Agenda
Day 1: Network & Find a team
16.00 - 16.30
Registration "techstars_ Startup Weekend Thessaloniki"
Main Venue - Registration
Arrival of participants, check-in at the registration desk, and Welcome Breakfast to kick off the event.
16.30 - 16.50
Welcome by the Facilitator
Main Venue
A brief welcome from our Techstars Facilitator, Cosmin, setting the energy and guiding everyone into the start of the weekend.
16.50 - 17.40
Opening Remarks
Main Venue
Formal opening statements from institutional representatives
17.40 - 18.00
Keynote Speaker
Main Venue
Opening keynote speech by Mr. Ilias Louis Hatzis
18.00 - 18.10
Coffee Break
Main Venue - Registration
18.10 - 18.30
Pitchfire Explanation by the Facilitator
Main Venue
A brief and clear introduction by Cosmin on how the Pitchfire works, what participants need to do, and how the fast-paced pitching session will unfold.
18.30 - 20.00
Pitchfire
Main Venue
Quick one-minute pitches where participants share their idea for the first time.
20.00 - 20.40
Dinner
Foyer
20.40 - 21.00
Voting
Main Venue
Participants review all proposed ideas and vote for the ones they believe should move forward. The ideas with the most votes become the foundation for forming the weekend’s teams.
21.00 - 21.30
Teams Formation
Main Venue
After the voting results, participants gather around the selected ideas and form teams based on their interest and the skills.
21.30 - 22.00
Work
Venue I - WorkStation
Teams find their space for the weekend's work and get to know each other.
Day 2: Build & Validate
8.30 - 9.00
Welcome Breakfast
Main Venue - Registration
9.00 - 9.10
Morning announcements by the Facilitator
Main Venue
Review the day's agenda and what teams should be focused on.
9.10 - 9.50
1st Workshop Deloitte "Pitching: How to prepare well before you pitch to investors."
Main Venue
Understand what investors are looking for and how to prepare their approach.
9.50 - 10.00
Keynote Speaker
Main Venue
An inspiring keynote by Mr. Papanotas, offering insights, guidance, and perspective to set the tone for the teams as they begin their weekend journey.
10.00 - 10.15
Microsoft For StartUps
Main Venue
Discover how Microsoft for Startups helps founders accelerate innovation with free tools, Azure credits, AI services, and expert guidance. Learn how to leverage Microsoft’s ecosystem to build, scale, and succeed.
10.20 - 11.50
Work / Mentor Session
Venue I - WorkStation
Teams start developing their ideas while meeting with mentors for guidance, feedback, and clarity on the next steps.
11.50 - 12.20
2nd Workshop Netcompany "Cyber Futures: Innovation and Security in the Digital Economy."
Main venue
The purpose of the workshop is to highlight how Cybersecurity, apart from being a necessary "evil", can also create new job opportunities.
12.30 - 13.30
Work
Venue I - WorkStation
Teams continue developing their ideas while meeting with mentors for guidance, feedback, and clarity on the next steps.
12.30 - 13.30
Panel Discussion: Building the Future of the Startup Ecosystem in the Region of Central Macedonia
Main Venue
Funding Sources, Public & Private Support Organizations as Pillars of Growth
13.30 - 14.30
Lunch
Foyer
13.30 - 14.30
Panel Discussion: From Startup to Scale-Up
Main Menu
Education, Skills & AI Technology Transfer as Drivers of Entrepreneurial Growth
14.30 - 15.10
3rd Workshop Microsoft - "Supercharge Your APIs: AI Agents with Azure AI Foundry"
Main Venue
Discover how startups can rapidly prototype and scale intelligent solutions using the Azure AI Platform. This workshop will showcase practical tools, workflows, and best practices to accelerate innovation, from ideation to deployment.
15.10 - 15.20
Check ins by the Facilitator
Venue I - WorkStation
Short team updates with the Facilitator, checking progress, identifying challenges, and ensuring every team stays aligned and on track for the next steps.
15.20 - 18.00
Work / Mentor Session
Venue I - WorkStation
Teams continue developing their ideas while meeting with mentors for guidance, feedback, and clarity on the next steps.
18.00 - 18.10
Break
Main Venue
18.10 - 18.40
4th Workshop TechPro "Practical Guide to MVP: Fast track from idea to MVP, using proper SDLC and cloud technologies."
Main Venue
To realize that investing in a proper SDLC and utilizing Cloud technologies results in a fast track MVPs and Customer demos. Quick customer requirements implementation and market turn-overs adaptation.
18.40 - 18.45
Check ins
Main Venue
Short team updates with the Facilitator, checking progress, identifying challenges, and ensuring every team stays aligned and on track for the next steps.
18.45 - 20.45
Work / Mentor Session
Venue I - WorkStation
Teams continue developing their ideas while meeting with mentors for guidance, feedback, and clarity on the next steps.
20.45 - 21.15
Dinner
Foyer
21.15 - 22.30
Work
Venue I - WorkStation
Teams continue developing their ideas.
Day 3: Polish & Pitch
9.00 - 9.30
Welcome Breakfast
Main Venue - Registration
9.30 - 9.45
Morning announcements
Main Venue
Review the day's agenda, what teams should be focused on, judging criteria, and the tech check and pitch process for later.
9.45 - 10.15
5th Workshop PwC "Beyond Algorithms: The Human Side of AI"
Main Venue
10.15 - 11.30
Work / Presentations Test
Venue I - WorkStation
Teams work to finish their MVP, and start working on their presentation.
12.00 - 12.10
Break
Main Venue
12.10 - 14.00
Work / Mentor Session
Venue I - WorkStation
Teams work to finish. their MVP, and start working on their presentation.
14.00 - 15.00
Lunch
Foyer
15.00 - 15.50
Work / Presentations Test
Main Venue
Each team will get a chance to do tech checks and practise their presentation.
15.50 - 16.30
Pitching Preparation
Venue I - WorkStation
Submit repo, slides, demo URL/screencast; quick AV/wifi tests.
16.30 - 16.50
Pitching Explanation by the Facilitator
Venue I - WorkStation
An overview of how the final pitches will take place
17.00 - 19.30
Techstars Pitching
Main Venue
The moment each team presents its final pitch, showcasing its idea, progress, and vision.
19.30 - 20.00
Dinner
Foyer
19.30 - 20:00
Judging Decision
Conf Room
20:00 - 21:00
Winners Announcement and Prizes Ceremony
Main Venue
The official announcement of the winning teams, followed by the awards ceremony celebrating their effort, progress, and standout ideas throughout the weekend.