The Greek innovation ecosystem has now gained greater depth, stronger synergies, and increased outward orientation, with initiatives that connect universities, banks, international organizations, and private ventures. From acceleration programs to competitions and investment platforms, the common objective is clear: transforming ideas into sustainable businesses with an international outlook.

Through multiple parallel initiatives, as follows, a more mature and interconnected ecosystem has taken shape, where innovation is no longer a theoretical exercise but is translated into real business opportunities with an international outlook. (Source: https://www.amna.gr)

During this period, the OpenAI Greek Startup Accelerator is underway, forming part of a joint effort by Endeavor Greece, OpenAI, and the Greek government to strengthen innovation and high–value-added entrepreneurship, attract talent, and establish Greece as a modern ecosystem for technology and artificial intelligence. The three-month program—the first of its kind—concludes in May and supports Greek AI-native startups. It attracted 240 applications, from which 21 teams across 11 different sectors were selected, including healthtech, fintech, robotics, and defense tech. Most are based in Greece, while some operate internationally, highlighting the strong footprint of the Greek entrepreneurial diaspora. The program builds on the “OpenAI for Greece” collaboration (September 2025) and provides access to cutting-edge technologies, technical support, mentoring, and international networks, aiming to create globally competitive companies from Greece.

The official launch event of the OpenAI Greek Accelerator took place at the Athens Conservatoire on February 4, 2026, with the participation of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, government representatives, OpenAI executives, leading members of the Greek innovation ecosystem, as well as the founders of the startups selected to take part in the program. A highlight of the evening was the discussion between the Prime Minister and the founders of four companies participating in the program. Mr Mitsotakis noted, among others: “The message I want to convey is that something truly significant is taking place within the innovation ecosystem, and supporting it is a central priority for the government. The fact that we are able to implement this collaboration with a giant such as OpenAI shows that Greece has firmly established itself on the global map of artificial intelligence.”

At the same time, Scale Up by Endeavor Greece is being implemented for the seventh year, as the first international entrepreneurial community to originate from the country. Today, it includes 64 companies, which have created more than 3,400 jobs and have raised over $900 million, confirming that companies with global impact can grow out of Greece.

The 16th Innovation and Technology Competition of the National Bank of Greece is also in full progress, as part of the NBG Business Seeds program, which has now completed 15 years. The competition is currently in its final phase, with the winners set to be announced at the awards ceremony on June 10. The program has become an established institution for highlighting and financially supporting startup businesses in Greece. It reflects the way the National Bank of Greece perceives, acts, and supports innovative enterprises and technological advancement as key drivers of competitiveness, extroversion, and the growth of the Greek economy. To date, more than 5,416 teams have received guidance and access to infrastructure, while 150 teams have been awarded through the program’s annual cycle. At the same time, the National Bank of Greece provides funding and enters into strategic partnerships with startups that have emerged through the program.

Eurobank’s egg - enter grow go program also remains in constant engagement with the startup ecosystem, with startups now able to join on a rolling basis through an application process, without the need for fixed calls or cycles. Recently, at the egg Hub in Moschato, startups, investors, researchers, institutional representatives, and market executives came together in a shared space during a Summit focused on high value-added sectors such as life sciences, sustainability, high technology (deep tech), and security. The aim was to strengthen commercial partnerships and investment opportunities. With a presence spanning thirteen years, egg has built a strong and lasting footprint in the Greek startup scene. Since 2013, it has supported more than 460 entrepreneurial teams and over 1,600 young entrepreneurs, contributing to the development of expertise in critical sectors of the Greek economy. Of these, 97 teams originate from universities in Greece and abroad, while 232 have now established a formal legal entity.

Alpha Bank will run the FinQuest Competition for the second consecutive year this spring. FinQuest sets strategic thematic challenges and seeks dynamic startups with innovative products or services that are already developed, aiming at the immediate application of their solutions in everyday banking operations. The competition is also supported by a broad network of Alpha Bank strategic partners, including universities, venture capital funds (VCs), representatives of the startup ecosystem, consulting firms, and leading technology companies. The teams that reach the final stage have the opportunity to benefit from a range of advantages and rewards. Beyond cash prizes, they gain free access to tools and platforms provided by the competition’s supporters to accelerate startup growth. They also obtain opportunities for business collaboration and commercial development, strategic networking with investors and key ecosystem stakeholders, as well as feedback to optimize their business models.

With increasing international reach and a growing development footprint, the third cycle of EnvolveXL has also launched, bringing together 20 startups from Greece and abroad and further strengthening the program’s role as a catalyst for innovation and growth. The EnvolveXL business acceleration program, the flagship initiative of Envolve Entrepreneurship, aims to enhance the investment readiness of participating companies and connect them with the global business community. EnvolveXL seeks, over a five-year horizon, to support a total of 100 Greece-related startups by providing them with the tools, networks, and mentorship needed for their development. The program is implemented with funding and support from Libra Philanthropies. The launch of the program took place on April 6, with the first meeting of the third cycle. Over the following months, the participating teams will follow an intensive training and acceleration program in collaboration with more than 60 experienced industry professionals. The program will culminate on June 16 at Technopolis City of Athens. At the Founders Arena, the main EnvolveXL event, selected teams will present their projects live to investors and innovation ecosystem representatives, with the aim of expanding their international reach and raising investment capital.

The 10^th cycle of the Business Acceleration Program of the Technology Transfer and Innovation Unit “Archimedes” of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is currently underway, involving 20 new teams and more than 50 participants from a wide range of scientific fields, from Medicine and Law to Computer Science, Digital Arts, and Economics. The program aims to transform students’ innovative ideas into dynamic startups. Interdisciplinarity is a core pillar of the program, creating an environment where knowledge, technology, and creativity are combined with entrepreneurial thinking. The program bridges the gap between an academic idea and its transition into business practice. With a structured framework, clear timelines, and a hands-on approach, the Archimedes Business Unit acts as an accelerator for ideas at early or intermediate stages of maturity. Its goal is to systematically support teams so they can test the feasibility of their proposals and evaluate them in real market conditions. Participants include undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, faculty members, and other university staff, as well as graduates up to three years after completion of their studies. Applications are open both to individuals and to teams or startups, provided that at least one member comes from the university community. Teams that stand out in the first phase proceed to the second, where the focus shifts to business planning, finance, funding, and sales development. The program concludes with a Demo Day, giving participants the opportunity to present their ideas to investors and market representatives—serving as an important first test of outward-facing readiness for the next stage of innovation.

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Endeavor Greece and the New Chapter of Greek Entrepreneurship – From Startups to Scaleups

The post How startups are supported in Greece: Programs and opportunities appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

Endeavor Greece was launched in 2012 as part of the global Endeavor Network to support high-impact entrepreneurs. Founded in the beginning of a critical economic turmoil, Endeavor Greece aimed to serve the country’s entrepreneurship and help it flourish at the exact moment it was most needed. Since then, it has been at the epicenter of the Greek Innovation Ecosystem, by facilitating local and global entrepreneurial development through mentorship, services, and programs that help innovative founders enter hard-to-access emerging markets, and make economies thrive. (Cover photo: amna.gr)

Its mission is not simply to support startups, but to back high-impact entrepreneurs who can scale, create jobs, and strengthen the broader economy. Endeavor is neither an incubator nor a traditional accelerator; it selects, supports, and invests in founders through mentoring, global networks, and, when possible, capital via Endeavor Catalyst. Its ultimate goal is the Multiplier Effect—successful founders reinvesting their time, knowledge, and capital to help the next generation and build a resilient innovation ecosystem. As Endeavor’s leadership emphasizes, when successful founders give back time, knowledge, and capital to the next generation, the ecosystem gains depth and longevity.

By offering networking opportunities, access to capital and expertise, the Endeavor Greece programs help high-impact entrepreneurs with talent and innovative spirit to thrive, have a significant impact on their ecosystem and transform economies. An important role is played by the Scale Up Program, the early-stage support program, which in 2025 added two new cohorts and six new companies. Today it includes sixty active companies with founders in fifteen countries, reaffirming Endeavor’s goal of attracting talent to Greece and building global businesses from the country. At the same time, corporate innovation programs—from OPAP Forward, which has supported dozens of businesses and thousands of jobs, to the Visa Innovation Program Europe, as well as Rise Up, act as bridges between innovation and the real economy.

Recently, entrepreneurs, investors, executives of large organizations, mentors, founders, and representatives of the innovation ecosystem gathered at the former Hilton venue within the context of an Endeavor Greece meeting. The occasion marked the close of the year and focused on reviewing the year’s achievements and planning the next steps.

“2025 was a year of unprecedented technological acceleration,” notes the president of Endeavor Greece and co-owner and president of Phaea, Konstantza Spyrakou-Constantakopoulou, in her message on the Endeavor website. “Greek founders are no longer just riding the wave. They are helping to create it.” This phrase effectively served as the informal title of the gathering, because almost every discussion—whether about exits, investments, or new business plans—led to the same conclusion: the Greek innovation ecosystem has entered a phase of maturity, and with it comes a growing sense of responsibility.

2025 was a milestone year, as this model revealed its full potential. From the Athens Innovation Summit at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus to the first TechCrunch StrictlyVC in Athens, Greece moved to the center of the global tech and innovation conversation, while strong presences at major international events - Slush, VivaTech, FII, Gulfood, Idex - signaled a country acting with confidence and a clear narrative.

Endeavor’s global reach—spanning 50 markets, over 3,000 founders, and $700 million under management—translated into tangible results in Greece. Endeavor Catalyst invested $18 million in 12 Greek founders. Two leading Greek AI founders were selected as Endeavor Entrepreneurs, with Endeavor Catalyst participating in their funding rounds, which attracted global interest. In 2025 alone, the Endeavor Greece portfolio raised about $470 million in new capital, with six Greek companies included in Endeavor’s Global Outliers Class, ranked among the top 5% fastest-growing in the global network. These distinctions are not an end in themselves, but an indication that the ecosystem is gaining international momentum and confidence.

Behind the investment figures and headlines, however, lies another critical dimension. As Panagiotis Karampinis, Managing Director of Endeavor Greece, has pointed out, companies within the Endeavor ecosystem create new jobs, retain and repatriate talent, strengthen the country’s productive base, and contribute to the gradual transformation of the economic model. As was emphasized during the event, the goal is not only the generation of profits, but the diffusion of value across society, employment, and sustainable growth.

Endeavor Greece Video Interviews Series: Greeking Out 2.0

(Source: Endeavor Greece, amna.gr)

Government Startup Programs and Support in Greece

The Greek government has developed a range of programs and initiatives to support startups, innovation, and entrepreneurship. These programs aim to strengthen the national startup ecosystem, attract investment, and help new businesses grow both locally and internationally. Support is provided through direct government actions, public funding schemes, and cooperation with European institutions.

One of the most important government initiatives is Elevate Greece, which acts as the national gateway for startups. Managed by the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation under the Ministry of Development, Elevate Greece maintains the National Startup Registry. The Registry aims at monitoring startup entrepreneurship progress based on specific KPIs, at supporting them with benefits and incentives, and to operate as a dashboard of metrics to attract investors from Greece and abroad.

In addition to Elevate Greece, the Greek government offers public funding schemes and grants, many of which are co-funded by the European Union through the ESPA / NSRF 2021–2027 programs. These grants support areas such as digital transformation, research and development, green technologies, tourism innovation, and competitiveness. Funding programs are usually announced in specific calls and may focus on certain regions, industries, or business sizes. Startups can receive non-repayable financial support, provided they meet eligibility criteria and investment requirements.

Another major pillar of startup support in Greece is EquiFund, an initiative of the Greek State and the European Investment Fund (EIF), created with the ultimate goal of accelerating the development of the venture capital sector in Greece. This objective is achieved by channeling capital from EquiFund to intermediary financial institutions—namely, management teams selected by the EIF with the appropriate expertise—which then, in a professional and independent manner, select the business ventures and ideas to be financed. (photo source: antagonistikotita.gr)

The Greek government has also implemented new tax incentives and has introduced investment-based incentives connected to startups. Through recent changes to residency programs, investments in innovative Greek startups registered with Elevate Greece can be used as part of long-term residency schemes. These measures aim to attract foreign investors while supporting job creation and business growth in the country.

Beyond funding, Greece supports startups through public incubators, innovation hubs, and science parks. These structures often provide affordable office space, mentoring, training, networking opportunities, and help with accessing public funding. Many of these hubs are supported by national or regional authorities and work closely with universities, research centers, and private companies.

Additional support comes from public-sector-linked initiatives, such as entrepreneurship programs run by national employment agencies, regional authorities, and development laws. These programs may offer startup grants, advisory services, wage subsidies, or support for young entrepreneurs and first-time founders. Startups may also benefit from innovation challenges, competitions, and accelerator programs supported or endorsed by government bodies.

Overall, Greece’s startup support framework combines registration platforms, grants, venture capital stimulation, infrastructure, and policy incentives. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to register their startups early, monitor funding calls closely, and engage with incubators and innovation networks. Together, these government programs aim to create a supportive environment for innovation, economic growth, and sustainable entrepreneurship in Greece.

I.A.

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