12 May 2010 marked the launch of the Stelios Award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Greece - 2010 an annual award created by easyJet Founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou to promote entrepreneurship in the country of his birth.   The 2010 Award was unveiled at a gathering of young entrepreneurs - especially female entrepreneurs - at the Microsoft Innovation Center in Athens.

The prize - administrated by the ALBA Business School in Athens, and presented at the November gala award ceremony hosted by the Entrepreneurs Club in Greece - is worth €50,000 and will help to give the winners the funding they need to enable their business to grow. 

The first award was presented in 2008 to Brian and Aris Karey, who have expanded their idea - Simply Burgers, fresh, healthy and fast food - to ten franchised locations throughout Greece.

The second year of the Award for Young Entrepreneur in Greece saw the team at zoo.gr - Greece's innovative social networking, gaming and internet marketing company - being presented the Award by Stelios himself.

While Greece has a proud history of business dynasties, it is less well known for small entrepreneurial businesses.  With his Award for Young Entrepreneur in Greece, Stelios aims to raise awareness of the important contribution entrepreneurs make to economic growth and society in general.

Commenting on the awards, Stelios said:

"I am delighted to be launching the third successive award for young Greek entrepreneurs and now, more than ever, we need to support promising young businessmen and women who are trying to grow their businesses. 

"If you want to build for the future, you have to help young people today. In difficult times, it becomes even more important for promising entrepreneurs to have access to funding. When I was younger, I was fortunate enough to have my father's support when I set up my first business. I want to provide that same support to today's entrepreneurs."