Georgios has set up his own company to empower other local businesses on the island of Crete to transcend geographic limitations and boost their digital reach.
Georgios’ company, Neat Up Media, supports local businesses to establish and upgrade their digital presence, enabling them to reach and engage new customers. His services include website and graphic design, search engine optimisation and social media consultancy.
The FoundIt entrepreneurship programme, run by our partners Bizrupt and 100 mentors, has helped Georgios to navigate the complexities of launching a business, equipping him with the tools and skills to turn his idea into reality.
Despite limited resources and a demanding schedule, including his own continuing studies, Georgios, 20, has persevered in pursuing his vision of empowering his community through digital transformation. In 2025, Georgios was named our Regional Young Achiever for Europe.
Enabling enterprise
Georgios founded his business after identifying common gaps in both business organisation and client outreach among local enterprises. He began drawing on his software automation and digital marketing expertise to offer business transformative services.
Before joining FoundIt, Georgios had big ideas but limited knowledge of how to navigate the complexities of launching a business. He faced obstacles in formalizing his startup, defining a cohesive brand and building a team. Struggling to balance a new venture with his studies, he lacked the structured approach needed to grow his business sustainably, and joined FoundIt to help him move forwards.
Innovation and resilience
Through a mixture of training and mentoring, FoundIt focuses on supporting aspiring entrepreneurs on Crete and the Dodecanese islands to create sustainable jobs for themselves and others. With local economies that are heavily dependent on seasonal tourism and hospitality, young islanders face particular challenges finding stable, year-round work without migrating to the mainland or elsewhere.
FoundIt equipped Georgios with the essential tools and skills for entrepreneurial success, and his innovation and resilience have seen him overcome practical, technical and legal hurdles to turn his ambition into a reality.
‘The FoundIt programme was a turning point for me, it made the principles of entrepreneurship clear, practical and inspiring,’ Georgios explains. ‘The foundation it built has been a driving force in my journey, empowering me to grow and evolve as an entrepreneur.’
A ripple effect
Georgios is committed to harnessing the power of digital technologies to benefit Cretan businesses, equipping them to build a thriving online presence and unleash their potential, whatever their field. Alongside hospitality clients, as you would expect in a tourist hotspot, Georgios’ local customers span a range of other sectors too, from art suppliers to psychotherapists.
By becoming a job creator himself, and by empowering other local businesses to flourish and grow, Georgios is making waves. His successes enable other local entrepreneurs to be successful too, creating a positive ripple effect in the local community and economy.
His advice for other budding entrepreneurs is simple. ‘Every day, show up and give your best… I’m not at the finish line, but the results are proof that even small steps add up when you keep moving toward your goal.’
To recognize his commitment and impact, we were delighted to honour Georgios as the recipient of The King’s Trust Young Achiever Award for Europe 2025, at our Anniversary Dinner with the British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce in Athens.