CapsuleT at the Zagori Impact Investing Forum!
Dialogue, Innovation, and Sustainability in Tourism
The Zagori Impact Investing Forum once again this year highlighted the essential role of innovation and entrepreneurship in shaping a more sustainable and resilient economic future. For three days, May 15–17, 2025, startup founders, investors, representatives of institutions, and policymakers gathered in Ioannina, exchanging ideas and best practices that create real social and environmental impact.
As part of the event, Katerina Saridaki, Director of CapsuleT – the first tourism and hospitality accelerator in Greece – participated in the panel “Tourism Pathways – Sustainability, Culture & Sports,” on the evening of Friday, May 17, at the “Dimitris Chatzis” Cultural Center.
Joining her on the panel were representatives from the public and private sectors, as well as from the fields of sports and hospitality (Mr. Spyros Kyriakis, MP for Ioannina, Mr. Vassilis Tzoumakas, CEO of My Adventure and Race Director of Zagori Mountain Running, Mr. Vasileios Psychas, Vice President of PAE Panionios, and Ms. Elsa Exarchou, owner of Mikro Papigo 1700 Hotel & Spa and CEO of Branding Greece).
During the discussion, Katerina Saridaki answered questions focused on the connection between sustainability and tourism innovation. As she noted, CapsuleT has observed in recent years a growing interest from startups developing solutions with sustainability at their core. This trend aligns with the shift in tourism demand, where travelers seek experiences with a smaller environmental footprint and authentic connection to local communities.
According to recent studies, startups in sustainable tourism focus on three main directions:
• Promoting local communities: They collaborate with local artisans, farmers, and entrepreneurs to offer authentic experiences to travelers, strengthening the local economy.
• Environmental conservation: They adopt practices such as waste reduction, energy saving, and the use of sustainable transportation to preserve natural resources.
• Use of innovative technologies: They incorporate technologies like virtual and augmented reality to highlight cultural landmarks and provide interactive experiences to visitors.
In response to the panel’s second question, Ms. Saridaki noted that it is now clear that sustainability trends in the tourism and hospitality sectors lead to practices that connect environmental awareness with cultural promotion. Startups that have participated in CapsuleT are characteristic examples of this path, actively contributing to strengthening local identity and responsible hospitality.
Through solutions that include waste management, tackling food waste, integrating ESG practices, and digitizing services, these businesses respond to the modern needs of hotels and destinations for sustainable operations and authentic experiences.
Immersive Zagori Retreat: A Collaboration Network in a Natural Canvas
The day after the forum, the CapsuleT delegation participated in the Immersive Zagori Retreat – a unique networking experience in a magical natural setting. In an environment combining tradition and tranquility, participants had the opportunity to exchange thoughts and discuss the future of innovation in a more informal and experiential tone, significantly strengthening the networking and connections within the ecosystem.
CapsuleT’s participation in the Zagori Impact Investing Forum highlighted the value of technology and innovation as catalysts for a more sustainable model of tourism development and confirmed the importance of continuous networking, dialogue, and collaboration with local communities, professionals, and policymakers.
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