Dimitris Tsirikos

Graduation Year: 2006 (PMBA 9)

Co-Founder Jupitee

LinkedIn Profile here

Could you update us on your latest professional developments?

After working many years at a big Greek software company, I decided about a year and a half ago to pursue my own dreams and co-found a startup. Jupitee aims to allow enterprises to take their business mobile and create their own mobile app in no time and with no coding.

How did ALBA help you in your career?

ALBA helped me in two ways: a) it allowed me to better understand people from various backgrounds (Marketing, IT, Business, etc.), what they need, what they say (or don’t say!) and what they mean and b) it made it easier for me to set the right questions when pursuing a business goal.

Share with us your fondest memory while studying at ALBA

Two memories spring to mind. The first is the team-building weekend we had at Sofiko Ranch – it was absolute fun! The other: the Sundays that we gathered to do our group projects, from morning till late at night. It may sound tiring, but it was far from it.

You left behind a 12-year career in a multinational company to co-fond a successful start-up company. What made you decide to enter the world of start-ups? What advice would you share with fellow alums on joining the start-up community?

There were many reasons leading me to found a start-up:

a) Wage labor in Greece is deteriorating rapidly both in terms of salaries and in terms of working conditions / stability.

b) A start-up requires more work (this was not much trouble for me – I was already working a lot), but has two advantages

You will know in a couple of years (at most) if this is going to work or not

If it does, then the potential is far greater than what you could get with a salary.

However this is no bed of roses. One should be able to support oneself financially for at least 2 years (supposing no external funding is available) and to get as much feedback from potential customers as possible, as early as possible.

PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE

• Your most marked characteristic? Determination 
• The quality you most like in a man? Getting the job done. 
• The quality you most like in a woman? Being full of life!
• What do you most value in your friends? Being frank and steady.
• What is your favorite occupation? Singing (in private – I cannot put you under the torture of listening to me!)
• What is your dream of happiness? Travelling and trying new activities with my wife (and soon with my newborn son).
• What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes? Seeing my family get hurt.
• What would you like to be? A successful entrepreneur.
• In what country would you like to live? Somewhere where there is trust among people.
• What is your favorite color? Vivid blue
• Who are your favorite poets? Don’t have any.
• Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Spiderman
• Who are your favorite composers? Manos Hadjidakis
• Who are your favorite painters? Caravaggio
• Who are your heroes in real life? My grandfather
• What are your favorite names? Rania and Constantine
• What is it you most dislike? Being lied to
• What historical figures do you most despise? Those who use their power to make people suffer.
• What natural gift would you most like to possess? A good voice.
• How would you like to die? Out of old age, in my sleep.
• What is your motto? Go for it.