For third year in a row the Pan-European conference of entrepreneurship, Startup Europe Week Crete, was held with great success, from the local ambassador Youth Entrepreneurship Club and the European Committee/Startup Europe with co-organiser the Region of Crete.
Startup Europe Week Crete made a tour in Chania (2nd of March), in Rethymnon (3rd of March), in Agios Nikolaos (9th of March) and finished this journey at the city of Heraklion on the 10th of March. The aim was to spread the message of entrepreneurship in the whole island of Crete.
The subject of the conference this year was “Developing the Startup ecosystem in Crete”.
Attendees and speakers were inspired, did networking, shared experiences and created suggestions for the development of the startup ecosystem in Crete!
Specifically, Startup Europe Week Crete 2018 included speeches, panel of discussions, workshops, contests and private presentations to angel investors. Overall attended more than 1000 participants, 23 speakers, 60 volunteers, 20 mentors, 10 startups and held more than 25 hours of speakings and workshops. It is important to highlight that the conference was based in the action of the volunteers of Youth Entrepreneurship Club and the support of 50 local and national barriers.
Within the actions were expressed more than 100 new entrepreneurial ideas, that the attendees discussed with the speakers and the mentors, edited and developed, by exchanging ideas, thoughts and experiences. At the workshops that took place, the 470 participants took advices, on how to create a startup and to learn about team working, pioneering under tough circumstances as well as facing the challenges that may show up in their entrepreneurial career.
Impressive was the participation of the volunteers; without them we would not be able to complete successfully the conference. Everyone who participated in this action gave the best of themselves, learned how to cooperate in a team spirit, improved their skills and had a taste of what they are going to face in their future career. Most important of all, was the reward of the smiles and the thankful speakers and attendees. Ten days full of young smiles, passion for entrepreneurship and hope for the future.
Thanos Paraschos, Co-Founder of Youth Entrepreneurship Club, said: “Our organization’s actions aim to highlight the opportunities and the dynamics of entrepreneurship both in theory and into practice. Due to Startup Europe Week Crete 2018, we achieved to bring together people from different backgrounds who can collaborate and work together so as the high technology produced in the academic institutions of the island can be connected with the distinct advantages of Tourism and Agriculture. Crete can be the Silicon Valley of the Mediterranean.“
- Stay tuned in the Youth Entrepreneurship Club as even more actions are coming soon!
- If you want to support the organization, please email us at info@youthentrepreneurship.club
The Paneuropean Entrepreneurship Conference – Startup Europe Week Crete 2018 honored with their talks the following speakers:
Steve Vranakis, Executive Creative Director at Google Creative Lab
Vassilios Makios, General Director at Corallia Clusters Initiative
Minos Garofalakis, Director at Information Management Systems Institute (IMSI) – Research and Innovation Center “Athena”
Manolis Lerakis, CEO at AVOEL Premium Avocado Products
George Alexakis, Vice Governor of Crete in charge of European and International Affairs
Wael Al Masri, Founder & CEO at Innaton Technologies & SoilTron
George Giannadakis, Co-Founder of Barbabu Aprons
Katerina Giannadaki, Co-Founder of Barbabu Aprons
George Nikiforos, Founder & CEO at ByRaki flavor
Dr Elias Castanas, Professor of Laboratory Endocrinology at University of Crete
Argiris Koutroumpas, Founder & CEO στην Cleopatra’s Sponges
George Xanthos, Assistant Professor at Technological Educational Institute of Crete
Nicolas Moraitakis, Member of Team Europe | Representation of European Commission in Greece
George Papadakis, Co-Founder & COO at Phaistos Networks S.A.
Amir Jacob, Marketing Director at UPS Greece, Hungary and Romania
Panagiotis Partsinevelos, Associate Professor at Technical University of Crete
Manos Moschous, CTO at AbZorba Games
Nikos Varvadoukas, Chief Omnichannel Officer at Cosmos Sport S.A.
Yiorgos Kalomoiris, Founder & Curator of TEDx Anogeia
Moderators of the panels of discussions were:
Olympia Kokka, Executive Director at Youth Entrepreneurship Club
Stavros Samouilidis, Journalist at SKAI
Stathis Ketitzian, News Editor at epixeiro.gr
The opening remarks made by:
Thanos Paraschos, Co-Organiser Startup Europe Week
Stavros Arnaoutakis, Governor of Crete Region
George Alexakis, Vice Governor of Crete in charge of European and International Affairs
Panagiotis Simandirakis, Regional Councilor
Petros Iniotakis, Vice Mayor of Heraklion
Artemis Saitakis, President of Science & Technology Park of Crete
Evaggelos Douloufakis, Lasithi Chamber of Commerce
Pelagia Petraki, Vice Governor of Lasithi
Startup Europe Week Crete was under the auspices of:
Embassy of France in Athens – Mazinnov, Embassy of Israel in Athens, American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, StartUpGreece, Exporters Association of Crete, Municipality of Heraklion
Sponsors / Supporters of the Conference was:
Conferience, V&O, UPS, Megaplast, Cosmossport,
Europe Direct Crete, Representation of the European Commission in Greece, European Parliament information office in Athens, EnterpriseGreece, Archbishop of Crete,
TEI of Crete, University of Crete, STEP-C, ΙΤΕ, Wines Of Crete
Communication Sponsors:
Kriti TV, Flashnews.gr, Haniotika Nea, Anatolh Diktyo FM, Economia.gr, NEA TV Kritis, Kiss fm 9.61, Μusic club 105.8, Αlpha news 106.2, Dcode 9.62
Local Supporters:
Lasithi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Municipality of Chania, Municipality of Rethymnon, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos , SYNKA, Bank of Chania, Plastika Kritis, Hania Hotels Association, Avli Hotel, Monastery Estate, Lyra beer, Fagi.gr, Think Tank, Plastelina, Gefsinus, Xalkiadakis, supermarketnow, Palazzo, Thraka, To Mpakaliko tou Lagou, Byraki Flavors, Ntourountous, 3net, Decidendi Consultants