Greece’s Startup Ecosystem in 2026: Maturity, Momentum, and a New Era of Incentives

The Greek startup ecosystem is decisively moving past its emerging phase, entering 2026 with unprecedented dynamism, maturity, and international visibility. Fuelled by record investment, a strengthening venture capital (VC) environment, and a proactive suite of government policies, Greece is solidifying its claim as a leading regional tech hub.

Country Insights: Greece on the Global Innovation Ascent

Greece’s economic and political stability, recognized by The Economist as “Country of the Year” in 2023, is translating into tangible results in innovation.

• Global Standing: Greece has significantly improved its position, jumping two spots to 47th worldwide in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index and climbing back into the EU’s top 20 in the regional rankings.
• Accelerated Growth: This ascent was driven by a robust 12% growth rate in its ecosystem value, far outpacing the generally low growth seen in many established segments.
• Economic Context: The European Commission forecasts the Greek economy to grow at a strong 2.2% in 2026, driven by investments and EU funding, providing a stable foundation for corporate expansion.

1. The Startup Ecosystem: Achieving Scale and Attracting Mega-Rounds

The most striking trend is the maturation of the Greek startup sector, evidenced by a shift towards larger funding rounds.

• Record Investment: In 2025, over €732.2 million was invested across more than 90 startups—a 35% increase compared to the previous year.
• Funding Split: While early-stage rounds (pre-seed and seed) remain numerous (75% of all rounds), they accounted for only €117.5 million. The remaining €614.1 million was captured by Series A and later rounds, confirming the ecosystem’s ability to nurture and fund scale-ups.
• The Landmark Deal: This maturity was powerfully validated by the largest funding round of the year: Spotawheel’s €300 million Series C and venture debt financing . The deal, which involved Pollen Street Capital, will fuel the mobility platform’s expansion across Europe, underscoring Greece’s capacity to produce globally competitive companies.
• Greece has already produced significant success stories: Viva Wallet and PeopleCert surpassed US$1 billion in valuation in 2022, becoming unicorns and demonstrating the potential of Greek entrepreneurship.

Top Funded Sectors of 2025

Greek startups are increasingly focused on global megatrends:

• Leading Categories: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Software as a Service (SaaS), and HealthTech attracted the majority of funds.
• Emerging Focus: Defense is officially recognized as a fast-growing, standalone category, reflecting new strategic investment interests.

2. Corporate Resilience and the International Footprint

The EIB Investment Survey 2025 confirms the broader Greek business environment is robust, with firms showing remarkable international ambition.

• Global Engagement: An outstanding 81% of Greek firms engage in international trade, a rate significantly above the EU average.
• Investment Optimism: Despite prevailing geopolitical and economic uncertainties, 14% of firms expect to increase investment in 2026, compared to just 4% across the EU.
• Innovation & Digital Adoption: 30% of firms invest in innovation (new products/services), in line with the EU average. While general digital adoption is at 56%, adoption of Generative AI is already reaching 19% among SMEs and 27% among large firms.
• Climate Action: Greek companies are prioritizing sustainability, with 84% having implemented carbon-reduction initiatives.

Persistent Challenges

The path to full maturity is not without obstacles. Firms cite high energy costs (92%), skills shortages (90%), and economic uncertainty (90%) as major investment barriers. Furthermore, talent retention, reducing bureaucracy, and improving coordination across the ecosystem remain crucial priorities.⁸

3. Government Incentives: Catalyzing the Next Phase of Growth

To overcome these structural hurdles and capture global attention, the government has focused on key regulatory and fiscal reforms:

• Expanded Tax Deduction for Angel Investors: The income tax deduction for Angel Investors who back Elevate Greece-registered startups is dramatically strengthened. The maximum eligible investment cap will triple to €900,000 (from €300,000), offering a powerful incentive for high-net-worth individuals to engage in early-stage funding.
• Golden Visa for Startups: To attract foreign capital, a residence permit (Golden Visa) is now available for a €250,000 investment in Greek startups, subject to shareholding and job creation conditions.¹¹
• Administrative Simplification: A comprehensive agenda is underway to reduce administrative burdens by 25%, which includes eliminating 15 time-consuming bureaucratic procedures related to R&D, export licensing, and customs. This focuses on creating a more agile and predictable operating environment.

Greece is not just recovering; it is redefining itself as an innovation powerhouse. The combination of its skilled, multilingual workforce, record-breaking investment activity, and a government committed to reducing red tape positions Greece as a formidable contender to become the dominant tech hub in Southeast Europe in 2026 and beyond.

Source: Kathimerini, EIB, FOUND.ATION, Startupblink