The Story Behind RooMate: Sotiria's Mission To Help Women Relocate With Confidence
- by XpatAthens
- Tuesday, 04 August 2026
Finding a place to call home is one of the biggest challenges anyone faces when relocating, especially when you're moving to a new country on your own. While countless platforms help people search for accommodation, very few are designed with women's safety, trust, and sense of community at their core.
Inspired by her own experience as an expat in London, Greek entrepreneur Sotiria, founder of RooMate, set out to change that. RooMate is a women-first platform that goes beyond helping users find a room or apartment, aiming instead to create a trusted ecosystem where women can connect, relocate with confidence, and build a life in a new city.
We sat down with Sotiria to talk about the inspiration behind RooMate, the challenges of relocating abroad, the growing shared-living culture in Athens, and why she believes trust and community are just as important as finding the right place to live.
Could you tell us a little about your journey? What brought you to London, how did you experience expat life there, and what inspired you to create RooMate?
Well, I moved to London about nine years ago because I was drawn to the city's energy, opportunities, and vibrant lifestyle. It simply felt like the right place to be. As much as I love Greece and being Greek, something was calling me to London. It was a chance to challenge myself, experience something new, and build a life abroad.
However, finding accommodation turned out to be one of the most stressful parts of the journey. It was incredibly difficult to find people I could genuinely trust. When you move to a city where you don't know anyone, no friends, no family, no support system, you're starting completely from scratch.
Even if you've done plenty of research before arriving, the reality of finding somewhere to live once you're actually there is a completely different experience. That's exactly why I created RooMate.
The vision behind RooMate is simple: a woman decides she wants to move to Athens, or eventually any city in Greece and beyond, and within a short time she can find not only trusted accommodation, but also trusted people and a trusted local ecosystem.
My dream is for someone to open the app and quickly find everything they need: a room, an apartment or studio, trustworthy housemates, and recommendations for the neighbourhood they'll be living in. Instead of spending weeks or months worrying about the most stressful part of relocating, they can focus on enjoying the experience itself.
I want people to experience genuine Greek philoxenia and everything this country has to offer, without the anxiety that usually comes with moving somewhere new.
Can you explain how RooMate works?
Anyone can browse the platform and see what's available, rooms, apartments, studios, no account needed for that. To actually contact someone or see the full details of a listing, you'll need to create an account and complete a quick identity verification. We designed it this way on purpose: browsing should feel open and easy, but the moment you're speaking to a real person, or seeing everything about where they live, we want to know you're a real, verified person too.
This also helps protect landladies from receiving messages from people who aren't genuinely serious, since reaching out means you've already taken that extra step.
Once you've verified and expressed interest in a listing, whether you're looking for a room or you're a landlady offering one, the other side needs to express interest too. Only once both sides are interested are you able to connect and begin a conversation.
This mutual-interest feature is something I'm very passionate about, and I have no intention of changing it. I've seen, particularly in the UK but also in Greece, how many landlords and landladies receive messages from people who simply waste their time or aren't genuinely interested. I wanted RooMate to eliminate as much of that frustration as possible.
Safety is another core pillar of the platform. Before arranging a viewing, RooMate prompts users with a series of safety reminders, asking questions such as whether they've shared the property's location with a trusted friend or whether they've spoken to the other person via video call beforehand.
Nothing can ever be 100% safe, but I believe education is just as important as technology. Especially for women, it's important to remember that even when you're desperate to find somewhere to live, taking a few extra precautions can make all the difference. The platform encourages users to complete these safety checks before moving forward, making the process not only more secure but also more mindful.
What would you say is RooMate's biggest differentiating factor compared to other property or flat-sharing platforms, beyond being exclusively for women?
For me, RooMate isn't simply about finding somewhere to live, it's about helping women build an entirely new life.
My mission is that one day people will think of RooMate as the place where you find everything you need, not just a roommate.
Finding a home influences every aspect of your life. It affects your work, your friendships, your wellbeing, even your relationships. That's why I wanted to create something that goes beyond property listings.
Through RooMate, you're not only finding a trusted place to live, but also discovering the people, businesses and services around you, a yoga studio nearby, a trusted cleaner, a local café, a doctor, or other female-owned businesses that become part of your daily life.
Trust is another major differentiator. We ask users to verify their identity and complete additional verification steps that many other platforms don't require. Nothing can ever guarantee complete safety, but giving women more ways to verify who they're speaking to creates a much stronger sense of trust and confidence.
You told us about the inspiration behind RooMate, but was there a particular "lightbulb moment" when you realised this platform was truly needed?
The biggest realisation was actually very personal. I realised I was building something that I had always needed myself.
I've worked as a dentist for nine years, and while I've loved being self-employed, I reached a point where I wanted to build something entirely from scratch, something that reflected my own vision and values.
Around the same time, I noticed that flat-sharing was becoming increasingly common in Athens. I've always loved Greece and always wanted to create something that simply didn't exist here.
Originally, RooMate wasn't designed exclusively for women. That idea developed gradually as I spent more time in online housing groups and kept seeing inappropriate comments directed at women looking for accommodation. Women would post that they were searching for a room, and instead of receiving genuine offers, they'd receive comments asking them out on dates or making them uncomfortable.
Unfortunately, these are experiences women encounter everywhere, in the workplace, on public transport, while travelling, or even in everyday situations. I started asking myself: what if women didn't have to second-guess every interaction?
Of course, this doesn't mean that all men are bad landlords or bad people. It simply acknowledges a reality: many women naturally feel safer when dealing with other women. The more conversations I had, the more obvious it became.
I realised I was creating the platform I had always wished had existed, for myself and for so many other women relocating to a new city.
You've noticed that roommate culture is becoming increasingly popular in Athens. What trends are you seeing among women choosing shared living?
I truly believe shared living is having a real moment, and I think it's only going to continue growing.
Years ago, many people came to Athens simply as a stop before heading to the islands. Today, that's changed. More and more people are moving here intentionally because they genuinely want to build a life in Athens. As a Greek woman, that makes me incredibly proud. I really believe Greece deserves that recognition.
I'm seeing more women relocating to Athens to start fresh, pursue new opportunities, and make the city their home, not just spend a month or two before moving on.
At the same time, the cost of living has increased significantly. As property prices and rents continue to rise, sharing a home is no longer just a lifestyle choice, for many people, it's also a practical financial decision.
Many women choose shared accommodation during their first six months or year in Athens while they get to know the city before eventually finding a place of their own.
The challenge is that the infrastructure hasn't caught up with this growing demand. Women often end up staying in Airbnbs for weeks because they struggle to find trustworthy accommodation, or they're relying on Facebook groups and speaking to complete strangers.
I've even seen women posting that they'll be moving to Athens a year in advance because they're already worried about finding somewhere to live. That says a lot about how stressful the process has become.
The demand is clearly there. Now we need solutions that make the experience safer, easier and far less overwhelming.
What accommodation options does RooMate offer?
RooMate is designed to be flexible. When you create an account, you can register either as someone looking for a place to live or as a landlady offering accommodation. You can even be both at the same time, with separate profiles for each role.
The platform includes rooms in shared apartments, entire apartments and studios. There's no strict limit on the number of properties someone can list.
One aspect that's particularly important to me is that every property is owned or managed by a woman. Even if you're renting an entire apartment rather than sharing a home, you'll still be communicating with a female landlady.
Again, this isn't about suggesting that male landlords are inherently bad. It's simply acknowledging that many women feel more comfortable and safer dealing with another woman, especially when they're moving to a new city and navigating an unfamiliar environment.
Unfortunately, I've heard far too many stories from women who've had uncomfortable experiences when communicating with landlords. RooMate aims to provide an environment where women can feel more confident throughout that process.
In your opinion, what makes a great roommate? What advice would you give someone who wants to feel genuinely comfortable and safe sharing a home?
For me, it all comes down to one thing: compatibility over convenience. That applies to every relationship, whether it's romantic, professional, or with a roommate.
The biggest lesson I've learned, both from renting and from living with other people, is that communication is everything.
Setting expectations from the very beginning makes an enormous difference. Whether it's agreeing on cleaning routines, discussing guests, talking about smoking, work schedules or daily habits, these conversations should happen before anyone moves in, not after problems arise.
Sometimes it's the smallest things that build trust. Maybe something accidentally falls and doesn't break, but you still tell the other person. Maybe your partner visits occasionally, or you work from home and spend most of your time in your room. Being open about these details creates transparency and helps avoid misunderstandings later.
Trust is built through honest communication and mutual respect.
Compatibility also matters enormously. If one person enjoys a very quiet lifestyle while the other stays up until three in the morning listening to music, that difference needs to be discussed honestly.
Too often people choose somewhere simply because they urgently need a place to stay. You may save money in the short term, but emotionally you can end up paying a much higher price if you're living in an environment that isn't right for you.
Beyond accommodation, many women relocating to a new country are also looking for friendships, trusted services and a sense of community. You describe RooMate as a women's ecosystem. What does that mean in practice?
The ecosystem is one of the parts of RooMate I'm most excited about.
Alongside accommodation, the platform includes a directory of verified, female-owned businesses, services and community spaces.
Imagine moving into a new neighbourhood and immediately knowing where to find a trusted doctor, hairdresser, cleaner, yoga studio, café or workshop, all recommended within the same platform. It's about helping women build a support network from day one.
Moving somewhere new isn't only stressful because you need somewhere to live. It's all the little things that create uncertainty. Which supermarket should I go to? Where can I find a good doctor? Is there a yoga class nearby? How do I meet people? These everyday questions can feel overwhelming when you're starting from scratch.
By bringing everything together in one place, RooMate helps remove some of that uncertainty. It also helps reduce loneliness.
When you arrive in a new city, simply knowing that other women have already gone through the same experience, and that there are trusted businesses and communities around you, can make an enormous difference.
Reviews are also a huge part of that trust. Personally, I always read reviews before making decisions, and I know many other women do too. In today's world, where everything moves so quickly, reviews provide reassurance and help people feel much more confident about the choices they're making.
Looking ahead, what's next for RooMate? Are there any future plans or features you're excited about?
My biggest dream is for RooMate to become a truly global platform. I want someone sitting in Australia, or anywhere else in the world, to decide they're moving to Athens, open the app, and within a short time find their accommodation, their local ecosystem and everything they need to begin their new life.
I don't want RooMate to become just another app. I want it to become part of the infrastructure that helps women relocate safely and confidently.
If we can make women feel more secure about taking that leap, travelling alone, moving abroad, starting over, then we've achieved something meaningful.
Too many women hold themselves back because they're afraid, and I don't want fear to stop people from experiencing how wonderful it can be to live in another country.
In terms of features, I feel we've already built the foundations we need. Right now, my focus isn't on adding endless new tools. It's on refining the platform, growing the community and making sure everything works exceptionally well.
For me, trust is everything. The more genuine users, verified listings and authentic reviews we have, the stronger RooMate becomes.
Why do you think it's so important for women to support other women?
I think it's incredibly important because, historically, so much of the world has been built around systems that weren't designed with women in mind.
We also know that female-led businesses and startups often receive less funding and support than those led by men. If we don't support one another, it's much harder for these ideas to grow.
Thankfully, I feel that's starting to change. I attend a lot of founder events and I'm constantly meeting incredible women who are building apps, businesses and communities designed specifically to improve other women's lives.
It's inspiring, empowering and incredibly encouraging to see.
What have been some of the biggest lessons you've learned while building RooMate?
I don't really like to think in terms of challenges. Whenever I start something new, I already expect it to be difficult. That's simply part of creating something from scratch.
When I moved to London, I knew it wouldn't be easy. I didn't know anyone, it wasn't my language, and I was starting over in a completely different country.
Building RooMate has been very similar. I'm a solo founder, so everything, from the vision to the execution, is my responsibility. The platform is entirely self-funded, which means progress takes time, but I accepted that from the very beginning.
For me, the reward comes from imagining the woman who decides to move from somewhere like Australia to Athens and finds everything she needs through RooMate.
I never had that support when I moved abroad. Knowing that someone else might have an easier experience because of something I've built is incredibly fulfilling.
You chose to launch RooMate in Athens rather than London, where you've lived for nearly a decade. Why was that important to you?
Although I've lived in London for almost ten years and genuinely love the city, a big part of me has always remained in Greece. I wanted to create something that gives back to my own country.
Greece has a unique culture of generosity and philoxenia that I've never experienced anywhere else. I've now travelled to around 45 countries, and while every place has something special, there's something about the warmth and hospitality of Greek people that always stands out.
It's not just my opinion either. Whenever people discover I'm Greek, they often say, "That makes sense, you Greeks are so welcoming." Those moments remind me how unique that part of our culture really is, and I wanted more people to experience that side of Greece.
Finally, what advice would you give to a woman who's considering moving to Athens but is afraid to take that first step?
My biggest piece of advice is simple: fear never goes away.
Not just when you're moving abroad, for everything in life.
People sometimes assume that because I've moved countries or started a business, I must be fearless. The truth is, I'm afraid all the time. I still feel fear before almost everything I do. The difference is that I do it anyway.
Life is too short to spend wondering what if. Whether you believe there's something after this life or not, we only know for certain that we have this one. I don't want to reach the age of 80 or 90 wishing I'd been brave enough to try.
Every morning I still wake up feeling scared sometimes. Then I remind myself that I don't want fear to be the reason I miss out on life.
A huge thank you to Sotiria for sharing her journey, her vision, and the story behind RooMate. Her passion for helping women relocate with greater confidence, safety, and peace of mind is at the heart of everything she's building, and we look forward to following RooMate's journey as it continues to grow.
Planning a move to Greece or searching for a place to call home in Athens?
Whether you're looking for a room, studio, apartment, or simply want to explore a safer, community-focused approach to finding accommodation, RooMate is designed to help women relocate with confidence. Browse available properties, connect with trusted landladies, and discover a growing ecosystem of female-owned businesses and services, all in one place.
Learn more and start your search with RooMate today!
Note: RooMate is an evolving platform, and some features or requirements may change as we continue building and improving it. This interview reflects RooMate at the time of publishing.
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