VCs
•locals, not well
 connected
•intnls, not approachable
•you are left in the dark
to start-up, you need

✓ brainpower
✓ community
- funding
•advisory
to start-up, you need

✓ brainpower
✓ community
-   funding
-   advisory
so?

•the system is broken,
 start-ups are few
•but solutions exist
•we are here to put the
 pieces together
who are we
George Tziralis
entrepreneur,
open coffee, GR
George Kasselakis
entrepreneur,
open coffee, GR
Dimitris
Athanasiadis
entrepreneur,
open coffee, GR
Spiros Xanthos
entrepreneur, pattern
insight, CA, US
Apostolos Apostolakis
entrepreneur, e-shop, GR
Teresa Farmaki
venture capitalist,
piraeus bank, GR
Yannis
Dosios
VP marketing,
smilebox,
WA, US
who are we

•7 executive members
- bringing, knowledge,
  experience & passion to the
  table

•49technology, management,
- on
     advisors & counting
  sales, marketing, everything
  you need
goal

•find the best and
 brightest teams
•help them build globally
 aimed start-ups
•make them succeed
looking for
•stellar teams
•globally innovative
 ideas, still at seed level
•disruptive biz models
•in and around software
 and the web
call for proposals
•open to everyone
 (teams of 2-4)
•online submission,
•in person interview &
•presentation day
“incubate”
•pick up to 5 start-ups
•extensively support in
 all things start-up
•for a 4-month period
•iterate
offer
•hands-on mentoring,
 day-to-day, no interfering
•networking, globally
•20-30k€ for 20% of
 shares
•smooth start & grow
all you need to
•quit everything else
•focus on your skills,
 team & idea
•don’t waste time on
 unproductive activities
•make it happen
commitment

•by sharing the stakes
•80%, entrepreneurs
•12%, investors
•8%, open fund
re-invent the wheel?
•no, model tested before
•YCombinator,
 Seedcamp, Techstars...
•it works!
•& it’s what’s missing
 here
schedule

•call opens in late June
•closes in Sep 30
•review & selection in
 mid Nov
•incubation starts Dec 1
progress update

•1st call closed in Sep 30
•57% applications from
 Greece
•20 countries in total
progress update

•full reviews returned
•then biz plan &
 interviews required
•launch day on Nov 21
•next call ends Feb 28!
who’s next?
www.theopenfund.com

Startup Stories: Openfund