Greece 2nd in CCE with AI Startup, Marathon & Evercurious VC Lead Rounds + More!

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Good morning!

This week, we’re diving into the latest venture capital rounds in startups, key events, exciting opportunities for entrepreneurs, and fresh funding initiatives for small and medium-sized enterprises!

Weekly Roundup

• Greece Ranks Second in Number of AI Startups in CEE for 2024 and Home to 188+ AI Focused Companies, According to State of AI Report.

• New Microcredit Fund: €80 Million in Low-Interest Loans for Small Businesses With Up to 10 Employees Starting January 27, 2025.

• Evercurious VC Leads €850,000 Pre-Seed Investment Round in SolidWatts to Accelerate Technology Development and Reduce Fossil Fuel Reliance.

• Skroutz and Box Join Forces to Provide Exclusive 20% Discount for Skroutz Plus Members.

• Marathon Venture Capital Leads €1.6 Million Seed Round in Progressive Robotics to Revolutionize Industrial Automation.

• Sui Foundation and Chainalysis Collaborate to Enhance On-Chain Compliance and Security.

• Allwyn Acquire 51% Stake in Novibet for $223.6 Million to Boost Online Gambling Operations.

• Athens Urban Transport Enters a New Era with Contactless Payments by Visa Bank Cards for Travelers on All Public Transport Operated by OASA, Including Buses, Trolleybuses, Metro and Tram.

• PALSE Partners with Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air to Offer Nutritious Crunchy Peas on Domestic Flights.

Opportunity Roundup
Ecosystem

• FU-TOURISM Acceleration Programme: Boost Innovation in Tourism

  The FU-TOURISM Programme offers €20,000 in funding and tailored training to 60 European SMEs developing innovative tourism solutions. Apply by January 31, 2025 to accelerate your project and maximize its market impact.

• Take Your Business to the Next Level: Apply to The 2nd Cycle of EnvolveXL by Envolve Entrepreneurship

  Join a transformative 4-month program offering: Support from idea to investment, Specialized seminars and consulting, Networking and mentoring, Funding of up to €265,000 for five companies. Apply by February 7!

• The 7th Cohort of DayOne in Thessaloniki by Genesis Ventures: A 6-Week Program for Startups

  Apply now for DayOne’s 7th Cohort in Thessaloniki, a 6-week program designed for startups seeking their first institutional investment and aiming to scale globally. Participants will have the opportunity to secure a €200,000 investment at a €1.5M valuation. Don’t miss this chance to take your startup to the next level!

• Tackle City Mobility Challenges with the RAPTOR Programme

  Explore 14 urban mobility challenges through the Rapid Application for Transport (RAPTOR) Programme and showcase your innovative solution to drive real change. Successful applicants can secure €40,000 and participate in a transformative 6-month pilot programme.

  Don’t miss this opportunity—apply by February 12, 2025!

Events

• Culture Seeds Business Online Workshop | Tuesday, 21 January

• Fueling the Future of Greek Entrepreneurship: UK-Greece Collaborative Pathways for SME Success | Tuesday, 21 January

• InnoAgora Webinar: Unlocking Retail Success with Smart Payment Systems | Tuesday, 21 January

• The Real Cost of Entrepreneurship | Wednesday, 22 January

• AthensDAOx 2025 | 24–25 January

• 3rd Career Fair & The Inc.lude Business Annual Conference by Women On Top | 24–25 January

• Greeks in Tech: London Calling! by Marathon Venture Capital | 24–25 January

• Elevating Project Management Impact in a Changing World by PMI Greece Chapter | Sunday, 26 January

• Automated Deployment and Management of VMs by GreekLUG | Sunday, 26 January 2025

Things Worth Reading, Listening and Watching

• The Purpose Podcast: Optimizing Investment Strategies for the Climate Change Transition with Dimitri Zenghelis, Partner and Independent Economist.

• Venture Capital Trends and 2025 Investment Predictions by Natassa Frangouli.

• Η Ελληνική Αναπτυξιακή Τράπεζα (HDB) Διαχειρίζεται Ξανά το Πρόγραμμα “ΣΠΙΤΙ ΜΟΥ ΙΙ”.

• Are Venture Funds Still Truly "Venture"? By Irakli Kashibadze, Managing Partner at Future Laboratory Ventures.

That's all for this week. If you'd like to have your news, events, job opportunities or thought leadership article featured, please send them to us via email here.

Thanks for subscribing and your support! As we look ahead to an exciting 2025, I’d love to hear your feedback on how we can improve. Feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions — I value your input!

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