Amid Greek tech boom, a prominent seed-stage firm locks down €75 million

Marathon Venture partnersAccording to Panos Papadopoulos, an enterprise company, Partner Panos Papadopoulos, according to “Partner a day for Greek technological partners”, is trying to be “Today TechNerners of the day.”

The vehicle brings the total assets of the company under the control of 175 million euros – an eight-year-old in Greece, the seeds of the seeds and a large number of large. Among them, AugMon’s portfolio company Portfolian company CNH, a farm machinery and construction equipment manufacturer Cash Agreement This assessed the Augment worth $ 110 million. Marathon, also some shares, a cybertyoriture, a cybercurity and talent assessment platform, investment firm Carlyle repeated transaction.

On Thursday, Thursday, Techcrunch’nın Techcrunch’nin First Stricline evening, on Thursday, May 8, as part of a person entered on Thursday, A. We talked to papadopoulos Deep dive Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. What we want to know – and what the central questions will be on Thursday – This is why: Why Greece and why now?

Greece has historically invested in less enterprises than other European countries. What if the global fundraising is more difficult, changed something to increase the € 75 million euro?

For beginnings, marathon I am the highest interest player on a global scale [realized returns]We set up a portfolio that keeps the open existing zeitgeist well, for example, AI-aid research, robotics or defense turned into a normal.

What is your thesis for your company, and has been the thesis of this new fund for a long time we see this world?

We support the founders who make something difficult in important markets. It can be difficult because it means a study or as a high agency, as well as the concept of an industry adjustable or evading industrial, as a high agency. And together with the severity, we will continue to double in our rapidly growing society, which collects experience and experience.

Greek beginnings have traditionally faced scale challenges outside the internal market. How do you assess a company’s international growth potential in this environment, which is more than fast expansion of capital?

I beg to be different. Greek beginnings use local talents to serve leading global customers and markets from the first day. Our portfolio is almost income from the internal market. But they serve the best part of Fortune 500.

At the same time, capital efficiency and the team’s gritti is the second nature for our society.

We see fewer iPels expanded holding periods for global scale and expanded companies. How did this affect your conversations about the expected time and returns with your limited partners?

We do not need deckorns to work for our fund. We invest early, we maintain capital capital positions and keep our stock size small. These provide different opportunities for meaningful income, including second and strategic M & A before an IPO. When the majority of the market promises endless retention, it was second in 2021. Cash in our culture is the king. It seems that many have forgotten him.

Many European VCS highlights deep technological and AI. Marathon gets a similar approach, or you see different opportunities inherent in the Greek ecosystem?

Of course we all have, but the definition of deep technology stretches and means very different things for different people. We do not pay attention to any special sector – instead, we focus on people who change their sectors. I was probably the first generalist VC to invest in defense before the Ukrainian War.

Greek founders have historically received less financial than colleagues in Berlin, Paris or Stockholm. Do you see evaluations for Greek starters reflecting this discount and create opportunities for this better return?

This does not apply to this geography or price in our experience. We support the founders in non-ignoring consensus opportunities. We move fast with confidence and don’t ask who else is investing. These may sound like table stakes; They are not yet.

Given the difficult global output environment, how will you consult your portfolio companies about the strategic alternatives such as secondary sales or shopping?

We carry out the default with our portfolio companies to the scenarios alive. Starting from there, all options are on the table. We see the founders want to actually run their companies for a long time. We believe that a second sale can actually help it, and in most cases we support these scenarios.

The EU stressed the support of beginners through various financing mechanisms. How important are these sources from these sources to portfolio companies?

We welcome any initiative. However, we recommend that the founders of our portfolio, not losing time in non-market activities.

How did the improved macroeconomic situation in Greece affect your fundraising process and how did you influence the quality of the beginnings you see?

It’s always good when you don’t do press headers, but what we do is less suitable for local macro. As for the talent front, it really is based on naive empirical if you have any connection. The difficulty is the mother of the whole invention.

Many American VCS retreated from European investments. Did this allow more opportunities for local funds such as marathon or to make the Signal Deals more difficult?

It is definitely a different market, but also creates an increasing opportunity for European investors. In 2021, I do not think the Capital Selin really changed the opportunity for European companies. We must always count ourselves and match the founders for a long time.