Greek start ups have the chance to receive up to €700,000 funding.
Application closing date is 4th March 2015
ATHENS, Greece, 4 February 2015 – Just one month remains before the submission deadline for this year’s Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award (HEA). Entrepreneurs with new business ideas can submit their applications via the HEA’s website (www.hellenicaward.com) up to 4th March 2015, in order to compete for start-up funding of up to €700,000, as well as a wide range of business support services and mentorship.
Since the 2015 award programme was announced in November 2014, more than 180 business ideas have been submitted, which will be evaluated by the HEA panel of judges.
The Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award was founded in 2012 based on the belief that entrepreneurship is key to Greece’s future prosperity, especially during the economic downturn. The HEA, which is managed and funded by the Libra Group on behalf of The Hellenic Initiative, is open to both experienced and budding entrepreneurs, whose business plans exhibit sustainability, innovation and financial rigour, whilst creating jobs predominantly in Greece. The HEA declares between one and five winners each year, providing them with all the necessary resources to bring their business ideas to fruition. The HEA 2015 Winners will share funding of up to €700,000, provided by the Libra Group and HEA’s Partners. In addition, each winner will receive mentorship from a highly experienced business professional, as well as business support services from – mostly Greek – companies. These span providers of legal, accounting, marketing, IT, communication and HR services.
During its first two years of operation, the Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award has been won by eight innovative new companies which, with the support of the HEA, are now successfully pursuing their business plans and contributing to the Greek economy through the creation of hundreds of direct and indirect jobs.
Entries are welcomed from individuals or groups with a new business idea, whether or not they have prior business experience, as well as established, privately-held companies which can prove that they have an all-new business concept which is not related to their core activities and cannot be funded through existing resources.
The names of the finalists will be announced at the beginning of May 2015.
The winners will be announced at the end of May 2015.
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About the Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award:
The Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award was founded in 2012, aiming to support established and budding entrepreneurs by providing funding, support services and mentorship for start-up businesses. The Libra Group has committed over €7 million to the programme which will help entrepreneurs in Greece to generate economic growth in their homeland. The award partners are Piraeus Bank Group which has contributed to the training and education of participants since 2014 through its subsidiary, Excelixi Center of Sustainable Entrepreneurship; the Australian based property investment and development company, Jalouise Pty Ltd., and Mr Dimitri Goulandris.
Amongst the winners’ supporters are Antidote, Lykourezos Law Offices, People for Business, Reed Smith, S&Team and SAP Hellas.
www.hellenicaward.com
About the Libra Group:
The Libra Group is an international business group comprising 30 subsidiaries operating across five continents. The Group has principal operations in shipping, aviation, real estate, hospitality and energy as well as a range of diversified investments. Developed from a shipping business founded in 1976 and owned by the Logothetis family, Libra is distinguished by a combination of traditional values, new ideas and an agile mindset that allows it to take advantage of opportunities. For more information please visit www.libra.com
About the Hellenic Initiative:
The Hellenic Initiative (THI) was founded in 2012 and is a global, non-profit, secular institution whose vision is to mobilize the Greek diaspora and philhellene community to develop sustainable financial programmes and businesses improvement programmes in order to lead Greeks to long term prosperity.
www.thehellenicinitiative.org
For further information please contact:
Christy Sotiriou
V+O COMMUNICATION, Athens
Office: +30 211 75 01 213
Email: csot@vando.gr
Gareth Zundel
Libra Group
Office: +44 20 7245 8700
Email: gareth.zundel@libra.com
