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Friday, 30 October 2015 07:00
Meet Some Of Greece's Promising Entrepreneurs
In October some of the most promising entrepreneurs in Greece, finalists from Industry Disruptor's 4 cross sectoral competitions (Future Agro Challenge, Get In The Ring, Creative Business Cup and CleanTech Open Global Ideas), impressed the entrepreneurial ecosystem at The Pitching Battle by pitching in front of investors, foreign startups and other local startup industry experts.
The event opened with the Athens Founder Institute Graduates’ Showcase, where the world’s largest tech entrepreneur training and startup launch program, introduced its Athens Graduates to the Greek entrepreneurial scene.
Then the “battle” began and the ring was on fire! The pitches were breathtaking, the rounds were dazzling, the judges’ job was really challenging. And The Winners are…
Ava’s Farm for The Future Agro Challenge Competition. Ava’s Farm will represent Greece to the International Finals that will be held in Colombia during the Global Entrepreneurship Congress. Ava’s Farm is a business-to-peer (B2P) e-commerce website, focused on small-scale productions of food products. Visit their website here.
Giaola@home for Get In The Ring. Giaola@home will proceed to participate in the Regional Finals and claim a spot at the International Finals for a chance to compete in front of a jury panel, international investors and a live audience to claim an investment of up to €1,000,000. Giaola@home “gets in the ring” with a one-two punch combo comprising of a) a do-it-yourself (DIY) TV show offering advice for everyday problems and b) a complementing two-sided services marketplace. Visit their website here. (In Greek)
Spark Inspirations for the Creative Business Cup, the world championship for creative entrepreneurs. Spark Inspirations will compete in the International Creative Business Cup Finals and pitch in front of 400 investors from the European Business Angel Network that will attend the event this year on November 17th-19th, 2015, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Spark Inspirations is a cloud-based multiplatform game engine that allows anyone to make any type of game they want, with or without coding. For more information, click here.
BIO2CHP, for the CleanTech Open Global Ideas Competition. BIO2CHP will progress to the Global Finals that will take place in San Francisco during the Cleantech Open Global Forum in November. They will present their idea in front of a crowd of 1,000 investors, entrepreneurs, sponsoring companies, corporations and press and will participate in additional activities designed to connect them to customers and investors from Silicon Valley and around the world. BIO2CHP offers to industries with organic waste, who face high energy and waste disposal costs, a stand-alone and modular energy production unit that provides the means for an integrated use of raw material throughout the production process cycle, utilizing the generated by-products for on-site heat and power production. Visit their website here.
For the Social Media Award that was running on the ID-GC’s Facebook Page, the online audience voted for Glonatech. Glonatech is a nanotechnology company that specializes in raw & intermediate nanomaterial production, best nanotech products and applications. Visit their website here.
Stay tuned, because pitches and entrepreneurial battles never end!
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People
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Thursday, 29 October 2015 07:00
Student Volunteers Of The ACT Learn Life Lessons
Andrew woke up on a recent Friday morning, had a quick breakfast and headed to the Church of Aghia Varvara. Once there, he uncovered the baskets of bread and started slicing the loaves. He had to be ready on time because a large crowd was expected to gather soon in the courtyard for the daily food handout, one of the biggest in the northern port city of Thessaloniki.
The American College of Thessaloniki, a postgraduate, nonprofit institution run by Anatolia College, offers high-caliber education, but for 18-year-old Andrew it is the experience of giving food to the needy every Friday morning that he finds riveting – a real lesson, in every sense of the word.
“I have worked as a volunteer back home – but nothing as enlightening as this. For a lot of us who come from privileged backgrounds, this really puts everything into perspective. It is one thing to watch it on the news and entirely another to see people in front you who can’t afford food. The refugee crisis is different on the screen than it is when you see huge groups of people,” he says.
Andrew Croy from Massachusetts is one of 300 students who made the trip in September to Thessaloniki to attend the fall semester at ACT as part of the study abroad program. The students come from some of the finest educational institutions in the US, such as Brown, Rutgers and the universities of Illinois and Mississippi. Volunteer work is part of the curriculum and they will be completing a total of 7,000 hours at places such as the Aghios Dimitrios Physical Rehabilitation Center for Children, the Arsis center and hostel for homeless minors, the Smile of the Child charity, various churches, and the Friends of People with Disabilities, among others.
Theoretically, the volunteers could also work on large group campaigns but ACT decided to individualize the program by splitting the students into small groups so they could gain a more in-depth knowledge of what they are doing and the society they have become a part of.
The cost of managing the program is high, but so are the rewards.
To read more, please visit ekathimerini
The American College of Thessaloniki, a postgraduate, nonprofit institution run by Anatolia College, offers high-caliber education, but for 18-year-old Andrew it is the experience of giving food to the needy every Friday morning that he finds riveting – a real lesson, in every sense of the word.
“I have worked as a volunteer back home – but nothing as enlightening as this. For a lot of us who come from privileged backgrounds, this really puts everything into perspective. It is one thing to watch it on the news and entirely another to see people in front you who can’t afford food. The refugee crisis is different on the screen than it is when you see huge groups of people,” he says.
Andrew Croy from Massachusetts is one of 300 students who made the trip in September to Thessaloniki to attend the fall semester at ACT as part of the study abroad program. The students come from some of the finest educational institutions in the US, such as Brown, Rutgers and the universities of Illinois and Mississippi. Volunteer work is part of the curriculum and they will be completing a total of 7,000 hours at places such as the Aghios Dimitrios Physical Rehabilitation Center for Children, the Arsis center and hostel for homeless minors, the Smile of the Child charity, various churches, and the Friends of People with Disabilities, among others.
Theoretically, the volunteers could also work on large group campaigns but ACT decided to individualize the program by splitting the students into small groups so they could gain a more in-depth knowledge of what they are doing and the society they have become a part of.
The cost of managing the program is high, but so are the rewards.
To read more, please visit ekathimerini
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People
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Thursday, 29 October 2015 07:00
Athens Restaurant Ranks In World's Top 25
The people have spoken. Well, at least the millions of users of Tripadvisor have, whose restaurant ratings were analyzed for the 2015 Travelers' Choice Awards.
According to the rankings produced by the site drawing on millions of user reviews the Athens based restaurant Funky Gourmet is the 21st best on the planet.
It is not the first time that the restaurant co-owned by the chefs Argyro Hiladaki, Georgianna Hiladaki and Nick Roussos has been singled out by Tripadvisor for excellence, having been named best restaurant in Athens every year since 2011.
The restaurant was also awarded its second Michelin star this year.
Funky Gourmet topped the top Greek resaurant list, traced by Eleas Gi (Kifissia), Tamam (Rhodes), Lotus Eaters (Elounda, Crete), Sea Side by Notos (Perivolos, Santorini), Manimani (Athens), Prima Plora (Rethymno, Crete), To Psaraki (Vlychada, Santorini), Kerasma (Rhodes) and Melenos Lindos Restaurant (Lindon, Rhodes).
Sources: The TOC and eKathimerini
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Restaurants In Athens
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Thursday, 29 October 2015 07:00
Prehistoric Funerary Items Found On Mainland
Archaeologists in southern Greece have discovered gold signet rings and a chain, gold and silver goblets, a sword and over 1,000 fragments of semi-precious stones in a tomb believed to date back to 1,500 B.C., the Greek Culture Ministry said.
“It is the most impressive display of prehistoric funerary wealth in mainland Greece which has come to light in the past 65 years,” the Ministry stated.
The discovery was made by American archaeologists working in the Pylos region in the southwest Peloponnese this summer.
The jewellery and weapons are thought to have been used to surround the shroud, placed in a wooden casket, of a warrior aged 30 to 35, likely a prominent figure of his time in the early Mycenaean period, the ministry said.
To read more, please visit: Euronews
Published in
Greece In The News
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Wednesday, 28 October 2015 07:00
ABTA 2015 Travel Convention Hosted In Greece
Over 500 key players of the UK travel industry forged new relationships with the Peloponnese during the highly successful ABTA 2015 Travel Convention that took place at luxury resort Costa Navarino in the Peloponnese during October 12-14.
“I would like to thank and congratulate our hosts, the Region of the Peloponnese and the Greek National Tourism Organisation for the amazing hospitality they have shown us over the last few days, feedback from delegates has been incredibly positive“, ABTA’s CEO, Mark Tanzer, said in an announcement.
“We have all been extremely impressed by Costa Navarino, which is a sustainable resort of the very highest quality”, he added.
The flagship event for the UK travel trade, held annually by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), was attended by a total of 526 decision makers, influencers and opinion formers spanning the full breadth of the mainstream and specialist travel sector; from tour operators, hotels and airlines to all types of travel retailer.
The planning and organization of the convention in Greece this year was a coordinated effort between the Region of Peloponnese, the Tourism Ministry, the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), Aegean Airlines and TEMES (Costa Navarino) and aimed to increase the arrival of visitors travelling to Greece through British agencies. The UK is Greece’s second largest tourism market after Germany.
To read more, please visit: Greek Travel Pages
Published in
Local News
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Friday, 25 October 2024 07:00
October 28 Holiday In Greece - Ohi Day
October 28th is a national holiday in Greece. It is the day that commemorates the rejection by Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on October 28, 1940. This day is known by Greeks around the world as ‘Ohi Day’ (No Day).
What Happened On This Day In History
It is said that at 3:00 am on October 28, 1940, an ultimatum was handed to Ioannis Metaxas at his home in Kifissia by the Italian Ambassador of Athens, Emanuele Grazzi. The ultimatum required the free passage of the Italian army through the Greek-Albanian border and thus began the occupation of some strategic areas of Greece.
After reading the letter, Metaxas turned to the Italian Ambassador and replied in French (which was the official diplomatic language at the time) with the historic phrase: 'Alors, c'est la guerre' (Well, this means war), thereby stating his negative position toward the Italian demands.
Grazzi in his memoirs, released in 1945, described the scene as, 'I have been ordered Mr. Prime Minister by you and I gave him the letter. I watched the emotion in his hands and in his eyes. With a firm voice and looking at me in the eyes, Metaxas told me, ‘This means war!’ I replied that this could be avoided. He replied NO. I added that if General Papagos... Metaxas interrupted me and said NO! I gave a deep bow, leaving with the deeper respect, this elder, who preferred to be sacrificed instead of enslaved.'
At the time, Metaxas expressed Greek popular sentiment, which was the denial of allegiance. This refusal was passed through to the Greek press with the word ‘Ohi’ (No). The word ‘Ohi’ was first presented as a title in the main article of the newspaper 'Greek Future' of N. P. Efstratios on October 30, 1940.
Traditions & Practical Information About This Day In Greece
On this day in Greece, most public buildings and residences are decorated with Greek flags. You will see parades and other festivities throughout the country. It is a national holiday, which means that everything is closed, with the exception of cafes and food venues.
The October 28th holiday is also celebrated by many Greek communities around the world; parades and festivities are observed internationally including in major cities in the USA, Canada, and Australia.
Source: Newsbomb
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Greek Traditions
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Tuesday, 08 February 2022 07:00
Rakomelo: A Warm Greek Drink For Cold Winter Nights
Rakomelo is a Greek mixed alcoholic drink. It is a digestive spirit that's high in powerful antioxidants, like flavonoids, and it's been used as a home remedy for a sore throat or cough for centuries.
Rakomelo, a delectable blend of Raki (Crete's traditional spirit) and locally made honey, is the ideal alcoholic beverage to enjoy during the harsh winter months. It's even better when spiced up with cloves and cinnamon. During the summer, some people drink it at room temperature or even ice-cold, but the warm version is more popular.
Rakomelo's history dates back to the 12th century when the Peloponnese peninsula was occupied by the Franks. Others, though, place its story on Crete and the Cyclades.
Rakomelo combines natural honey in complete harmony with the strong raki spirit, while cinnamon and clove buds bring the final touch to a distinctive and outstanding flavor, regardless of the real narrative.
Apart from being served Rakomelo in a cafe, bar, or taverna, you can buy this bottled in shops that sell traditional Greek products, especially Cretan ones.
Ingredients
• 1lt of raki or tsikoudia (grape pomace drink)
• 4-5tbs of honey
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4-5 cloves
Directions
Place the ingredients in a pot and boil them on a low fire, while stirring continuously. As soon as they boil sufficiently, turn off the flame and leave the rakomelo covered for approximately another 10’ to absorb the flavoring. Remove the cinnamon and cloves. Serve immediately or refrigerate in a bottle.
Recipe by iCookGreek.
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Greek Food & Diet
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Monday, 26 October 2015 07:00
Greek Architect Wins Gardening World Cup In Japan
While some people dream of winning the football the basketball world cups, Konstantina Stara claimed the most prestigious award in Japan‘s gardening realm.
Stara won the gold medal in the 2015 Gardening World Cup, a gardening exhibition held in Japan, with her garden design entitled “Parea,” which is the Greek word describing a group of friends.
During an interview with the Athens Macedonian News Agency Stara, who lives in Thailand, noted that gardens have been a very significant aspect of Japanese culture for a long time.
To read more, please visit: Greek Reporter
by
Anastassios Adamopoulos
Published in
Greece In The News
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Monday, 26 October 2015 07:00
CCTV Cameras To Be Fitted To Metro Trains In Athens
Three years after they first made the request, Greek transport authorities have been given the go-ahead by the country’s privacy watchdog to install CCTV cameras inside metro trains in Athens.
A total of 408 cameras are to be fitted to the trains. There are already another 204 cameras on platforms and in metros stations.
Two years ago the Hellenic Data Protection Authority ruled that STASY, the authority that manages fixed rail modes of transport, could not install the cameras as it would not be in passengers’ interests. However, STASY put in a new request last year, which has now been approved.
To read more, please visit: Apokoronasnews
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Local News
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Monday, 26 October 2015 07:00
Dexameni: From The Womb To The Tomb
The blackboard hanging outside Dexameni’s cramped kitchen reads, “Kindergarten-Bar-Nursing Home,” the title jokingly bestowed upon the café by the eminent novelist and poet Alexandros Papadiamantis. He was among the literati who made Dexameni their regular hangout shortly after it opened in the early 1900s – so regular that the place ended up serving as a home-away-from-home for all stages of life. By 2009, however, Dexameni had lost its traditional, old-fashioned character, the prices had gone up and the municipality of Athens had begun asking for exorbitant rent, so it closed for a spell. Since reopening in 2012 under the management of two area bar owners, it has been very busy, with locals even queuing up for tables on warm summer nights (reservations are not accepted).
The café – built on a steep road that was once part of the Athenian countryside – and the neighborhood get their name (“cistern” in Greek) from the water reservoirs that were built here during Hadrian’s reign (AD 117-138), near the outskirts of beautiful Mount Lycabettus, in what is now wonderfully posh Kolonaki, downtown’s chicest area. The name stuck, not just for the area as a whole but also for its square (complete with an open-air cinema also called Dexameni), where children like to play football, ride their bikes and make noise.
Dexameni is a largely open-air venue; it consists of a small stone building that houses the kitchen and bathrooms and that’s about it. The tables and chairs are scattered around outside on two wide, steep sidewalks, separated by a pedestrianized street. Half of the fun of eating here is the people-watching, which is a favorite pastime among patrons, especially in the summertime. Dexameni has always been that rare Athenian venue – a place for everyone at all times – and the new proprietors have made a point of keeping it that way. There are old men reading their paper in the mornings (a Greek coffee costs a mere €1.50), ladies who lunch after 1p.m., students and businessmen dressed in suits who come for coffee and beer, and an endless number of children playing football, bicycling or hide-and-seek behind strangers while their parents eat with their friends. At night there isn't a single age group not represented here. Kids play till late while their parents drink and dine, twenty-somethings flirt in big groups while nibbling on their meze plates, and older couples quietly look on.
To read more, please visit: Culinary Backstreets
by
Despina Trivolis
Photo credit: Manteau Stam
Photo credit: Manteau Stam
Published in
Restaurants In Athens
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