Entrepreneurs, investors, bankers and representatives of European institutions at the ‘Growing Together’ event

A total of 300 businessmen, investors, bankers and representatives of European institutions from eight European countries participated in the “Growing Together” event co-organized by Bpifrance, the Hellenic Development Bank (HDB) and the Hellenic Development Investment Bank (EATE in Athens, 4). April.

In the main stage and in the 4 thematic sections on agri-food, climate, culture, creative industries and health, 60 inspirational speakers participated and shared their experiences and development goals for a stronger Europe.

At the same event, eight Greek businessmen presented their companies to investors and stakeholders, in a pitching organized by the Hellenic Development Bank (HDB) with Bpifrance.

The Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, honored the event with his presence. Also present: The Minister of Development and Investment, Adonis Georgiadis and the Deputy Minister of Development and Investment, Giannis Tsakiris.

European Cooperation Protocol

A European cooperation protocol between five development banks and investment organizations was announced at the Zappeion Megaron on the occasion of the Growing Together event, in the presence of the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The protocol aims to increase investment funds to finance European technology companies at mature stages of development. Under the agreement, € 3.3 billion will be mobilized over the next 3 to 5 years to fund European technology leaders. The protocol is signed by Bpifrance (France), KfW Capital (Germany), Tesi (Finland), Hellenic Development Investment Bank, formerly TANEO (Greece) and Vækstfonden (Denmark).

The Hellenic Development Investment Bank (EATE) and Bpifrance also signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at accelerating the development of fund managers to strengthen the venture capital market in general.

In addition, the Hellenic Development Bank (HDB) has signed two Memoranda of Understanding with the Development Banks of Belgium and Portugal, namely Sowalfin (Belgium) and Banco Portugues de Fomento (Portugal), marking the beginning of new initiatives and opportunities for economic and social development. These Memoranda of Understanding aim to enhance growth opportunities and seek to enhance funding, investment mobilization and SME support.

In addition, these memoranda aim to attract investment and strengthen the extroversion and competitiveness of Greek entrepreneurship, including through the “InnoAgora powered by HDB” platform. This is a Greek platform hosted on Bpifrance’s EuroQuity platform, which creates a professional and specialized network of investors and entrepreneurs at European level.

These synergies signal the commitment of growth banks to a common goal and vision: to support and promote entrepreneurship in Europe to grow together (Growing Together).

Strategic agreement on energy upgrade

At the same time, a very important strategic agreement for the energy upgrade of Greece was signed between the Hellenic Development Bank (HDB) and DEPA Commerce regarding the “White Dragon” project.

This project – this is an investment proposal that exceeds 8 billion euros – concerns the development of an innovative, integrated green hydrogen project in Greece that covers the entire hydrogen value chain. The aim of the cooperation is to create the new ecosystem of companies in the field of green energy, through the planning of joint support actions and the effective utilization of financial tools by companies. Prospects for cooperation and facilitation of access to finance will also be explored, as well as the conditions for attracting significant investment in the transition to clean energy.

In addition, eight companies, all members of the online development platform of the Hellenic Development Bank (HDB) InnoAgora, participated in the presentation of investment proposals (pitch session) to more than 30 investors, seeking to raise over 35 million euros: BibeCoffee, Brite Solar, Cent Analytics, InSyBio, Loctio PC, PaloServices, PD Neurotechnology and RTsafe.

As part of the event, eight Greek companies presented their exhibits related to innovative products: Biopix DNA Technology IKE, EV Loader, Eye Radar, Magos, Moptil-Mobile Optical Illusions, SciDrones, OramaVR and PD Neurotechnology.

Bpifrance was represented by Nicolas Dufourcq (Managing Director), Pascal Lagarde (Executive Director of International Strategy, Studies and Development) and Isabelle Bébéar (Director, Head of International & European Affairs).

The Hellenic Development Bank – HDB was represented by Athena Hadjipetrou (President and CEO) and Pantelis Tzortzakis (Executive Vice President).

The Hellenic Development Investment Bank was represented by Haris Lambropoulos (President) and Antigoni Lymperopoulou (CEO).

Also participating:

• Nathalie Berger, Director of Support for Member State Reform, European Commission

• Beatriz Freitas, CEO, Banco Portugues de Formento (Portugal)

• Jean-Pierre Di Bartolomeo, President, Solwalfin (Belgium)

• Gytis Zakevicius, Adviser to the Minister, Ministry of Finance of Lithuania

• Ioannis Kaltsas, Director of Financing in Greece and Cyprus, European Investment Bank (EIB)

• Anne Mieke Van der Werf, Business Development Manager, Invest NL (Netherlands)

• Jan Sasse, CEO, Tesi (Finland)

• David Denzer-Speck, Head of European Affairs, KfW (Germany)

• Ioannis Bratakos, President of EVEA (Greece)

And also ventures and investment funds:

• Alexandros Fotakidis, Partner – Head of CVC Greece, CVC Capital Partners

• Apostolos Tamvakakis, Founder of EOS Capital Partners

• Giannis Papadopoulos, President of the Hellenic Venture Capital Association (HVCA)

• Bertrand Rambaud, President, Siparex

• Véra Kempf, Co-Founder, Singulart

• Nicolas Fritz, CEO, ContentSquare

• George Tziralis, Partner, Marathon Venture Capital

• Antoine Papiernik, Managing Partner, Sofinnova Partners

• Dimitris Dimitriadis, Chief Innovation Officer, TheFutureCats

• George Dimopoulos, Partner, VentureFriends