Reflecting ACG’s commitment to advancing inclusive innovation and empowering emerging leaders, The American College of Greece (ACG) hosted Venture Boldly: Women Igniting Innovation, a half-day forum dedicated to showcasing the impact of women founders, investors, and ecosystem builders. Held on November 25, 2025, at the ACG Events Hall, the event was organized by the Office of Innovation and Industrial Collaborations (OIIC) in collaboration with the Deree student-led Lean In Club and the Entrepreneurship Management program of Deree-ACG.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Edward Wingenbach, President of The American College of Greece, emphasized the importance of bringing founders, faculty, and students together in meaningful dialogue. He highlighted the transformative influence of exposing students to accomplished innovators whose work embodies the values of creativity, leadership, and resilience. Following his address, Maria Pallidou, Associate Lecturer and Director of Innovation and Industrial Collaborations at ACG and Co-Founder & CFO of PhosPrint PC, underscored the strong business case for women in leadership. Drawing attention to the fact that only 14% of CEOs in Greece are women, she noted that research consistently shows that companies led by women tend to excel. She also emphasized that this year’s forum brought together sixteen Greek women who are shaping the future of technology, health, and entrepreneurial services.
The keynote speech was delivered by Elomida Visviki, Co-Founder of Panathēnea, entrepreneur, and angel investor. She invited the audience to reconsider impostor syndrome as a form of self-awareness that inspires humility, deep learning, and intentional growth. Visviki also stressed the importance of people-focused leadership in an AI-driven world, the value of treating failure as a cornerstone of innovation, and the need for strong support networks among women in entrepreneurship. Her address encouraged participants to embrace uncertainty as part of the creative and entrepreneurial process.
The forum’s panel discussions highlighted the breadth of women-led innovation across multiple sectors. The fireside chat on Women Leading in Tech brought together leaders from PhosPrint and future brAIn. The speakers described their journeys in transforming scientific research, such as laser-based bioprinting and AI-powered organizational analytics, into practical solutions. Their discussion emphasized the challenges and opportunities of building deep-technology ventures rooted in high-level research and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The following panel, Women Who Lead: What Attracts Investor Support, focused on the role of venture capital in shaping the Greek startup ecosystem. The discussion highlighted the evolution of investment activity since 2017 and the growing interest in areas such as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Speakers also touched on the existing funding gap at the earliest stages of entrepreneurship and emphasized the importance of strong founding teams, scalable ideas, and the courage to pursue ambitious ventures within Greece.
The panel Building Bold in Services and Marketplaces centered on ventures created to address everyday needs, from on-demand cleaning services and care platforms to gift registry services and home healthcare support. Speakers discussed how operational excellence, trust, ethics, and company culture form the backbone of sustainable businesses, particularly those that serve families and vulnerable communities.
The conversation continued with Health Innovation for the Real World, featuring founders whose scientific expertise is driving progress in neurodegeneration research and fertility science. The speakers reflected on how highly specialized research can be translated into therapies and services with significant real-world impact. They highlighted the importance of mentorship, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the ongoing learning curve in fundraising and commercialization.
The panel on Ecosystems and Acceleration explored the broader landscape that supports innovation in Greece. Representatives from research institutions, accelerators, and national innovation clusters discussed the need for coordinated efforts across public and private sectors. They described innovation as a collective endeavor that requires aligned policies, effective support structures, and opportunities that encourage young scientists and entrepreneurs to stay and grow their ventures in Greece.
The final session, Founders as Impact Investors, brought together entrepreneurs who have transitioned into investing. Reflecting on their journeys, the speakers discussed how their experiences as founders shape their approach to funding women-led ventures and supporting companies with strong social and environmental impact. They emphasized the importance of reinvesting knowledge, networks, and capital into the next generation of entrepreneurs.
A defining element of Venture Boldly was the active role of Deree students, who served as moderators and event facilitators. Students including Panagiotis Kougioumtzis, Dimitris Dikos, Tina Mavridi, Annie Stratiki, and Ioanna Tsimplaki contributed directly to the success of the event, supported by the leadership of the Lean In Club, a Deree student organization dedicated to empowering women under its President, Stergiani Stratiki, the Vice President, Panagiota Mavridi, Activities Coordinator Ioanna Tsiblaki, Treasurer Demetra Fourla, and Communication and Social Media Manager Evdoxia Natsolari. Their participation transformed the forum into an interactive learning experience in which students engaged with founders and investors not only as listeners but as emerging innovators.
Through the collaboration of the Office of Innovation and Industrial Collaborations, the Lean In Club, and the Entrepreneurship Management program, Venture Boldly: Women Igniting Innovation reaffirmed ACG’s dedication to supporting women-led entrepreneurship, connecting students with real-world innovators, and fostering a campus culture where ideas are tested, refined, and brought to life. As the insights and connections from this forum continue to inspire students and professionals alike, the event stands as a meaningful milestone in ACG’s ongoing efforts to cultivate a more inclusive and interconnected innovation ecosystem.
Please refer here for the agenda, the speakers, and their bios.
