The Greek Urban SDG Hub proudly organized and hosted a pivotal event for startups on 17th October 2023 at JOIST Innovation Park in Larissa, Greece. The event, titled " Establishing an Innovative Startup in Greece as a Response to Socio-Economic Challenges", saw the participation of over 50 enthusiastic individuals, keen on diving into the world of startups.

The event was a part of the "Urban sustainable development SOLutions Valuing Entrepreneurship – U-SOLVE” project, a significant initiative funded by the EU under the ENI CBC Med Programme. With a total budget of 3.5 million euros, the project has received 3.2 million or 90% from European funds, underscoring the importance and potential impact of the initiative.

The event began with a warm welcome from our partner at Institute of Entrepreneurship Development, Thomas Halatsis, U-SOLVE project manager. This was followed by an insightful presentation on the “Legal Forms of Startups”. The presentation detailed the requirements and conditions for establishing different startup entities and was presented from the perspective of an accountant, Apostolis Stagiannis.

Then, Lambros Kourtis, founder of Chronical Health, shared practical tips for startups, offering attendees a glimpse into the real-world challenges and solutions in the startup ecosystem. Kostas Akrivos, Co-Founder and CTO of Oliveex, presented under the segment "From Ideation to Development and Application." He took the stage to discuss his company's journey, providing a firsthand account of the business stages of Oliveex.

The audience was then introduced to two innovative applications: rebike.gr and slotit.io, by Ramberry E.E. Nikos Liapis, the owner of the company, presented the applications, detailing their journey from start to finish.

Michael Adamou, an economist specializing in Business Program Management, enlightened the attendees about the various funding opportunities available for startups. Finally, Elissavet Pavlitsa, Products & Services Director at JOIST, then presented "JOIST Community and JOIST MARKETPLACE," highlighting the startup-related opportunities available for JOIST Community members.

The event concluded with an engaging discussion and networking session, allowing attendees to connect, share ideas, and foster potential collaborations.

This event offered valuable insights from industry experts and successful entrepreneurs, but it also provided a platform for budding entrepreneurs to connect and collaborate.