Stelios Award for Young Entrepreneur in Greece 2011 …and the winner is…Penny & Maria Vlachou from Fereikos Helix !

Tonight, November 24, 2011, Stelios Haji-Ioannou - founder of easyJet, Chairman of easyGroup and serial entrepreneur - announced the winner of the Stelios Haji-Ioannou Award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Greece - 2011.

The €50,000 prize, was presented by Stelios himself at the prestigious Kouros Awards ceremony sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Association of Athens, was awarded to Penny & Maria Vlachou of Fereikos – Helix  based in Corinth, with 8 employees - is offering development and support to the burgeoning snail-breeding community. With an impressive revenue stream to-date and important entrepreneurial moves, Fereikos - Helix promises to be an example of forward-thinking entrepreneurship in Greece.

While Greece has a proud history of business dynasties, it is less well known for small entrepreneurial businesses - particularly those entrepreneurs starting at any early age, as Stelios himself did with the founding of easyJet when he was 28 years old.

Commenting on the awards, Stelios said:  
‘In as difficult times as these, it becomes even more important for promising entrepreneurs with innovative business platforms to have access to funding. When I was 28, I was fortunate enough to have my father’s support when I made my first entrepreneurial move. I want to provide that same support to today’s young entrepreneurs.

‘Fereikos -Helix is an excellent example of out-of-the-box thinking, a sound business strategy and the passion and willingness to take a risk that defines every entrepreneur. Their company has increased the number of  snail-breeding  units from 70 to 154 since last year, creating 200 new jobs. I hope that - in time – Penny & Maria Vlachou will prove to be important role models for future generations of entrepreneurs.  I’m confident that the €50,000 will be going to a good home.’

Congratulations to the Fereikos - Helix team!

TV coverage
Alpha TV 26-11-2011 (greek video)

Media coverage
Proto Thema 27-11-2011 (greek text) 
Naftemporiki 25-11-2011 (greek text)
Kerdos 25-11-2011 (greek text)

The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation announces the 3 finalists for the 4th “Stelios Award Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Greece  2011”.

The 3 finalists are:

• Maria & Panayiota Vlachou of Fereikos Helix based in Corinth, with 8 employees - is offering development and support to the burgeoning snail-breeding community
• Rebecca Pitsika of People for Business based in Athens, with 9 employees, has a human resources agency offering targeted customized services for its executive clients
• Dimitris Glezos of Indifex based in Patras, with 8 employees - is active in creating and providing innovative translation software.

Stelios Haji-Ioannou said: "Four years ago, my only goal was to give something back to society, I started this project in collaboration with the Leshi Epihirimatikotitas, to highlight and promote  entrepreneurship in Greece among young people under 40 years of age.

The idea behind this effort is simple: the biggest obstacle to a young person who wants to start his own business is finding the required funding, particularly now in such a difficult economic era for Greece. Consequently, with the prize of 50.000 €, I give the winner an opportunity to further grow his business. "

In 2008 the founders of Simply Burgers won the first annual Stelios Award for their successful customer service in the fast food industry. In 2009 the team of Zoo.gr won the award for their innovative approach to social media and the creation of biggest Greek Web Meeting Point and in 2010 the company Fasmetrics won the award for providing innovative diagnostic electromagnetic measurements.
 

The submission for the candidates for the “Stelios Haji-Ioannou for the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Greece 2011” has begun

For the fourth consecutive year, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of easyJet, easyGroup and Stelios Philanthropic Foundation in collaboration with the Leshi Epihirimatikotitas is sponsoring the Stelios Award – Young Entrepreneur of the Year Greece 2011.

The award, apart from the moral recognition, is accompanied by a prize of €50.000 that will be invested as capital in the company. It is addressed to young entrepreneurs up to 40 years of age. In 2008, 2009 and 2010 the Award was won by Simply Burgers, Zoo.gr and Fasmetrics respectively.

The first applications have already been submitted and they derive from various branches of enterprising activities, as the tourism, on-line applications, green growth, trade and  services. The deadline for the submission of applications is the 31 October 2011. The final winner will be announced by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou at Ceremony of the annual Kouros Awards of Leshi Epihirimatikotitas. More information regarding the award criteria can be found at: www.stelios.com/GreekAward

For more information you can communicate with: Mrs Katerina Villioti in Tel. +30 69444 76617 and email: cathrinev@ easygroup.co.uk

Stelios Award for Young Entrepreneur in Greece 2010 is announced

Tonight, November 23, 2010, Stelios Haji-Ioannou - founder of easyJet, Chairman of easyGroup and serial entrepreneur - announced the winner of the Stelios Haji-Ioannou Award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Greece - 2010.

The €50,000 prize, this year administered by the ALBA Business School in Athens, and presented  by Stelios himself at the prestigious Kouros Awards ceremony sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Association of Athens was awarded to Dimitris Kolokatronis of Fasmetrics - a company offering innovative diagnostic testing services to detect harmful magnetic resonance in the built environment.  With an impressive revenue stream to-date and substantial private and public contracts in the pipeline, Fasmetrics promises to be an example of forward-thinking entrepreneurship in Greece.

While Greece has a proud history of business dynasties, it is less well known for small entrepreneurial businesses - particularly those entrepreneurs starting at any early age, as Stelios himself did with the founding of easyJet when he was 28 years old.

Commenting on the awards, Stelios said:  ‘In as difficult times as these, it becomes even more important for promising entrepreneurs with innovative business platforms to have access to funding. When I was 28, I was fortunate enough to have my father’s support when I set up my first entrepreneurial business. I want to provide that same support to today’s young entrepreneurs.

‘Fasmetrics is an excellent example of out-of-the-box thinking, a sound business strategy and the passion and willingness to take a risk that defines every entrepreneur.  I hope that - in time - Dimitris and his team will prove to be important role models for future generations of entrepreneurs.  I’m confident that the €50,000 will be going to a good home.’

Congratulations to the Fasmetrics team!

2009 award winners

 

2008 award winners

 

Stelios Haji-Ioannou Award for entrepreneur of the year in Greece

Introduced to acclaim in 2008, the Stelios Award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Greece builds on Stelios' entrepreneurial drive to inspire other young future business leaders in Greece.

While Greece has produced its share of business successes – think of the dynasties built up in shipping and trade – it is a country not often associated with entrepreneurship.  "Even within Greece, many people perceive that Greek businesses are typically big conglomerates or small mom-and-pop shops; so there aren't many opportunities to celebrate the dynamic young growing ventures resulting from modern entrepreneurial activity." says Sarah Dodd, professor at ALBA Graduate School of Business, a leading business school in Athens and administrator of the Stelios Award.  "As a native son of Greece and a highly successful entrepreneur Europe-wide, Stelios can make a real, positive impact on the business scene here by inspiring young, future business mavericks."

Case in point: the Karey brothers, winners of the 2008 Stelios Award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Greece.  Brian and Aris Karey grew up in the US but knew they'd want to return to Greece to seek their success.  While both had studied engineering and worked as investment bankers, their Big Idea came from a quest to find the right burger.  From its basic beginnings, Simply Burgers today offers a fresh, healthy fast-food experience at 10 franchised locations throughout Athens.

 

Presented to the brothers during the prestigious Annual Kouros Awards for Entrepreneurship hosted by the Hellenic Entrepreneurship Association, the 50.000EU Stelios Award not only financed key systems changes at Simply Burgers but, as importantly, garnered well-deserved recognition for their achievements.