HeBAN is proudly announcing a talk given by our member Nick Gonios: “Reimagining Products for Good – The five secrets for circularity-led startups to thrive” at the Thessaloniki Innovation Zone on Thursday, March 16, at 18:30.
The event is F2F and Co-organized by Thessaloniki Innovation Zone, Ideas Forward and
HeBAN – Hellenic Business Angels Network (Association) .

Nick Gonios is the Founder of Circulist, a seasoned technology executive and entrepreneur with 30 years’ experience across private and publicly listed software technology ventures, early-stage tech investments, and board member to software subscription scaleups globally.

Entrepreneurial-minded, Nick has successfully started and built profitable businesses and played a key role in reshaping and transforming software technology companies that solve specific customer needs into high growth software-as-a-service (SaaS) ventures. A past mentor at Telstra’s muru-D accelerator, H2 Ventures (fintech), and most recently Boomerang Labs (circular economy accelerator) in Sydney, Australia and corporate venturing advisor to companies including Singtel, CCA, PwC. Previous Board member (now Board Advisor) of Athens based eLearning SaaS provider, Epignosis.

Now with Circulist, Nick is leading a purpose driven venture and building a tomorrow where products are made to be used rather than thrown away. Where circular design and intelligent ecosystems will enable us to reuse and recycle natural resources, and where products can be good for people and the planet.

You can register for the event here – there are limited number of seats available !!!
https://bit.ly/3T9EKZ0

Το EBAN – European Business Angel Network, το InvestEU και το Enterprise Greece SA , συνδιοργανώνουν στη Θεσσαλονίκη για πρώτη φορά το EBAN Annual Congress, στις 24 με 26 Μαΐου 2023.

Το HeBAN – Hellenic Business Angels Network (Association) ως το ελληνικό δίκτυο επιχειρηματικών αγγέλων καλεί τις ελληνικές #startups που επιθυμούν να συμμετάσχουν να υποβάλλουν τις αιτήσεις τους εφόσον πληρούν τα παρακάτω:

1. Είναι εταιρείες πρώιμου σταδίου από όλους τους κλάδους
2. Είναι εταιρείες που αναζητούν ενεργά επενδυτικά κεφάλαια μεταξύ €50K – €5M
3. Scaleup of the Month session: Είναι εταιρείες χαρτοφυλακίου μελών του HeBAN – Hellenic Business Angels Network (Association) σε διαδικασία άντλησης επόμενου γύρου χρηματοδότησης

Εκτός από την συμμετοχή στο pitching session, οι start-ups που θα επιλεχθούν θα έχουν δικό τους stand καθ’ όλη τη διάρκεια του congress εξασφαλίζοντας έτσι περισσότερες ευκαιρίες για δικτύωση με τους επενδυτές, θα λάβουν μέρος σε διαγωνισμό pitching, και θα μπορούν να παρακολουθήσουν όλα τα εργαστήρια και τις ενότητες του συνεδρίου.

Περισσότερες πληροφορίες για το συνέδριο και τις προϋποθέσεις συμμετοχής, μπορείτε να βρείτε εδώ: https://lnkd.in/dcRgSyKc 

Today, on March 8, we celebrate International Women’s Day. HeBAN as a member of EBAN, the European Business Angel Network, is committed to promoting gender equality and supporting women-led businesses. On March 16 at 15:00 (CET) EBAN is organizing the webinar, “The Power of Diversity: Unlocking the Potential of Gender Equality in a BAN”:  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2d12In_URqmpQ05C-3pSkQ

This webinar features a panel of experienced investors, including:

• Brigitte Baumann, EBAN President Emeritus
• Marta Huidobro, AEBAN Vice President
• Guri Koiava, Co-Founder at Axel & Startup Büro
• Sona Veziryan, Director at BANA Angels

The session will be moderated by Selma Prodanovic, a renowned investor with extensive experience in promoting diversity and gender equality.

Together, they will share their insights and experiences on the importance of diversity and gender equality in angel investing. You’ll come away with practical strategies and tips for promoting diversity and inclusion in your own investing practices, and you’ll be part of a community that is committed to making a positive impact on society.

So register now for “The Power of Diversity: Unlocking the Potential of Gender Equality in a BAN” and join us in building a more diverse, inclusive, and impactful angel investing community. Let’s use International Women’s Day as a reminder of our commitment to gender equality and take action to create a more just and equitable world.

On Tuesday Feb. 21, 2023 HeBAN held its General Assembly in Athens at the Athenaeum InterContinental Athens Hotel. It was a great pleasure for old and new members to finally gather in person and get to know each other better. In a lively and happy atmosphere filled with enthusiasm and good energy the members discussed various organizational and thematic topics for the accomplishment of the tasks ahead. Certainly a highlight was the fireside chat with our member Dimitris Georgakopoulos, co-founder of Buildium, excellently moderated by Leonardo Valettas. We thank you all for coming and we are all looking forward to the occasions to meet again soon, and in particular to seeing you at the EBAN Congress 2023 in Thessaloniki on May 24-26.

This May 24-26, the EBAN Congress 2023 with the theme “Shaping the Future with Every Investment” is headed to Thessaloniki, Greece, a city that’s been making waves in the innovation and angel investing scene in South Eastern Europe. With its bustling metropolitan area, home to over 1.1 million people, Thessaloniki is the place to be for companies looking for a slice of the innovation pie. Thessaloniki has become the target for major technology investments by multinational companies. The companies that have invested in Thessaloniki so far include Pfizer (with two development centers), Deloitte, CISCO (DT&S), Deutsche Telecom, Infoteam and Accenture, making the city a hotbed for tech talent.

But Thessaloniki isn’t just a city for the big players, it’s also a haven for students. With four universities and three major colleges in the metropolitan area, the city is brimming with brainpower. And if you’re looking for a research powerhouse, CERTH – the biggest research institute in the country – is located here.

One of the things that really sets Thessaloniki apart is its location. Sitting on the Mediterranean, it’s just a stone’s throw from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. And with an international airport and a port, Thessaloniki is a major transportation hub, making it the perfect spot for companies looking to tap into the growing markets of Southeast Europe and beyond.

However, it’s not just the location that makes Thessaloniki a great place to do business. The city is home to a number of initiatives aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, such as the Alexander Innovation Zone (AZK), a public-private partnership that provides access to funding, facilities and mentoring for startups and entrepreneurs. Thessaloniki’s startup ecosystem has also caught the attention of angel investors, and it’s easy to see why. With incubators and accelerators helping to nurture and grow new and innovative companies, Thessaloniki is a breeding ground for the next big thing.

And let’s not forget the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, the most important business event in Greece. With companies and investors from all over the world in attendance, it’s a great opportunity to network and discover new business opportunities.

But we all know you are looking for a city that’s buzzing with startup activity. Thessaloniki is the place to be, with a thriving ecosystem that’s helping to grow and nurture new and innovative companies. The city is home to four major incubators and two pre-incubators, all located in the Thessaloniki Metropolitan area, that provide support and resources to new businesses. And if that’s not enough, there’s also a mega project in the works called ThessINTECH, which will be one of Europe’s largest Science and Technology Parks and is set to attract around 500 Million Euros of investments over the next five to ten years. But it’s not just incubators and accelerators that are helping Thessaloniki’s startups. Venture Capitalists, business angels, and private equity firms are also taking notice and have invested in a number of successful exits and acquisitions in recent years. With the help of organizations like the Hellenic Business Angel Network (HeBAN), which provides funding and support to startups all over Greece, Thessaloniki is quickly becoming a hub for innovation and angel investing in South Eastern Europe. And if you’re still not convinced, just check out the success stories of Schoox, Bio2CHP, Athletopia, AidPlex, K-invent – all local startups that have received angel investment and venture capital.

Thessaloniki is not just a business destination though, it’s also a vacation hotspot. The city is packed with history and culture, from the White Tower to the Rotunda, museums, traditional markets, and more. Plus, Thessaloniki’s food scene is out of this world – from traditional Greek dishes to international cuisine, your taste buds will be in heaven. And when the sun goes down, the city comes alive with bars, clubs and tavernas that keep the party going till the wee hours.

But that’s not all, Thessaloniki is also the perfect base for exploring the surrounding area. Take a day trip to the nearby towns and villages, or head out to the famous Chalkidiki peninsula for sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. You will even be around the corner from the home of the gods, Mount Olympus. If it was good enough for Zeus, we bet you are going to love it!

However, we left the best for last: perhaps the best thing about Thessaloniki is its people. As a multicultural, multi-ethnic metropolis, Thessaloniki is a melting pot of different cultures and backgrounds. And with a vibrant business community that’s well receptive to external establishments, Thessaloniki is a city where everyone feels welcome. Don’t believe us? All you have to do is come to the Congress to find out!

So join us for the Thessaloniki EBAN Congress 2023, and discover a city that’s got it all: innovation, talent, location, a glorious history of 2400 years, and a cosmopolitan modern feel.

More information and video can be found here.