With excellent participation and a high standard of organisation, the “Techstars Startup Weekend Thessaloniki 2025” concluded in Thessaloniki, one of the largest Techstars Startup Weekend events in Europe. The event took place on 5–7 December 2025 and was delivered by the Deputy Regional Authority for Digital Governance of the Region of Central Macedonia, highlighting the Region’s role and strong commitment to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship.

The three-day event brought together 160 participants, dozens of mentors, industry professionals, and representatives of the technology ecosystem.

Οι ομάδες ανέπτυξαν και ωρίμασαν τις ιδέες τους με τη συμβολή πενήντα μεντόρων, ενώ δέκα έμπειροι κριτές αξιολόγησαν τις παρουσιάσεις και επέλεξαν εκείνες που διακρίθηκαν για τον βαθμό καινοτομίας και επιχειρησιακής τους πληρότητας.

Competition Results

1st Place – Zenia–X: An innovative artificial intelligence platform for the hospitality sector, providing personalised guest experiences and proactive issue management.

The award was presented by SETPE Chairman of the BoD, Mr. Anastassios Manos.

3rd Place – NavyFunder: A shipping investment funding platform that connects shipowners and investors in a secure and transparent digital environment.

During the Techstars Startup Weekend, five thematic workshops and two panel discussions were held, featuring leading companies and organisations from the local and international innovation ecosystem. In parallel, the AI Hackathon “Unboxed” took place with students from the University of Macedonia, who worked in teams to develop artificial intelligence solutions with practical applications using Microsoft Azure technologies, under the guidance of PwC’s Analytics & AI Hub.

The initiative aimed to promote the practical application of artificial intelligence, strengthen collaboration between academic and technological institutions, and create solutions that can be implemented immediately.