The ‘stars’ of the OPAP Forward Awards and the 13 new companies of the 6th cycle – Event for the announcement of new small and medium-sized enterprises that are part of the programme and the award of those who stood out

The leading small and medium-sized enterprises were at the heart of the special event organized by the OPAP on Tuesday 12 March 2024, for the start of the sixth cycle of the OPAP Forward entrepreneurship programme and the award of companies already participating in it and distinguished themselves for their performance. OPAP Forward companies awarded with OPAP CEO Jan Karas, Deputy CEO of OPAP, Ulysses Christophorus, Marco Veremis, Partner of Big Pi Ventures and Member of Endeavor Greece Board and Panayiotis Karabini, Managing Director of Endeavor Greece. In particular, OPAP Forward, which has been a key pillar of OPAP’s strategic corporate responsibility since 2016, welcomed 13 new, dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises. At the same time, special awards were awarded to the companies of the programme that have been distinguished in critical areas, such as the creation of new jobs and the increase in their turnover. The new companies of the OPAP Forward program with the CEO of OPAP, Jan Karas, the Deputy CEO of OPAP, Ulysses Christophorus, Marko Veremi, Partner of Big Pi Ventures and Member of Endeavor Greece Board and Costas Mallio, Corporate Vice President CSD, EUROPE of Applied Materials. Thirteen new companies, belonging to the sixth cycle of the OPAP Forward programme, cover a wide range of dynamic sectors in which Greek companies have a competitive advantage. These are AgroApps, Archive, Callista, Dadakaridis Salt, Fresh Line, Goumenisses, Ideal Bikes, KYKNOS, Nutree, Prigio, SKAG, Softweb and Unismack. OPAP Forward event Also, as part of the event, the impressive results achieved by OPAP Forward businesses were presented. With the support of OPAP and the international non-profit organization Endeavor Greece, participating companies have managed to create 2,847 new direct jobs to date, while supporting 23,000 new indirect jobs through their partnerships in the market. In addition, they have increased their turnover by EUR 470 million in total. Achilleia Kontou, Chief People Officer OPAP, and Youla Karatheodori, Director General of the company Anna Maria Mazarakis, who was awarded for active participation in the program. Speaking of the philosophy and results of OPAP Forward, OPAP CEO Jan Karas commented: “The best way to predict the future is to create it… And that’s exactly what we’re working through the OPAP Forward. We support dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises who want to build their future… We stand next to them, offering necessary tools, know-how and opportunities to make use of their prospects, develop and create new jobs for the benefit of the economy and society… In OPAP, we are proud of this program, as it reflects our vision to offer Greek society… The results, after all, speak for themselves.” Odysseus Christophorou, Deputy CEO of OPAP, George Sellimas, President of WTOPP, Jan Karas, CEO of OPAP. For his part, the Deputy CEO of OPAP, Mr. Odysseus Christoforou, stood in the new companies of the program, stressing: “Tonight, we welcome 13 new companies to the OPAP Forward family. Our ambition is to help them grow, strengthen their extroversion and create new jobs… The new companies of the program cover a wide range of dynamic and competitive sectors, exploit new technologies and innovations and come from various parts of Greece, except the major urban centers… Also, most of half have women in their leadership, as part of our commitment to support female entrepreneurship.” The Deputy CEO of OPAP, Ulysses Christophorus and Angel Cherepas, Head of Business Development of Lariplast, awarded for the creation of new jobs. Markos Veremis, Partner of Big Pi Ventures and Member of the Board of Endeavor Greece, discussed on stage with Kostas Mallios, Corporate Vice President CSD, EUROPE of Applied Materials, about entrepreneurship in Greece and internationally. The two speakers highlighted the high level of companies participating in the OPAP Forward programme, marking the impressive development of the Greek business in recent years. They also stressed that the quality of businesses is the best health indicator in a country. In addition, they stressed the need to take risks and the close connection of businesses with their customers, and highlighted inclusion and diversity as key components of success. At the same time, they stressed the importance for Greek companies to have their eyes on the world market and to dare to take the big step towards expansion abroad. Markos Veremis and Kostas Mallios Odysseus Christoforou, Kostas Mallios and Giann Karas OPAP Forward companies that stood out for their performance The OPAP Forward awards were received by small and medium-sized enterprises already participating in the program and distinguished themselves for their successful course in various categories. It is noted that companies awarded this year, joined the program in 2020, in one of the most difficult periods for entrepreneurship, as it coincided with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Chief Legal, Regulatory & Compliance Officer of the OPAP, Nancy Verra, and Commissioner Giannidis, Vice President and CEO of the Vitex company awarded for the offer to the OPAP Forward program The companies and categories in which they were distinguished: Business Excellence Winner: BIOZOKAT Top Export Activity Offer to OPAP Forward I Winner: Vitex Also, an award was given to the mentor who offered most hours of consulting hours to the participating companies. Specifically, the “Corporate Mentor” award was awarded to Eleni Bathianakis, Managing Partner in Halcyon Equity Partners. Antonis Kyrkos, Digital & Strategy Officer, Group Executive Committee at the Group of TITAN Companies, and Eleni Bathianakis, Managing Partner at Halcyon Equity Partners, which was awarded as Best Mentor of the program. Elias Katsaros, Chief Retail Officer of OPAP, Ulysses Christophorus, Deputy CEO OPAP, Achilles Kontou, Chief People Officer OPAP, Fotis Zissimopoulos, Chief Product Officer OPAP, Matthew, Chief Operations Officer OPAP, John Paul, Head of CEO Office OPAP Markos Veremis, Partner of Big Pi Ventures and Member of the Board of Endeavor Greece and Alexander Triantafyllou, Vice President of the company BIOZOKAT, awarded for faster economic development. The President of the EIOP, Dimitris Dzanatos, and Commissioner Giannidis, Vice President and CEO of the Vitex company awarded for the Top Export Activity