Bridging Ecosystems: France, Greece & Europe’s Growing Innovation Map

At the first-ever Greeking Out in Paris, one of the most dynamic conversations unfolded between two people who sit at the center of their respective ecosystems: Marwan Elfitesse, Head of Startup Programs & Business Services at Station F, and Panagiotis Karampinis, Managing Director at Endeavor Greece.

Their discussion offered an inside look at how France and Greece are building tech ecosystems with shared challenges, complementary strengths, and real opportunities for cross-border collaboration - not just between these two countries, but across Europe as a whole.

The Station F Model: A Platform for Global Startups

Marwan opened by sharing the story of Station F, the iconic startup campus in Paris. Founded 8 years ago by entrepreneur Xavier Niel with a €250M personal investment, Station F has become a cornerstone of French tech. But, as Marwan emphasized, it was never designed for France alone. From the start, Station F positioned itself as a global platform - welcoming founders, partners, and corporates from around the world.

Today, Station F hosts over 30 accelerator and startup programs - many led by corporates, universities, or international partners - with more than 7,000 startups having passed through its doors since launch. 30% of current founders come from outside France, with growing representation from Europe, the U.S., North Africa, and Asia.

What makes the Station F model particularly powerful is its multi-layered approach:

• A campus where startups apply and join curated programs

• A platform where corporates run innovation labs, scout startups, and facilitate pilots and acquisitions

• A hub that allows foreign founders to enter the European market and scale across Western Europe

This diversity, Marwan noted, is a strength - especially at a time when Europe’s geopolitical position offers a “neutral ground” for founders navigating tensions between the U.S. and China.

Startup Generation: France’s Evolution in the Last Decade

Marwan also shared how the French ecosystem has matured significantly over the past 10 years. Where first-time founders once dominated, Station F now sees a rising number of serial entrepreneurs - some returning with their second or third ventures. Others are spinning out from France’s growing pool of unicorns, forming what Marwan called "mini-mafias" of experienced operators starting new companies.

At the sector level, three verticals are driving growth at Station F:

• AI and applied AI (representing ~30% of funds raised on campus last year)

• Climate tech and deep tech energy solutions

• Healthtech and biotech

As Marwan pointed out, these are areas where Europe - with its regulatory leadership, research strength, and engineering depth - can compete globally.

Greece’s Global Mindset & Growing Momentum

In turn, Panagiotis provided perspective from Greece, where the ecosystem is newer but gaining momentum fast. With limited local market size, Greek founders naturally build global from day one. And now, with a new generation of exited founders, repeat entrepreneurs, and early-stage capital, Greece is producing not just promising startups - but entire sectors of technical talent, particularly in AI, shipping tech, and fintech.

Panagiotis emphasized how Endeavor’s work is driven by these "high-impact entrepreneurs" - founders who not only build successful companies, but reinvest their time, capital, and networks to help the next generation. As Greece’s ecosystem matures, this multiplier effect is becoming increasingly visible.

The Europe Opportunity: A Shared Need for Cross-Border Scale

The conversation shifted toward Europe’s structural challenges - especially when compared to the U.S.

Unlike the American single market, European founders must navigate fragmented regulations, languages, and commercial landscapes when scaling across borders. Yet both Marwan and Panagiotis saw this as a huge opportunity for collaboration rather than a barrier.

Initiatives like EU Inc., the recently launched pan-European startup alliance supported by investors like Index Ventures, show growing recognition that Europe must integrate its innovation markets more deeply. Programs like Station F’s global scale-up tracks - which bring startups from Japan, South Korea, and India to Europe - reflect this international outlook.

Bridging France and Greece: What’s Next?

Both speakers saw real potential for deeper Greece-France ties - whether through talent exchanges, shared accelerator programs, or cross-border corporate innovation.

• Greece offers a highly skilled and cost-competitive engineering base.

• France offers mature corporate partners, later-stage capital, and established market infrastructure.

• Both countries share a cultural appetite to become more globally connected - while remaining proudly European.

As Panagiotis put it: “We can combine advantages. Greece brings talent and energy. France brings depth and scale. Together, we can make Europe more competitive”