ena Development Consultants, a proud member of the EIT Food Hub Greece and partner of #DigiAgriFood, successfully organized the event "Business Development and Innovation: Trends, Tools, and Strategies", as part of StartUp Greece Week 2024.

The event took place on Wednesday, October 23, at #enahub — a meeting point for people and ideas from all sectors, united by a common goal: development, education, innovation, and entrepreneurship. It attracted a diverse audience including students, entrepreneurs, farmers, and academics.

The event aimed to offer networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities to enhance competitiveness and attract new investments in the agrifood sector, creating prospects for sustainable growth.

The event was opened and moderated by Theodora Tsokanari, Executive Manager of Thinc Thrace incubator, who welcomed the audience with a brief introduction to ena Development Consultants and its mission.

The event featured a series of highly engaging talks delivered by leading professionals, structured around five key thematic pillars:

In the first session, the secrets of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in business were unveiled. Speakers included: Stavros Amoiras, Director of Strategic Planning & Development at ena Development Consultants and Stergios Tegos, Software Engineer and CEO of Enchatted.

They explored how AI can effectively penetrate organizations to optimize operations, reduce work time, and boost employee productivity — presenting AI as a strategic tool for business growth.

George Koutsoudakis, Founder & CEO of Smiling Machines, also presented the latest global developments and trends shaping the industry. He showcased how businesses can adapt to modern demands and challenges through innovation and strategic flexibility.

Ioannis-Marios Psimadas, Business Consultant at WOW Innovation, introduced Design Thinking as a key methodology for business development and innovation. His talk emphasized understanding business and customer needs, ideation through continuous feedback, and how Design Thinking boosts creativity and long-term competitiveness.

Angelos Vasileiou, Tech Lead at Mantis Beyond Innovation, discussed the journey from idea to product implementation. He tackled the “intention-action gap” faced by startups — from fear of failure and burnout to perfectionism — and presented tools such as the Business Model Canvas and MVP (Minimum Viable Product) to help startups validate ideas quickly and efficiently through customer-centric development.

In this session, Izaskun Valle Mendieta, Senior Project Officer at EIT Food, joined remotely to present the role of EIT Food in supporting innovation and startups in the agrifood sector, highlighting programs that promote entrepreneurship and sustainability.

Then, Angeliki Drakou, CEO & Co-Founder of Grizo & Prasino and beneficiary of the Empowering Women in Agrifood program, shared her journey as an agripreneur. She highlighted the challenges of modern agriculture and the innovation behind her botanical products, emphasizing the power of teamwork and the importance of expert support for sustainable growth.

Neoklis Stamkos, CEO of Microsmart, presented his company’s innovative approach to microfinancing, offering flexible and transparent funding solutions for small businesses and professionals. Through digital processes and credit-profile-based evaluations, Microsmart enables access to up to €25,000 in funding. By integrating AI to assess creditworthiness and improve customer experience, the company aims to expand financial inclusion and foster sustainable business solutions, especially in underserved regions.

During the breaks, participants enjoyed homemade, traditional Thracian delicacies, reflecting the warm hospitality of #enahub.