Sustainability Accelerator for Greek startups from Microsoft and Startup Pathways

Microsoft is taking initiatives to contribute to the development of the Greek innovation ecosystem and to strengthen the prospects of Greek start-ups and their competitive advantages in the field of sustainable development with Microsoft Development firm.

In this context, it organizes in collaboration with Startup Pathways, the first Social Sustainable Entrepreneurship Accelerator in Greece, a 3-month acceleration program, which aims to prepare start-ups to integrate at least 4 of the 17 Sustainable Goals United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Part of the Accelerator is the Social Sustainable Entrepreneurship Forum , an open forum for the public that will host business leaders from Greece and abroad, but also startups that have distinguished themselves in the field of Sustainability, which will share best practices, methodologies and actions that support the value of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and how to integrate them into a business strategy.

During the Accelerator, the 12 startups that will be selected, will attend workshops, will be trained in sustainable development practices, while at the same time they will have networking opportunities with executives who specialize in the field of sustainability. In addition, they will join the " Microsoft for Startups - Founders' Hub " program, through which the Company strengthens the development prospects of start-ups that have successfully designed and implemented high quality technologies and have the immediate goal of international expansion.

With the completion of the Social Sustainable Entrepreneurship Accelerator, the participating startups will be able to prepare their Sustainability Action Plan and present it to an Evaluation Committee, consisting of Microsoft executives, entrepreneurs and investors (VCs), while they will also prepare the their first Sustainability Report.

• The Program is funded by Microsoft, organized by Startup Pathways and is aimed at startups which :
• They are in the MVP stage, with a clear intention to achieve Social Entrepreneurship Goals, even if it is not their primary goal.
• They are active in sectors such as smart cities, green energy, education, med tech, diversity & inclusion, food waste, agro, diversity & inclusion, etc.
• They develop or have digital technology products or services.
• To see terms, conditions and criteria for participation and to submit your application online, go here .

"Greek trade is intertwined with our tourism product", stressed the Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias, in his greeting at the "Future of Retail 2022" Conference of ESEE.

Mr. Kikilias referred to the importance of the strategic goal of the Ministry of Tourism for the extension of the tourist season, which, as he mentioned, is already yielding the first fruits, with a multiple dividend for the average Greek family business. "Our policies come to be implemented, in practice, through our cooperation and the collective effort of all of us. "This is because tourism is, in the most official way, the locomotive -as I usually say- of the Greek economy, as indirectly or directly, one in four euros in the Greek economy come from tourism", he pointed out.

According to the Minister of Tourism, the connection of Greek trade with the tourism product is a national strategy, in order to maximize the benefits for the Greek economy. "The tourist product is mutually fed by the Greek trade", he noted characteristically, citing the example of the interconnection of tourism with the primary sector: "Products are produced in Greece, which in turn are directed to health stores, our hotels and in our accommodations "he stated.