Our Vision - StartSmart South Eastern Europe

Our Vision

StartSmart builds upon the legacy of MIT Enterprise Forum Greece and our extensive experience in accelerating 250+ startups that have raised over 360 million in investment.

Our commitment is to drive innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship in South Eastern Europe. We empower startups, investors, corporations, and universities by equipping them with the essential tools, knowledge, and connections required to flourish in a fast-changing technological landscape.

Leveraging our partnership MIT Open Learning, we enhance our startup accelerator programs, host impactful events such as the MIT Global Startup Workshop, and deliver technology and innovation workshops.

Our focus lies in facilitating investment opportunities, fostering entrepreneurial potential in universities, offering cutting-edge content from MIT Horizon, and forging new collaborations with MIT entities.

At StartSmart, we believe in the transformative power of innovation and strive to be a catalyst for change and economic growth in the region.

History and Evolution

GTEF 2013 – NOW

MITEF’s vision was to build a better world by accelerating the creation and growth of world-class technology companies. Its mission was to inform, connect, and coach technology entrepreneurs, enabling them to rapidly transform ideas into world-changing companies. GTEF’s founding members brought this global network and its unique resources to Greece, believing in the potential of the local science and engineering community, valuing technology entrepreneurship as a growth engine, and understanding the challenges startups face. Members of GTEF also incorporated the Hellenic Innovation Network (HIN) in Boston to build bridges with the Greek technology and academic diaspora. HIN (www.hellenic.org) runs physical and digital events that bring the Greek startup ecosystem closer to the Boston and MIT ecosystems.

From 2014 to 2022, GTEF ran eight editions of the MITEF Greece Startup Competition, accelerating more than 200 startups. Seventy of these teams grew internationally and raised over $200 million from Greek and international investors. One notable success story is Augmenta, the second runner-up of the 2018 edition, which was acquired in March 2023 by CNH Industrial for $110 million. Following the decision of MIT to sunset the MITEF brand, GTEF signed an agreement with MIT Open Learning in December 2022 and became one of the first innovation members of the MIT JWEL network. Throughout the years, GTEF has partnered with several prominent organizations in Greece and abroad, and several hundred mentors have supported the accelerated startups.

MITEF GREECE 2014 – 2022

START SMART CONFERENCE 2014 – 2016

In addition to the startup competition, GTEF hosted the StartSmart Conference annually from 2014 to 2016, attracting several hundred attendees each time to listen to global thought leaders. In March 2023, GTEF hosted the MIT Global Startup Workshop 2023, setting a new record in attendance and quality.

Today, GTEF continues its mission under the new brand StartSmart, with a renewed focus on South Eastern Europe. Building on a decade of experience and success, StartSmart aims to accelerate the growth of the technology ecosystem in the South Eastern Europe region, enabling Greece to evolve into a world-class technology hub, operating faster and smarter.

START SMART SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE 2023

History and Evolution

GTEF 2013 – NOW

The Greek Technology Entrepreneurship Forum (GTEF) was established in August 2013 by a group of experienced entrepreneurs and business professionals. As a non-profit association, GTEF became the Greek chapter of the MIT Enterprise Forum (MITEF) Global, a global organization of dedicated professionals affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) through MIT Technology Review.

MITEF’s vision was to build a better world by accelerating the creation and growth of world-class technology companies. Its mission was to inform, connect, and coach technology entrepreneurs, enabling them to rapidly transform ideas into world-changing companies. GTEF’s founding members brought this global network and its unique resources to Greece, believing in the potential of the local science and engineering community, valuing technology entrepreneurship as a growth engine, and understanding the challenges startups face. Members of GTEF also incorporated the Hellenic Innovation Network (HIN) in Boston to build bridges with the Greek technology and academic diaspora. HIN (www.hellenic.org) runs physical and digital events that bring the Greek startup ecosystem closer to the Boston and MIT ecosystems.

MITEF GREECE 2014 – 2022

START SMART CONFERENCE 2014 – 2016

START SMART SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE 2023

Strategic Partnership with MIT Open Learning

Our partnership with MIT Open Learning network allows us to bring world-class resources and expertise to our community. This partnership enhances our programs, provides our startups with access to a global network of experts and innovators, and strengthens our mission to foster technology entrepreneurship in the region.

These partnerships allows us to:

Access Global Expertise

and enhance our Programs with the latest research and best practices in education and entrepreneurship, ensuring that our startups receive the best possible support and guidance.

Expand our Network

and unlock access to a global network of educators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. This offers members unparalleled opportunities to collaborate, learn, and form partnerships with top individuals and organizations worldwide.

Leverage the MIT Brand Association

and engage in continuous learning as StartSmart’s affiliation with MIT, a renowned institution in technology and innovation, enhances our credibility, visibility, and attracts top-tier startups, partners, and sponsors. Our team and members benefit from continuous learning and improvement through workshops, webinars, and conferences organized by MIT Open Learning.

Influence Global Education Innovation

and have a voice in shaping the future of education innovation. We actively contribute our insights and experiences from South Eastern Europe to enrich the global conversation on innovation.