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About

Thanks for stopping by.

This is where I write about AI, startups, technology, and Greece — sometimes structured, sometimes exploratory, often thinking in progress. If you build things, fund them, or teach people who do, you’ll hopefully find something useful here.

A few words on me: I was born in Thessaloniki, Greece and grew up in Halkidiki and later in Kilkis — a small, family-friendly town in Northern Greece with wonderful people and a sense of “belonging” that has stayed with me.

Lake Doirani in Kilkis

My introduction to technology came early. In 1987, my dad got me and my brother our first computer: an Amstrad 6128. Diskette drive included – the serious version. The 464 had cassette tapes. Enough said.

 That was enough to permanently infect me with the tech bug. It was not just about games, although there were plenty of those. It was the feeling that you could type something, experiment, break things, fix things, and create something from nothing. That feeling never really left me.

My first computer was a Amstrad CPC 6128 launched in 1985. What was yours?
You are a real gamer only when you have played Ghosts’n’Goblins on the green pixel screen of Amstrad

I studied Electrical and Computer Engineering at Democritus University of Thrace, then moved to Athens and joined Microsoft. Along the way I completed an MBA and a Ph.D. at the National Technical University of Athens, both in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The beautiful old town of Xanthi – a hidden gem in Greece.

I’ve been with Microsoft since 2000, working across nearly every technology wave — sales, developer evangelism, marketing, partnerships, innovation programs, cloud, AI, startups, business development. I’ve led teams and I’ve been an individual contributor, and I honestly enjoy both. Leading teaches you to create space for others to grow. Being close to the field keeps you close to customers, and close to the real problems that need solving.

Today I work with startups — some of the most promising companies across Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe — helping ambitious founders build, scale, and compete globally with cloud and AI. If some of the next great European technology companies come out of this work, that’s the whole point.

I care deeply about technology, entrepreneurship, and education in Greece. I believe this country has extraordinary talent, and for years my question has been a simple one: how do we help more of that talent find the right opportunities, the right networks, and the right confidence to build something meaningful? So I’ve tried to give back where I can — as a mentor, advisor, speaker, or simply someone willing to make an introduction. That thread runs through most of what I’ve been involved in, from the Microsoft Innovation Center in Greece to the strategic advisory committee of the MSc in Management Science & Technology at the Athens University of Economics and Business.

Another thing I care about is coaching. I hold a certification in executive coaching, and I’ve come to believe it’s one of the most human ways to help people grow. Good coaching isn’t about handing over ready-made answers — it’s about helping people listen to themselves, see their options more clearly, and move forward with a little more confidence.

Outside work, I write music, play tennis, and travel. These aren’t just hobbies. They keep me curious, creative, and occasionally humble — especially tennis.

I don’t write here as someone who has all the answers. I write because I’m still learning, still curious, and still fascinated by what technology can do when it meets ambition, talent, and purpose.

I’m always open to interesting conversations, ideas, and connections — feel free to reach out.

— Fotis