Today, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended the inaugural StrictlyVC event in Greece, hosted by TechCrunch, the premier technology media outlet.
The initiative is spearheaded by Greek-born Konnie Loizos, TechCrunch’s director and the driving force behind the event.
Who is Konnie Loizos?
Konnie Loizos launched her career as a journalist and writer, achieving notable success across major US media platforms.
Before establishing StrictlyVC in late 2013, she served as a senior editor at Thomson Reuters, contributing thousands of articles, columns, and profiles across various channels. Her journalism journey began at the San Jose Mercury News, focusing on business reporting, and included stints at leading news organizations such as Dow Jones, Time Inc., and Crain Communications.
In addition to her journalism work, she has freelanced for publications like Barron’s, Fast Company, Portfolio, and Inc. Loizos is actively engaged in the San Francisco writing community, maintaining strong connections within journalism and technology circles.
On a personal note, Konnie resides in the Bay Area with her husband and sons, alongside what she humorously describes as a fiercely authoritarian terrier. She is also a devoted fan of her hometown sports teams in Cleveland, despite their frequent struggles.
Loizos has a strong connection to Greece, with all four of her grandparents hailing from Ikaria. “While I have no relatives left, my visit to the island sparked an unexpected and profound connection,” she shares.
Speaking to APM, she stated, “StrictlyVC was created to provide something increasingly rare in today’s media: depth, context, and genuine information. Our newsletters and events emphasize quality over quantity, fostering substantive discussions and community building. Attendees often tell me that a StrictlyVC evening feels authentically different, which is very rewarding.”
For the first time, StrictlyVC expanded to Europe last year with an event in London. The second event is taking place today (Thursday, 8/5) at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre in Athens, featuring guests like Prime Minister Mitsotakis, prominent investors, and startup founders. Another European StrictlyVC event will occur in London on May 13.
“We aim to make this a regular feature on our calendar. The rapidly growing startup scene in Athens deserves recognition,” says Loizos, expressing her admiration for Greece’s resilient innovation ecosystem during challenging economic times. She adds, “I am always supportive of the country.”
Discussing today’s technological trends, she notes, “The focus is on how emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, are transforming societal foundations. The advancements in AI and machine learning are reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace.”
Having lived in the San Francisco area for decades and interviewed numerous influential figures, she emphasizes that “the belief that Silicon Valley is the sole hub for global tech innovation is a misconception. Exceptional companies can be established anywhere. The Blitzscaling model, which emphasizes unrelenting growth, has yielded both remarkable successes and significant failures.”
In guiding her journalism team, Loizos encourages them “to look beyond surface-level announcements and analyze broader patterns and implications. What does each funding round or product launch signify for industry trajectories? How might regulatory shifts alter competitive dynamics?” She expresses concern about ensuring a balanced skepticism without descending into cynicism, emphasizing the importance of assessing innovation while remaining vigilant against advertising influences.
In light of the worldwide technological transformations, we ask her about Europe’s role in the global innovation landscape. “While the US often commands media attention with tech giants, Europe is solidifying its strengths through sustainable practices, privacy considerations, and evidence-based regulations. The European regulatory framework may be seen as a hurdle, with some American billionaires claiming it gives the US an edge. However, I believe Europe’s potential to lead in establishing ethical technology development guidelines could become its most significant contribution to the global tech ecosystem,” she asserts.
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