25 Years of Exploration: From Virtual Trip to Today

Twenty-five years ago, on a Tuesday in September 2000, five undergraduate students in Heraklion, Crete — together with Critical Publics — launched what was most likely Greece’s first student startup: Virtual Trip.

Back then, Periklis, Harry, Miltos, Nikos, and I had no idea what the future would bring. What we did have, beyond any doubt, was excitement. Excitement for the unknown, for exploration, for trying to build something from scratch that mattered. We were 22 years old, driven by the conviction that we didn’t want bosses, but rather wanted to step directly into the global market.

Looking back, Virtual Trip was a bold and, in many ways, revolutionary step. Despite tremendous effort, most of what we attempted did not yield results. Our wings, like those of Icarus, melted. The fall hurt — not only us, but, unintentionally, others around us. Yet, at the very last moment, a powerful web of trust, friendship, belief, and love saved us from collapse. And out of this imperfect, unfinished project came a seed.

That seed became the fertile ground for later successes like Epignosis, AbZorba Games, and Yodeck, and it still nourishes newer ventures like DreamClass and others that will follow. In parallel, many other successful companies were created — some directly supported by Virtual Trip, others indirectly inspired by its story.

Through this journey, there are so many people to whom I owe gratitude. To my fellow co-founders — Periklis Akritidis, Charalampos Gkikas, Nikos Venturas, and Miltos Vasilakis — for sharing the dream from the very beginning. To those who trusted us early, like Kostis Dallas and Alexandros Kouris. To our professors and mentors at the University of Crete, FORTH, and the Science and Technology Park of Crete — especially the late professors Christos Nikolaou, Stelios Orphanoudakis, and Artemis Saitakis, and others such as Evangelos Markatos, Giorgos Georgakopoulos, and Spyros Lalis. To my later co-founders, Manos Moschos, Thanos Papangelis, and Vaggelis Michalopoulos, whose talent, friendship, and commitment carried the vision forward.

I am also deeply thankful to all colleagues who joined us along the way. Together we created something that mattered. Sometimes it was fun, other times it was not. But looking back, we truly built something of significance — and we did it together.

Of course, mistakes were made — plenty of them. Despite the best of intentions, we did at times cause disappointment or pain. For this, I remain sincerely sorry. But I also remain proud that our motives were always genuine, and that our core principles never changed.

For me, entrepreneurship has always been — and still is — the excitement of the explorer: stepping into the unknown, venturing into uncharted territory. The will to explore can be so strong that it often appears as confidence, or even certainty. But in reality, it is nothing more than a relentless desire to try, to test, to learn, and to build.

Today, as we stand at the dawn of a new era shaped by Generative AI, I believe this truth is more relevant than ever. Gen AI marks the beginning of the era of the entrepreneur. Never before in human history has it been easier to make things — and to make things happen. The tools now exist for anyone, anywhere, to turn an idea into reality with unprecedented speed and efficiency. For those willing to explore, the opportunities are limitless.

From the basement of the Science and Technology Park of Crete to the Starttech Ventures building in the center of Athens, this has been an extraordinary journey. My gratitude extends to everyone who has traveled alongside me: co-founders, colleagues, mentors, partners, friends, family. I especially remember my parents, to whom I owe everything, and whose memory continues to guide me every single day.

On this 25th anniversary, my commitment is clear: to continue walking this path of entrepreneurship with the same spirit, values, and principles that guided us in the beginning. The first quarter of a century was a foundation. The next will be an opportunity to prove that success is not luck or privilege, but the result of choice, persistence, collaboration, and vision.

Here’s to the next 25 years. Off we go.