Start-ups often spring up from nowhere and disappear just as quickly. In Greece, only a few have managed to survive. Besides examples of innovation and entrepreneurship, they could also be a sign of economic recovery.
2014 should be a good year for Greece and its economy. All signs point to a recovery - for the first time in six years, economic productivity is expected to grow, tourism is gaining the upper hand, and exports are on the rise.
It may not be a key indicator of the recovery and restructure of the Greek economy, but the sheer number of business start-ups to have emerged in the past few years, especially in the IT sector, is a significant sign of improvement. Start-ups seem to be springing up like mushrooms, even if experience shows nine out of 10 don't usually survive past the initial launch phase.
Recently, however, several new companies have had success not only establishing themselves in the Greek market, but internationally as well. One example is Taxibeat, a smartphone app that lets users contact taxis in their area and choose drivers based on ratings from other passengers. The free app is being used beyond Athens and Thessaloniki, in cities like Rio de Janeiro, São Paolo, Mexico City, Oslo, Bucharest and Paris.
Read more