The 7th Acceleration Cycle of CapsuleT is complete!
The 7th Acceleration Cycle of CapsuleT, the Accelerator of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, successfully concluded with a grand closing ceremony and awards event. The event took place on Wednesday, February 5, at ATRAKTOS, bringing together strategic partners, mentors, judges, and top startups in the tourism industry, proving the program’s impact.
The Winners of the 7th Cycle
Three startups stood out in this year’s cycle, securing the top positions at CapsuleT:
1st Place: Algomo (€10,000)
2nd Place: SmartInn.ai (€5,000)
3rd Place: Wastecloud (€3,000)
Additionally, the audience had the chance to vote for their favorite team, with the “Audience Award” going to WeTip, which won a 4-day stay in Zakynthos, offered by Zante Hospitality Group.
In total, the eight startups that pitched on stage for the competition were: Algomo, Epivatis, Hype, iSPACE, Menufi, SmartInn.ai, Wastecloud and WeTip.
Beyond the Cash Prizes
The winners received not only monetary prizes, generously donated by The People’s Trust, but also valuable services:
• Programize: Product development consulting and privileged development services.
• Nelios: Free digital marketing services for Algomo.
• PwC Greece: Free consulting sessions on strategy, financing, taxation, and legal matters.
• Aegean Airlines: 4 free double, round-trip tickets, for any Aegean or Olympic Air route inside the country or abroad, for 4 members of Algomo.
The Impact of the Accelerator on the Tourism Sector
The President of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, Alexandros Vassilikos, highlighted the importance of technology in tourism:
“Today’s event is one of the most enjoyable, creative, and youth-driven initiatives. Behind these characteristics lies serious work, which, through the actions of CapsuleT, strives—and after six years, succeeds—in bringing closer an industry that must evolve in a highly competitive international environment, with a fresh, out-of-the-box perspective.
With 312 startup founders, more than 3,200 hours of mentoring, numerous pivots, 13 local association presentations, participation in exhibitions, and over 135 panels, I am very pleased that we are responding to the tourism industry’s need for technology and innovation.”
The General Secretary for Tourism Policy and Development, Vasiliki Koutsoukou, stated:
“It is a great pleasure to be here today at the CapsuleT Accelerator Closing and Awards Ceremony, an initiative of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, a valuable institutional advisor in the hospitality sector, which substantially supports the effort to connect startup entrepreneurship with tourism development.
In an era where modern travelers increasingly seek personalized and authentic experiences, digital technology plays a key role. Through CapsuleT s programs, an important step is being taken towards enhancing the travel experience in Greece and strengthening the quality of Greek tourism. Our goal remains the creation of a strong, competitive, modern, and sustainable tourism product.”
The Director of CapsuleT, Katerina Saridaki, emphasized:
“Our passion is extroversion. We work with teams locally, support them during their five-month journey in the program, help them understand the Greek market, and encourage them to expand internationally.
Our goal is to reach 10 years of CapsuleT, achieving even greater milestones. As a country, ecosystem, and tourism startup community, we are ready to take the next step. Thank you all for your invaluable support over these six years, and congratulations to our teams.”
Collaboration with Elevate Greece
The CEO of Elevate Greece, Fragkiskos Theofilaktos, stated:
“Congratulations on this remarkable event, the six-year journey we witnessed, and the last six months of dedicated work. The effort is evident.
Elevate Greece is traveling across the country to connect regional ecosystems with reliable partners committed to startup growth. We are already in discussions with Ms. Saridaki about launching specialized masterclasses and workshops, providing valuable learning opportunities for Elevate Greece members and teams that ‘have graduated’ CapsuleT.”
Key Supporters and Partners
The completion of the 7th cycle of the Acceleration Program took place once again with the valuable contribution of the non-profit organization The People’s Trust, which strengthened the further development of technological startups in the tourism sector and supported the competitive part of the program by offering cash prizes for the 3 winners. Equally valuable was the contribution of Google, which supported the program with specialized workshops on AI topics, as well as Aegean Airlines, thanks to which the travel of teams outside Athens became easier.
Important supporters of the program’s actions were the strategic partners of the accelerator: NBG Business Seeds of The National Bank of Greece, Nelios, Programize, PwC Greece, TÜV Austria Hellas and Investing For Purpose, who strengthened the Cycle through workshops and mentoring sessions.
At the same time, the CapsuleT team joined forces with Clio Muse Tours, Ferryhopper, Triparound, Welcome Pickups and Woof Together, recognized startups in the tourism market, which became community partners in the program. Finally, the supporter for providing coffee products throughout the Cycle was Douwe Egberts/Foodrinco, while significant Event Supporters were Candia Beer and Lafazanis Winery .
Looking Ahead
CapsuleT continues its mission to drive innovation and technology in Greek tourism. Stay tuned for upcoming initiatives and opportunities for startups by following us on our social media channels.
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