The mission of OK!Thess is the emergence of a complete and effective innovation ecosystem.
An ecosystem with all those who are willing to contribute to the development of innovation in the region.
ΟΚ!Τhess was created to support the operations needed for the healthy growth of the ecosystem.
OK!Thess offers
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Acceleration programmes along with personalized advisory by the startup coaches of OK!Thess in a weekly basis
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A co-working space allowing teams to meet and work together
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Participation in seminars and lectures related to innovation at the OK!Thess premises
Acceleration Program
The OK!Thess acceleration program supports groups of individuals with innovative ideas, at the early stage of their investigation or development. It helps participants mature their ideas in a short period of time, and discover a financially viable and scalable business model that will allow them to grow, as startup businesses, in large markets.
This is realized through:
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Training on methodological tools for business model discovery (Lean Startup Methodology) and basic skills pertinent to entrepreneurship
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Personalized advisory by the startup coaches of OK!Thess in a weekly basis
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Networking with experienced professionals who provide mentoring in specialized topics
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Access to funding through the OK!Thess investor network (Venture Capital funds, business angels) as well as through alternative sources of funding
Further, through several other activities, OK!Thess helps participants to grow their network and become engaged in Thessaloniki’s innovation ecosystem. Since the beginning of 2017 the acceleration program of OK!Thess has provided support to 79 innovative business ventures.
Meetups
Our open space is being used by several of the city’s creative teams as a meeting space and those meetings are open to anyone interested. Meetups’ participants comprise the wider OK!Thess community, a community that exchanges knowledge and experiences targeting to create added value for all of its members.
Supporting Events
The evolving innovation ecosystem also engenders scientific events with speakers of international standing, validation events of an interactive nature where the public participates giving valuable feedback to teams that present their idea in demo days, but also demo days (pitching events) presenting teams from the broader region to investors.
Teams are accepted into the acceleration program through an evaluation process that consists of two phases:
1st phase: The team is evaluated based on its submitted application form, in order to be invited and participate in the week-long training Bootcamp of OK!Thess. The Bootcamp provides 28 hours of training with mandatory attendance.
2nd phase: During the Bootcamp, the team is evaluated for its participation in the full program of the OK!Thess acceleration program, which has a 4-month duration. The program includes approximately 20 training workshops and masterclasses with mandatory attendance, as well as weekly meetings with startup coaches of OK!Thess.
Participation in the Bootcamp of OK!Thess is free of charge. Provided that a team successfully completes the 2nd stage evaluation at the end of the Bootcamp and is accepted into the full program, there is a symbolic fee of 150€ (per team) as a contribution to the activities of OK!Thess.
To participate or organize a meetup please fill in the contact form, giving us some basic information, and we will get back to you as soon as possible for the next steps.
A modern and highly flexible environment to work and organize meetups is provided. The space can be configured for different purposes to adapt to the needs of the moment. A very high speed network is provided. Most working desks, as well as partitions, are on wheels so that the working environment can adapt to the people working or to events involving all the participants in OK!Thess and more.
