The seventh annual edition of Deloitte's "Scale-Ups Confidence Survey" reveals a maturing Greek innovation ecosystem that remains growth-oriented while facing new hurdles. With 100 Greek scale-ups participating (20% of the total EMEA sample), the survey records a high level of optimism (8.1/10), placing Greece on par with the Netherlands and ahead of the UK and Belgium.
A Shift Toward Commercial Success
For 60% of participants, the primary limiting factor is no longer access to capital, but market demand and customer acquisition. In Greece, 57% of companies are focusing on expanding their customer base and market differentiation for 2026. Extroversion has become a core prerequisite, with the United States emerging as the top choice for international expansion (24%), followed by the UK (12%) and Germany (9%).
Funding and Exit Strategies
Despite the optimism, Greek scale-ups lag in exit planning, with only 33% having a specific plan—the lowest percentage in the survey. Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) remain the preferred route (81%). Regarding financing, 66% are actively seeking capital, although the use of equity from new investors in Greece (46%) is the lowest among the markets examined.
Talent Challenges and AI Adoption
Greece reports a high hiring freeze rate (34%), attributed to structural constraints in talent supply. Simultaneously, Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption is in its early stages. 20% of Greek companies report zero substantial impact from AI to date, primarily due to industry composition and a lack of products with native AI integration.
