• Athens Tech Circle
  • Posts
  • "Never marry your ideas or assumptions." – Nikos Christopoulos, CEO, ClearDrop

"Never marry your ideas or assumptions." – Nikos Christopoulos, CEO, ClearDrop

Your weekly insider on tech, innovation, and startups

Author

Henry Umunnakwe
July 14, 2025

Hello and welcome to the 60th edition of Techincider!

This week, we are spotlighting Nikos Christopoulos, Co-founder and CEO of ClearDrop, a deeptech startup transforming how we keep optical surfaces clean using tiny vibrations to remove rain, dust, frost, and even sea spray. From solar panels in the desert to defense systems and potential applications in space, ClearDrop is a fascinating story of turning science into real-world impact.

Plus:

Two, the B2B payments startup co-founded by Stavros Tamvakakis, has raised €13 million to fuel its global expansion. The round was backed by a strong lineup of investors, including Idékapital, Shine Capital, Investinor, Antler, Sequoia Capital, Alliance VC, Arkwright X, and LocalGlobe. Bringing the company’s total funding to over €40 million.

Let’s get into it. 👇

From 15 Years of Curiosity to a Startup: The ClearDrop Story of Building First, Discovering Later
Founder Spotlight with Nikos Christopoulos, Co-founder and CEO of ClearDrop.tech

Meet Nikos, a curious mind shaped by several startups he founded, corporate consulting experience, and a relentless drive to build something that solves real-world problems.

ClearDrop did not begin with a customer. It began with a spark in a research lab in Lille, Professor Michael Baudoin discovered a way to use acoustic waves to clean glass surfaces with no brushes, no chemicals, just vibration. It was brilliant science. But it needed a market.

That is where Nikos stepped in.

He mapped the pain points. Solar panels losing up to 60% efficiency in desert conditions. Defense optics clouded by dust, frost, and sea spray. And now? ClearDrop’s technology has the potential to explored for potential use in space, medical devices and more.

What stood out most in our conversation?

  • Fundraising in Europe was tough. “The rounds were small, the skepticism was high, but we stayed focused, and the right believers joined us.”

  • Culture over ego. “We hire for warmth and positivity. Grumpiness is not scalable.”

  • Clarity as a mindset. “You need to let go of your own ideas when they stop serving the mission.”

Beyond building a company, Nikos is building a legacy. One rooted in sustainability, integrity, and empowering people to do work they are proud of.

“Success for me is not just revenue or exits. It is solving real problems with people I enjoy working with and building something that can outlast us.”

Startup Opportunities and Featured Jobs

Discover exciting roles at high-growth startups, from early-stage ventures to scaleups - featuring top openings in tech, operations, marketing, and more.

In Case You Missed It

Thanks for staying up-to-date with the latest in Greek startups and innovation! We look forward to sharing more next week. If you would like to submit a deal, event, jobs or news to be featured next week, get in touch here.

Follow ATC on: LinkedIn  or Twitter (X).

Reply

or to participate.