[Music] hi guys it’s wonderful to be here today
hi guys it’s wonderful to be here today
hi guys it’s wonderful to be here today I will share a little bit about my
I will share a little bit about my
I will share a little bit about my personal story I’m half Greek and half
personal story I’m half Greek and half
personal story I’m half Greek and half German and I spent all my summers as a
German and I spent all my summers as a
German and I spent all my summers as a kid on this island called Samos that I
kid on this island called Samos that I
kid on this island called Samos that I moved to later but I will get to that in
moved to later but I will get to that in
moved to later but I will get to that in a bit of time so what you have to know
a bit of time so what you have to know
a bit of time so what you have to know about me is I’m quite an introvert I
about me is I’m quite an introvert I
about me is I’m quite an introvert I have a tech background and a political
have a tech background and a political
have a tech background and a political sciences background and I come from a
sciences background and I come from a
sciences background and I come from a very conservative Greek family so I was
very conservative Greek family so I was
very conservative Greek family so I was in the beginning
in the beginning
in the beginning not so much allowed to actually get my
not so much allowed to actually get my
not so much allowed to actually get my hands dirty and work it was more like
hands dirty and work it was more like
hands dirty and work it was more like you know go to university maybe do an
you know go to university maybe do an
you know go to university maybe do an internship and as it always is then you
internship and as it always is then you
internship and as it always is then you develop this passion that you really
develop this passion that you really
develop this passion that you really want to work right because it’s the one
want to work right because it’s the one
want to work right because it’s the one thing that you’re not allowed to do so
thing that you’re not allowed to do so
thing that you’re not allowed to do so then that’s why I set out to Africa
then that’s why I set out to Africa
then that’s why I set out to Africa because I also needed a little bit of
because I also needed a little bit of
because I also needed a little bit of time away from this you know very
time away from this you know very
time away from this you know very Mediterranean culture and I needed to be
Mediterranean culture and I needed to be
Mediterranean culture and I needed to be free it was puberty basically and then I
free it was puberty basically and then I
free it was puberty basically and then I joined the venture bus in Africa and was
joined the venture bus in Africa and was
joined the venture bus in Africa and was the team that I was at we actually also
the team that I was at we actually also
the team that I was at we actually also won this bus and you know since I have a
won this bus and you know since I have a
won this bus and you know since I have a political sciences background it was
political sciences background it was
political sciences background it was just obvious that I’m not doing things
just obvious that I’m not doing things
just obvious that I’m not doing things that I do for the money I do them
that I do for the money I do them
that I do for the money I do them because also I like working with people
because also I like working with people
because also I like working with people and I really believe that many of these
and I really believe that many of these
and I really believe that many of these solutions that were looking for are
solutions that were looking for are
solutions that were looking for are somewhere out there and people could
somewhere out there and people could
somewhere out there and people could actually develop them but they have
actually develop them but they have
actually develop them but they have different incentives meaning cash right
different incentives meaning cash right
different incentives meaning cash right and then I thought you know well I was
and then I thought you know well I was
and then I thought you know well I was in Africa billions of dollars went into
in Africa billions of dollars went into
in Africa billions of dollars went into Africa so money cannot really be the
Africa so money cannot really be the
Africa so money cannot really be the answer to the problems that we’re facing
answer to the problems that we’re facing
answer to the problems that we’re facing here and we just need better solutions
here and we just need better solutions
here and we just need better solutions different incentive
different incentive
different incentive and different structures and maybe the
and different structures and maybe the
and different structures and maybe the Internet can provide a solution for that
Internet can provide a solution for that
Internet can provide a solution for that so that’s why I kind of changed the
so that’s why I kind of changed the
so that’s why I kind of changed the venture paths into the startup boat to
venture paths into the startup boat to
venture paths into the startup boat to say okay look we’re gonna focus with a
say okay look we’re gonna focus with a
say okay look we’re gonna focus with a group of people on building you know
group of people on building you know
group of people on building you know different things and maybe try it on
different things and maybe try it on
different things and maybe try it on these sessions which is why I invited in
these sessions which is why I invited in
these sessions which is why I invited in 2015 the first team of around 18 people
2015 the first team of around 18 people
2015 the first team of around 18 people to this first startup out to the island
to this first startup out to the island
to this first startup out to the island of samos which is you can see here it’s
of samos which is you can see here it’s
of samos which is you can see here it’s a thousand meters from Turkey and then
a thousand meters from Turkey and then
a thousand meters from Turkey and then we started to build an information
we started to build an information
we started to build an information platform for refugees because the topic
platform for refugees because the topic
platform for refugees because the topic was just you know exploding there were a
was just you know exploding there were a
was just you know exploding there were a lot of people coming from Turkey at the
lot of people coming from Turkey at the
lot of people coming from Turkey at the same time we had around 50,000
same time we had around 50,000
same time we had around 50,000 cancellations of people who are coming
cancellations of people who are coming
cancellations of people who are coming to Greece so it was it was a moment
to Greece so it was it was a moment
to Greece so it was it was a moment where personally I needed to like you
where personally I needed to like you
where personally I needed to like you know step out after Africa and like take
know step out after Africa and like take
know step out after Africa and like take a break and I just kept going and it
a break and I just kept going and it
a break and I just kept going and it healed it hit me really in the face this
healed it hit me really in the face this
healed it hit me really in the face this whole crisis which is why you know I
whole crisis which is why you know I
whole crisis which is why you know I looked a little bit like that afterwards
looked a little bit like that afterwards
looked a little bit like that afterwards because I kept doing these sessions we
because I kept doing these sessions we
because I kept doing these sessions we kept building tools we built a delivery
kept building tools we built a delivery
kept building tools we built a delivery service for first eight items and yeah a
service for first eight items and yeah a
service for first eight items and yeah a couple of couple of very interesting
couple of couple of very interesting
couple of couple of very interesting things we also presented them at the
things we also presented them at the
things we also presented them at the same year in the World Economic Forum
same year in the World Economic Forum
same year in the World Economic Forum and some of those things that we’re
and some of those things that we’re
and some of those things that we’re building right now are here so one is a
building right now are here so one is a
building right now are here so one is a mobile health care station right now
mobile health care station right now
mobile health care station right now we’re looking also at 3d printing
we’re looking also at 3d printing
we’re looking also at 3d printing shelter walls basically to make them
shelter walls basically to make them
shelter walls basically to make them from short-term more into long-term
from short-term more into long-term
from short-term more into long-term shelters and there’s providers of
shelters and there’s providers of
shelters and there’s providers of shelters that have given me basically
shelters that have given me basically
shelters that have given me basically like a mandate to build these things and
like a mandate to build these things and
like a mandate to build these things and you know it’s all about finding out what
you know it’s all about finding out what
you know it’s all about finding out what there is in the scrap yard on this
there is in the scrap yard on this
there is in the scrap yard on this island that have now based myself in and
island that have now based myself in and
island that have now based myself in and then this is a mobile clinic with a
then this is a mobile clinic with a
then this is a mobile clinic with a surgery room that
surgery room that
surgery room that I can also go into Syria and then we
I can also go into Syria and then we
I can also go into Syria and then we have a more corporate so to say I’m
have a more corporate so to say I’m
have a more corporate so to say I’m being the migration hub that is led now
being the migration hub that is led now
being the migration hub that is led now by an independent team so I’m very much
by an independent team so I’m very much
by an independent team so I’m very much prototyping I call it extreme
prototyping I call it extreme
prototyping I call it extreme prototyping and the thing is that we
prototyping and the thing is that we
prototyping and the thing is that we then saw no matter how many solutions we
then saw no matter how many solutions we
then saw no matter how many solutions we built first of all we need a structure
built first of all we need a structure
built first of all we need a structure so that’s why I started a master’s in
so that’s why I started a master’s in
so that’s why I started a master’s in systems engineering on Coursera which I
systems engineering on Coursera which I
systems engineering on Coursera which I can totally recommend you know if you
can totally recommend you know if you
can totally recommend you know if you feel lost just listen to courses and
feel lost just listen to courses and
feel lost just listen to courses and find ways educate yourself about things
find ways educate yourself about things
find ways educate yourself about things that you don’t know about it can really
that you don’t know about it can really
that you don’t know about it can really bring you further and for me it was in
bring you further and for me it was in
bring you further and for me it was in this moment of crisis the most important
this moment of crisis the most important
this moment of crisis the most important thing to do and then we also built an
thing to do and then we also built an
thing to do and then we also built an online incubation program so actually I
online incubation program so actually I
online incubation program so actually I found this guy who built this program
found this guy who built this program
found this guy who built this program you know I look for people online and we
you know I look for people online and we
you know I look for people online and we tried it out we tested it then UNICEF
tried it out we tested it then UNICEF
tried it out we tested it then UNICEF invested into it and it was just you
invested into it and it was just you
invested into it and it was just you know also if you try to get involved
know also if you try to get involved
know also if you try to get involved into this field of work people want to
into this field of work people want to
into this field of work people want to learn together and if you do it with the
learn together and if you do it with the
learn together and if you do it with the right intentions you can actually get
right intentions you can actually get
right intentions you can actually get very far so I would really recommend
very far so I would really recommend
very far so I would really recommend that then one thing that I realized
that then one thing that I realized
that then one thing that I realized after working in this field is that you
after working in this field is that you
after working in this field is that you cannot look at things individually so
cannot look at things individually so
cannot look at things individually so you need to look at your problems in
you need to look at your problems in
you need to look at your problems in education in health care in FinTech also
education in health care in FinTech also
education in health care in FinTech also you know in Greece for example we have
you know in Greece for example we have
you know in Greece for example we have 81% taxes and then I was dealing with
81% taxes and then I was dealing with
81% taxes and then I was dealing with digital banks who take like 0.1% and I
digital banks who take like 0.1% and I
digital banks who take like 0.1% and I don’t know completely dysfunctional have
don’t know completely dysfunctional have
don’t know completely dysfunctional have health care systems and when you’re
health care systems and when you’re
health care systems and when you’re around crazy people which you know I
around crazy people which you know I
around crazy people which you know I work with people in think tanks in San
work with people in think tanks in San
work with people in think tanks in San Francisco as well and they ask those
Francisco as well and they ask those
Francisco as well and they ask those questions that three-year-olds would ask
questions that three-year-olds would ask
questions that three-year-olds would ask that are completely valid but no one
that are completely valid but no one
that are completely valid but no one would ask and this is why I started
would ask and this is why I started
would ask and this is why I started looking at things more in a macro point
looking at things more in a macro point
looking at things more in a macro point of view so if you think about it it’s
of view so if you think about it it’s
of view so if you think about it it’s just a Google Drive with different
just a Google Drive with different
just a Google Drive with different subject areas and I collect these tools
subject areas and I collect these tools
subject areas and I collect these tools and I check them out and then someone
and I check them out and then someone
and I check them out and then someone calls and says hey I want to get
calls and says hey I want to get
calls and says hey I want to get involved and then you know we see if
involved and then you know we see if
involved and then you know we see if this person fits into the team and we
this person fits into the team and we
this person fits into the team and we actually got a lot of stuff done with
actually got a lot of stuff done with
actually got a lot of stuff done with that but then I realize you know we need
that but then I realize you know we need
that but then I realize you know we need values we really need to bring those
values we really need to bring those
values we really need to bring those people together and also keep them
people together and also keep them
people together and also keep them together no matter where they are
together no matter where they are
together no matter where they are because the thing is also with digital
because the thing is also with digital
because the thing is also with digital nomads and with volunteers they travel a
nomads and with volunteers they travel a
nomads and with volunteers they travel a lot and they kind of it’s like they they
lot and they kind of it’s like they they
lot and they kind of it’s like they they recognize each other it’s like you’re
recognize each other it’s like you’re
recognize each other it’s like you’re Spanish and even if you’re in Tajikistan
Spanish and even if you’re in Tajikistan
Spanish and even if you’re in Tajikistan you would still understand you know if
you would still understand you know if
you would still understand you know if you’re talking to someone with Spanish
you’re talking to someone with Spanish
you’re talking to someone with Spanish if you’re Spanish yourself that is so
if you’re Spanish yourself that is so
if you’re Spanish yourself that is so this is why I came up with something
this is why I came up with something
this is why I came up with something that we then this is our mission you
that we then this is our mission you
that we then this is our mission you know is to develop sustainable solutions
know is to develop sustainable solutions
know is to develop sustainable solutions for challenges related to the refugee
for challenges related to the refugee
for challenges related to the refugee crisis in Europe and to make society see
crisis in Europe and to make society see
crisis in Europe and to make society see migration as an opportunity and for this
migration as an opportunity and for this
migration as an opportunity and for this then you know with these digital mind
then you know with these digital mind
then you know with these digital mind migrants that are actually volunteers or
migrants that are actually volunteers or
migrants that are actually volunteers or going around the world I came up with
going around the world I came up with
going around the world I came up with this idea of a trust nation which is
this idea of a trust nation which is
this idea of a trust nation which is like a like a database review of values
like a like a database review of values
like a like a database review of values of intellectual property that are always
of intellectual property that are always
of intellectual property that are always accessible to everyone who joins this
accessible to everyone who joins this
accessible to everyone who joins this community no matter where you are no
community no matter where you are no
community no matter where you are no matter where you’re building because in
matter where you’re building because in
matter where you’re building because in Greece for example we now have people
Greece for example we now have people
Greece for example we now have people who want to scale their initiatives also
who want to scale their initiatives also
who want to scale their initiatives also to Africa but they kind of work under
to Africa but they kind of work under
to Africa but they kind of work under the same code of conduct so that’s where
the same code of conduct so that’s where
the same code of conduct so that’s where this idea came from and here you can see
this idea came from and here you can see
this idea came from and here you can see you know we’re actually working around
you know we’re actually working around
you know we’re actually working around the world bottom left is an Italy bottom
the world bottom left is an Italy bottom
the world bottom left is an Italy bottom right was at MIT than it was at
right was at MIT than it was at
right was at MIT than it was at Cambridge so there’s people who are
Cambridge so there’s people who are
Cambridge so there’s people who are developing different things and they all
developing different things and they all
developing different things and they all work according to the same code of
work according to the same code of
work according to the same code of conduct really then I thought that you
conduct really then I thought that you
conduct really then I thought that you know if we have this Google Drive of
know if we have this Google Drive of
know if we have this Google Drive of different projects that are organized in
different projects that are organized in
different projects that are organized in different ways why don’t we try
different ways why don’t we try
different ways why don’t we try something that’s called a flex autocracy
something that’s called a flex autocracy
something that’s called a flex autocracy which yes it’s a word I made up but the
which yes it’s a word I made up but the
which yes it’s a word I made up but the idea
idea
idea that you know also if you’re in this
that you know also if you’re in this
that you know also if you’re in this field and you’re in this extreme
field and you’re in this extreme
field and you’re in this extreme prototyping you see different ways of
prototyping you see different ways of
prototyping you see different ways of organizing teams and how teams also
organizing teams and how teams also
organizing teams and how teams also organize themselves and sometimes it’s
organize themselves and sometimes it’s
organize themselves and sometimes it’s better to have a stronger leader
better to have a stronger leader
better to have a stronger leader sometimes it’s better to have more like
sometimes it’s better to have more like
sometimes it’s better to have more like a direct participation system so this is
a direct participation system so this is
a direct participation system so this is something that we’re testing very much
something that we’re testing very much
something that we’re testing very much to really organize different teams in
to really organize different teams in
to really organize different teams in different ways and if you want to talk
different ways and if you want to talk
different ways and if you want to talk artificial intelligence and like Big
artificial intelligence and like Big
artificial intelligence and like Big Data then you could even say if you have
Data then you could even say if you have
Data then you could even say if you have preconditions of specific people who are
preconditions of specific people who are
preconditions of specific people who are in this team and you have a specific
in this team and you have a specific
in this team and you have a specific goal then you can actually minimize the
goal then you can actually minimize the
goal then you can actually minimize the risk you can calculate the risk of
risk you can calculate the risk of
risk you can calculate the risk of things going wrong so this is like an
things going wrong so this is like an
things going wrong so this is like an automation really of a project that can
automation really of a project that can
automation really of a project that can lead to it becoming more successful
lead to it becoming more successful
lead to it becoming more successful really and it’s crazy if you look at it
really and it’s crazy if you look at it
really and it’s crazy if you look at it and then we came up with this idea of a
and then we came up with this idea of a
and then we came up with this idea of a goal bot which is a government robot or
goal bot which is a government robot or
goal bot which is a government robot or theoretically that asks you questions
theoretically that asks you questions
theoretically that asks you questions based on your interests and based on you
based on your interests and based on you
based on your interests and based on you know the project that you’re in to
know the project that you’re in to
know the project that you’re in to really understand do you get the
really understand do you get the
really understand do you get the question do you really want this and
question do you really want this and
question do you really want this and this would be like asking with brexit
this would be like asking with brexit
this would be like asking with brexit for example do you really want the
for example do you really want the
for example do you really want the borders to close you know if you wrote
borders to close you know if you wrote
borders to close you know if you wrote this you will not be able to fly away at
this you will not be able to fly away at
this you will not be able to fly away at your next trip so if you really have
your next trip so if you really have
your next trip so if you really have something that’s more personalized in
something that’s more personalized in
something that’s more personalized in decision-making it’s something that
decision-making it’s something that
decision-making it’s something that would bring us very far and we use
would bring us very far and we use
would bring us very far and we use something that we call edutainment quite
something that we call edutainment quite
something that we call edutainment quite a lot which is education through
a lot which is education through
a lot which is education through entertainment so I’m experimenting now
entertainment so I’m experimenting now
entertainment so I’m experimenting now don’t worry I won’t do it with you but
don’t worry I won’t do it with you but
don’t worry I won’t do it with you but you know how to hack people’s behavior
you know how to hack people’s behavior
you know how to hack people’s behavior like culture hacking also coming from a
like culture hacking also coming from a
like culture hacking also coming from a Greek family it’s interesting to try to
Greek family it’s interesting to try to
Greek family it’s interesting to try to explain a little bit what I’m doing but
explain a little bit what I’m doing but
explain a little bit what I’m doing but there is information about this out
there is information about this out
there is information about this out there and we’re hoping to grow the
there and we’re hoping to grow the
there and we’re hoping to grow the database so I’ll share some information
database so I’ll share some information
database so I’ll share some information if you like later on so yeah basically
if you like later on so yeah basically
if you like later on so yeah basically we have different teams now we have 4.5
we have different teams now we have 4.5
we have different teams now we have 4.5 million you
million you
million you in the next two years from a large
in the next two years from a large
in the next two years from a large investor that we can invest in to
investor that we can invest in to
investor that we can invest in to project ourselves so it’s funny because
project ourselves so it’s funny because
project ourselves so it’s funny because you know one moment someone says you’re
you know one moment someone says you’re
you know one moment someone says you’re completely crazy and the next moment
completely crazy and the next moment
completely crazy and the next moment people are like go invest or search for
people are like go invest or search for
people are like go invest or search for such very interesting things we still do
such very interesting things we still do
such very interesting things we still do those sessions it’s important to bring
those sessions it’s important to bring
those sessions it’s important to bring people together obviously also in the
people together obviously also in the
people together obviously also in the offline world and personally I started
offline world and personally I started
offline world and personally I started to think about currency as well because
to think about currency as well because
to think about currency as well because I thought that it was unfortunate that
I thought that it was unfortunate that
I thought that it was unfortunate that people you know they they are motivated
people you know they they are motivated
people you know they they are motivated to actually create value based on on
to actually create value based on on
to actually create value based on on money right and I was thinking that in
money right and I was thinking that in
money right and I was thinking that in this Flex autocracy in this trust nation
this Flex autocracy in this trust nation
this Flex autocracy in this trust nation it would be nice to measure the
it would be nice to measure the
it would be nice to measure the relationships that you’re in and this is
relationships that you’re in and this is
relationships that you’re in and this is something where you know if you and I
something where you know if you and I
something where you know if you and I would engage in a contract and we would
would engage in a contract and we would
would engage in a contract and we would say okay fourteen other partnerships
say okay fourteen other partnerships
say okay fourteen other partnerships might result from this then that could
might result from this then that could
might result from this then that could be value and this is also something that
be value and this is also something that
be value and this is also something that you know you could keep in a kind of
you know you could keep in a kind of
you know you could keep in a kind of account it’s something that could be
account it’s something that could be
account it’s something that could be completely parallel to the current
completely parallel to the current
completely parallel to the current financial system and I was thinking I’m
financial system and I was thinking I’m
financial system and I was thinking I’m crazy
crazy
crazy I wrote this all down and then the
I wrote this all down and then the
I wrote this all down and then the assistant of Mario Draghi who was the
assistant of Mario Draghi who was the
assistant of Mario Draghi who was the who was the director of the European
who was the director of the European
who was the director of the European Central Bank called me up and said you
Central Bank called me up and said you
Central Bank called me up and said you know we find this interesting and then I
know we find this interesting and then I
know we find this interesting and then I found a mistake I took it all back I
found a mistake I took it all back I
found a mistake I took it all back I corrected the mistake and now I still
corrected the mistake and now I still
corrected the mistake and now I still think I’m crazy but you know it’s okay
think I’m crazy but you know it’s okay
think I’m crazy but you know it’s okay we’re slowly getting there now what I
we’re slowly getting there now what I
we’re slowly getting there now what I personally did is which you cannot see
personally did is which you cannot see
personally did is which you cannot see on this picture but I went back to the
on this picture but I went back to the
on this picture but I went back to the island in July of this year and I
island in July of this year and I
island in July of this year and I started implementing things be it you
started implementing things be it you
started implementing things be it you know different healthcare solutions this
know different healthcare solutions this
know different healthcare solutions this is a health care clinic that translates
is a health care clinic that translates
is a health care clinic that translates into 70 languages
into 70 languages
into 70 languages you know provides different other
you know provides different other
you know provides different other possibilities to to connect you to the
possibilities to to connect you to the
possibilities to to connect you to the outside world now I have to bring in ten
outside world now I have to bring in ten
outside world now I have to bring in ten more of these to grease so we did
more of these to grease so we did
more of these to grease so we did something right
something right
something right we have internet now in the camp then
we have internet now in the camp then
we have internet now in the camp then the Cisco CEO flew in to actually look
the Cisco CEO flew in to actually look
the Cisco CEO flew in to actually look at everything that we did and we started
at everything that we did and we started
at everything that we did and we started a coding Academy there and my vision is
a coding Academy there and my vision is
a coding Academy there and my vision is to digitize the island
to digitize the island
to digitize the island together with this amazing crew that we
together with this amazing crew that we
together with this amazing crew that we have to actually say you know it works
have to actually say you know it works
have to actually say you know it works and we’re not only talking we’re not
and we’re not only talking we’re not
and we’re not only talking we’re not only into theory but we’re also applying
only into theory but we’re also applying
only into theory but we’re also applying these structures in the real world and
these structures in the real world and
these structures in the real world and since this is a thousand meters from
since this is a thousand meters from
since this is a thousand meters from Turkey it’s my perfect excuse to
Turkey it’s my perfect excuse to
Turkey it’s my perfect excuse to actually say yes I am based on this
actually say yes I am based on this
actually say yes I am based on this island because you know the investors
island because you know the investors
island because you know the investors want me to be maybe in a metropolis and
want me to be maybe in a metropolis and
want me to be maybe in a metropolis and talk about what we’re doing but I want
talk about what we’re doing but I want
talk about what we’re doing but I want to take a step back and say I’m
to take a step back and say I’m
to take a step back and say I’m organizing an ecosystem that currently
organizing an ecosystem that currently
organizing an ecosystem that currently really has so much potential to be
really has so much potential to be
really has so much potential to be digitized and there’s no structure there
digitized and there’s no structure there
digitized and there’s no structure there so if you would ever want to come and
so if you would ever want to come and
so if you would ever want to come and visit us it’s amazing I promise you the
visit us it’s amazing I promise you the
visit us it’s amazing I promise you the sunrise is the most beautiful thing and
sunrise is the most beautiful thing and
sunrise is the most beautiful thing and I can only encourage you to you know get
I can only encourage you to you know get
I can only encourage you to you know get your hands dirty work a little bit
your hands dirty work a little bit
your hands dirty work a little bit around 3d cables stuff that you think
around 3d cables stuff that you think
around 3d cables stuff that you think you would never understand I promise you
you would never understand I promise you
you would never understand I promise you you will and yeah you you are your
you will and yeah you you are your
you will and yeah you you are your source of imagination it’s down to you
source of imagination it’s down to you
source of imagination it’s down to you what you do with your life and here more
what you do with your life and here more
what you do with your life and here more I need it than ever today
I need it than ever today
I need it than ever today [Applause]
”
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