Connecting Founders and Future Builders: Greece’s Next Top Founder #4 at Relevance
The Greek startup ecosystem continues to evolve, and a new generation of entrepreneurs appears more ready than ever to take action.
Entrepreneurship in Greece is no longer a distant ambition. Increasingly, young professionals and aspiring founders are actively seeking access to knowledge, real experiences and meaningful conversations with people who have already built companies.
This was the spirit behind Greece’s Next Top Founder #4, an initiative by the Panathēnea team, hosted at the premises of Relevance Digital Agency in Athens.
The event brought together emerging founders, students, young professionals and members of the broader startup community, creating a space for open dialogue around entrepreneurship, innovation and what it really takes to build and scale companies today.
By opening its space to the community and supporting the initiative, Relevance Digital Agency reinforced the connection between the next generation of entrepreneurs and the broader innovation ecosystem.
Founders sharing the realities of building companies
Three speakers took the stage to share their experiences and perspectives on entrepreneurship, innovation and building companies in competitive and fast-changing markets.
Antonis Malaxianakis, Founder & CEO of Harbor Lab, and Alexis Pantazis, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Hellas Direct, shared their journeys of building companies that challenge traditional industries. Through their stories, they highlighted how bold vision, strategic thinking and disciplined execution can reshape established markets and create entirely new categories.
The evening also featured Thanasis Sofianos, Founder & CEO of Relevance, in conversation with Elita Sfakiotaki, Co-Founder of the Gen Z Podcast, who moderated the discussion.
Together they explored the realities of entrepreneurship, the evolution of digital businesses and the mindset required to build organizations capable of adapting and growing over time.
The journey behind Relevance
Thanassis Sofianos reflected on the decision to launch the company in 2013, during one of the most challenging periods for the Greek economy.
What began as an ambitious venture built around performance marketing and data-driven strategy has since evolved into a technology-first growth agency supporting brands across multiple international markets.
Over the years, Relevance has expanded its capabilities across performance marketing, business intelligence, AI-driven technologies, creative strategy and bespoke digital solutions, helping companies grow through measurable and scalable digital strategies.
Today, Relevance brings together nearly 200 specialists across performance marketing, data, technology and creative, working together to help brands navigate an increasingly complex digital environment and achieve sustainable growth.
A new generation ready to build
Perhaps the most defining element of the evening was the audience itself.
Young professionals, students and aspiring founders filled the room, eager not only to listen but also to engage, ask questions and connect with people who have already navigated the entrepreneurial journey.
Their presence reflected a broader shift taking place in Greece’s entrepreneurial landscape: entrepreneurship is increasingly seen not as a distant aspiration, but as a realistic and attainable path.
Strengthening the Greek startup ecosystem
Greece’s Next Top Founder is part of the broader mission of Panathēnea to strengthen the connection between the next generation of founders and the startup ecosystem.
Through initiatives like this, and through collaborations with organizations that actively support innovation, spaces are created where ambition can evolve into action and inspiration into strategy.
Events like Greece’s Next Top Founder highlight the growing momentum of the Greek entrepreneurial ecosystem and the communities that continue to support it.
