San Franciscopoulos

Big Pi Ventures

San Franciscopoulos is a biweekly podcast hosted by Melina Mai, Nick Kalliagkopoulos and Guy Krief from Big Pi Ventures. Covering the Greek and global tech scene, we explore current events, market trends, and industry insights. Featuring conversations with founders, investors, and key players in the ecosystem, it focuses on the ideas and people driving innovation.

Episodes

  1. 31/01/2025

    E4: Crypto Deep Dive – Vassilis Tziokas (Matter Labs) on Bitcoin, Ethereum & Trump Coin

    Vassilis Tziokas (Head of Ecosystem Success Matter Labs) Melina Mai (Big Pi Ventures) Nick Kalliagkopoulos (Big Pi Ventures) Guy Krief (Big Pi Ventures) 0:00 Intro 0:32 Vassilis Tziokas  2:02 Crypto Basics 8:27 Bitcoin (Is there fundamental value?) 14:15 US Digital Asset Stockpile 16:31 Ethereum and building applications on top  18:49 Zero Knowledge 20:18 Blockchain and AI 26:40 Current blockchain applications  28:58 Stablecoins 34:18 FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, and the crypto domino 38:40 Government applications of blockchain 45:59 Can blockchain replace notaries? 47:34 Crypto and the US election 50:37 Crypto Optimism in the US 52:28 Trump coin scam 58:10 Are we moving backward or forward?  59:28 VC is booming and Greece is on the map

    1h 3m

  2. 10/01/2025

    E3: 2024 Greek Ecosystem 2024 in Review, AI's Global Race, Corsmed, Antrhopic, Zension, Oura

    Melina Mai (Big Pi Ventures)Nick Kalliagkopoulos (Big Pi Ventures)Guy Krief (Big Pi Ventures)0:00 - Intro 2:46 - Greek Startup Ecosystem 2024 Discussion around the latest Foundation Report: €555M raised in 2024.Challenges for scaling Greek startups into global ecosystems.A discussion on major exits, including their representation in the ecosystem's maturity narrative.Discussion on what defines a mature ecosystem, comparing Greece to global leaders like Israel and the Netherlands.Insights into angel investing gaps, the importance of industry-aligned backers, and the growing need for pre-seed and growth-stage funding. 31:51 - The AI Race in 2025: US vs. China The geopolitical stakes of the generative AI race, driven by the US and China.Europe's position as a regulatory force rather than a technological contender, with attempts at initiatives like Mistral AI for regional sovereignty.The role of AI in defense technologies, such as drones, with implications from conflicts like Ukraine.The dominance of China in the robotics value chain and the global reliance on Taiwan for chip production.Broader impacts of AI on manufacturing, with predictions of transformational change driven by AI integration into robotics. 54:12 - Recent Greek Deal: Corsmed ($3.5M) A spotlight on Corsmed’s groundbreaking innovation in MRI technology, making full-body scans faster and more affordable. 1:00:00 - International Deals: Anthropic ($2B), Zension Technologies ($30M), Oura ($200M) Insights into Anthropic’s anticipated funding round and its position as a top-valued US startup.Zension Technologies’ Series A round led by Saudi Aramco, revolutionizing device management for telcos.Oura’s growth through its latest funding, redefining health monitoring with wearable technology.

    1h 9m

  3. 12/12/2024

    E2: 2 years ChatGPT, Electric Vehicles, Piney, Butler, /dev/agents, Planet A Foods, Luma AI

    Melina Mai (Big Pi Ventures) Eleftherios Karabatsakis (Carge - PPC) Alex Eleftheriadis (Big Pi Ventures) Nick Kalliagkopoulos (Big Pi Ventures) Guy Krief (Big Pi Ventures) AI Highlights: OpenAI’s technological strides and ethical challenges, including concerns about manipulative behaviors and self-preservation mechanisms in advanced AI models.The rise of AI startups like Perplexity AI and Mistral AI, European sovereignty in AI, and the competitive funding landscape.The environmental costs of AI, from water and energy consumption in data centers to the broader sustainability challenges posed by large-scale adoption.The future of AI specialization and its integration into diverse industries, transforming productivity and enterprise workflows. EV Insights: Analysis of EV adoption in Greece, touching on infrastructure development, charging station availability, and evolving public perceptions.Scaling EV infrastructure to meet growing demand, with insights into government incentives and their impact on the Greek market.Global EV market, focusing on BYD’s dominance, Tesla’s competition, and the role of Chinese innovation in reshaping the industry.The environmental sustainability of EVs, including the ecological cost of battery production and the potential of hydrogen as an alternative energy source. Recent Greek deals: Piney and Butler. Interesting deals: spotlight on /dev/agents ($56M), Planet A Foods ($30M), Luma AI ($90M).

    1h 28m
  4. E1: Slush, Startup Visa, Eurobank / Plum, Starfish, Physical Intelligence and Faircraft

    27/11/2024

    E1: Slush, Startup Visa, Eurobank / Plum, Starfish, Physical Intelligence and Faircraft

    Melina Mai (Big Pi Ventures) Panagiotis Karampinis (Endeavor) Nick Kalliagkopoulos  (Big Pi Ventures) Guy Krief (Big Pi Ventures) Slush Festival Highlights: • Recap of the Slush event in Helsinki, emphasizing its role in fostering innovation and collaboration in the Nordic ecosystem. • Discussion on Greece’s need for a large-scale tech event and how lessons from Slush could apply locally. Golden Visa & Startup Visa: • Analysis of Greece’s evolving Golden Visa program, including upcoming incentives to support startup investments. • Comparison with successful visa initiatives in Portugal and Spain and their impact on local ecosystems. Eurobank & Plum Partnership: insights into Eurobank’s €5M minority investment in Plum, a fintech focused on financial planning and savings. Interesting deals: spotlight on Starfish ($29M), Physical Intelligence ($400M) and Faircraft (€15M).

    1h 25m
  • 4 Episodes

About

San Franciscopoulos is a biweekly podcast hosted by Melina Mai, Nick Kalliagkopoulos and Guy Krief from Big Pi Ventures. Covering the Greek and global tech scene, we explore current events, market trends, and industry insights. Featuring conversations with founders, investors, and key players in the ecosystem, it focuses on the ideas and people driving innovation.

Information

  • Creator
    Big Pi Ventures
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Big Pi Ventures
  • Show Website
    San Franciscopoulos