Kastoria Business Start-up Weekend: A dynamic initiative by the ACT Entrepreneurship Hub
Key issues concerning entrepreneurship, operation, and financing of new businesses were discussed during the Kastoria Business Start-up Weekend, which took place on March 8th and 9th, 2025, at the University of Western Macedonia (UoWM).
The Kastoria Business Start-up Weekend was organized by the Entrepreneurship Hub of ACT (American College of Thessaloniki) in collaboration with the Institute of Economic Analysis and Entrepreneurship of the University Research Centre THMENOS of the UoWM, the Economics Department of the UoWM, and the Chamber of Kastoria.
More than 70 participants had the opportunity to meet in a dynamic environment, develop their ideas into vibrant projects, discuss with experienced mentors, and acquire skills necessary for their next steps.
The seminar covered modern product and service branding, value proposition and effective pitching of start-ups, financial management, the function of business angels and venture capitals, and the use of the business canvas model in business planning.
At the same time, examples of new local and reg\ional enterprises already testing their strengths in the market were presented, some of which have benefited from the ACT Entrepreneurship Hub’s programs.
The two-day seminar's main objectives —networking and enrichment of business knowledge—were fully achieved, with the local economy of Kastoria becoming a stakeholder in evolution and transformation through the cooperation of the stakeholders.
The event was coordinated by Dr. Nikolas Hourvouliades, Director of the ACT Entrepreneurship Hub, and Dr. Aspasia Vlachvei, Director of the Institute of Economic Analysis and Entrepreneurship THMENOS of the UoWM, with the support of Charalampos Karataglidis, President of the Chamber of Kastoria.
The event was attended by Dr. Aspasia Vlachvei, Director of the Institute of Economic Analysis and Entrepreneurship of UoWM, Dr. Stavroula Laspita, Professor of the Department of Economics of UoWM, Alexandros Papapostolou, Director of Papapostolou Healthcare Technologies, George Kokkas, Executive Director of the International Hellenic University, and Dr. Nikolas Hourvouliades, Director of the ACT Entrepreneurship Hub.
