Welcome to Leader’s Insights, a place where The Future asks the simplest yet most interesting questions to the executives of well-known companies, startups, and innovators.
Today we talk with Stavriana Kofteros, Founding Partner at W11 Ventures, a unique boutique growth advisory, venture friend, and value-adding connector of corporates to the innovation ecosystem, geared to genuine value creation and growth.
Her extensive expertise in the deeptech sector includes serving as an Investment Advisor to venture capital funds, a member of the Investment Jury Committee of the European Innovation Council (EIC Fund €10bn) for European deeptech startups since its beginning, an EIC Ambassador, and a NED Board Mentor to EIC Scaling Club New Biotech Platform startups. Stavriana also plays a pivotal role as a member of the Global Advisory Council of the G100 wing for Humanity, Technology, and Innovation.
In Cyprus, she made her mark as the former Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Research Innovation Foundation, the national research and innovation fund of Cyprus. Stavriana has been active in the European startup ecosystem as Cofounder and President of the Board of Startup Cyprus, a member of the EU’s Innovation Ecosystem Leaders Group, a member of the European Digital Leaders Network of WEF, a former member of the EPP Expert Groups on Innovation and Digital Transition, and a member of the Innovation Advisory Board of the Biosense Institute (foodtech, agritech, food security) in Serbia.
She is experienced in deeptech startup support on C-Executive and Board roles and deeptech investments as a VC advisor and Angel Investment Committee Deal Leader, with investments in deeptech European startups in cybersecurity, ICT, adtech, lifesciences/healthtech, SaaS, AI, and energy, among others. Her educational achievements include degrees in Business Administration and Political Science (ULV), alongside certificates in Entrepreneurship Development (MIT-Fulbright Scholar), Corporate Finance from Columbia University, and Venture Capital (EVCA).
Let’s hear from Stavriana…
1. Do you remember your first day on the job at W11 Ventures?
Absolutely! The first day of the rest of my life! Seriously, invigorating to start making your dreams a reality!
2. What is more difficult: being interviewed to join a team or doing the interviews yourself?
Both have their challenges: a short time to showcase your abilities versus a short time to decipher someone else’s potential, understand if they have what it takes, and assess whether they are a good fit.
3. What do you most value in your employees?
Humble intelligence, relentless passion, and focused drive—these are the invaluable traits of successful founders, and they’re exactly what makes great employees.
4. Which is a motto/quote you use in your work?
Do epic sh*t with passion, fearless focus, and grit. Be strategic. Make decisions quickly—and make them right!
5. If you were back to the start, what would you advise yourself for a great career?
Be bolder faster.
6. How do you pump up your creativity?
With focus and relentless eyes on the target. There is no other way around it. Sh*t happens every day, plans get turned on their head, and you never have enough information. You simply decide on a strategy and make the right decision, no matter what. Grit and laser focus—that’s how you make things happen and turn your vision into reality.
7. What is a talent you would like to have?
Sing and code, haha. Why? Because when I sing, even donkeys relate! And I don’t really code – just a novice, but at least the latter can change.
8. How do you balance work and personal life?
Hmm, the biggest myth, really. Balance comes from within when you work on your passion, workout, meditate, and remain mindful—yet relentless.
9. What are the top five foods you like in Cyprus?
Oh my, everything! But the top five would be:
- moujendra lentils,
- souvlaki,
- pastitsio,
- koupepia (stuffed vine leaves),
- and agrelia (wild asparagus) with eggs.
10. Can you name your top five favourite places in Cyprus?
- Latsi,
- Akamas,
- Famagusta,
- Ayia Napa,
- and Limassol.
11. Which personality, throughout history, do you admire most?
Leonardo da Vinci – incredible Aristotelian innovator, multi-versed, multi-talented, crazy creative, a beautiful mind. An Inspiration for the never settle mindset, there’s always more to learn.
12. Who is your favourite author/book that helped your career?
Tom Clancy – the Jack Ryan series, for an entertaining political thriller and leadership skills of the right kind of leader.
Mark Manson – for his no bullsh*t, matter-of-fact philosophical and realistic approach to life.
Plato – I mean it’s Plato. nough said. The guy was a genius, and I will always also be a political scientist at heart.
13. Where would you advise our readers to go this winter?
Wherever their heart leads them, and where their soul finds peace and growth!
