[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.07,0:00:17.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let me ask you something.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.40,0:00:19.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When you were young kids,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.56,0:00:21.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what was your plan,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.78,0:00:25.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the dream, the path\Nthat you wanted to follow?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.45,0:00:29.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Becoming an astronaut,\Na doctor, a scientist?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.46,0:00:32.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well the plan goes like this:
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.46,0:00:36.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you go to school, study hard,\Ngo to university, get good grades,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.78,0:00:39.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then a master's, a PhD possibly,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.05,0:00:41.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then a good job somewhere big.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.35,0:00:45.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't know, Microsoft,\NGoogle, NASA, whatever.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.34,0:00:46.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was my plan too.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.54,0:00:48.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But let me take you back in time.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.68,0:00:53.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Six years ago, I was 16 years old,\Nand I loved technology.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.98,0:00:57.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wanted to experiment a lot\Nand try many, many, many things.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.66,0:01:01.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I created my own "lab."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.26,0:01:04.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.50,0:01:06.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.53,0:01:08.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, ah, when I was in high school,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.74,0:01:12.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had a friend who also loved\Nexperimenting with technology,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.100,0:01:17.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he was just like me,\Nso one day while we were at class,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.66,0:01:23.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a physics teacher of him\Ncomes to me, and he tells us both,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.91,0:01:26.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Hey guys!
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.20,0:01:28.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are some people\Ntrying to experiment with me,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.94,0:01:31.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I would like you to join us."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.36,0:01:35.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I went there, we started working\Nwith him in his lab on different projects.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.77,0:01:39.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was super boring at the beginning,\Nuntil one day he came to us and he said,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.91,0:01:41.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Hey guys!
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.43,0:01:46.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the old days, there were some guys\Ntrying to produce electricity from soil.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.21,0:01:48.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So why don't you try this out?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.06,0:01:50.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe it will open doors for you."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.35,0:01:51.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And without a second guess,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.95,0:01:55.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we decided that\Nthat was a fun thing to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.34,0:01:57.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we started working on it,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.04,0:02:00.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in three months, both of them, \Nthey stopped working with me.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.84,0:02:03.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We had literally no results,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.72,0:02:05.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and, you know, I felt like
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.25,0:02:07.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was something\Npulling me towards this,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.39,0:02:10.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I kept on trying a little bit more.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.10,0:02:16.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To be specific, one year later, \NI had my first proof of concept,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.65,0:02:20.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was a huge table full of soil
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.74,0:02:24.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that was barely enough\Nto light a small very, very tiny light.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.16,0:02:27.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was just a very first step,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.19,0:02:30.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it was enough to convince\Nsome people to help me more.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.72,0:02:35.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My first investment they got\Nwas 100 euros from another teacher,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.87,0:02:39.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that he wanted me to join\Na national school competition.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.69,0:02:41.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I did as he told me.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.70,0:02:44.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I went to the competition,\Nand I realized something very important.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.98,0:02:46.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People actually like my idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.67,0:02:48.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They don't think anymore that I'm crazy.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.66,0:02:51.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, they actually think \Nbecause of my plans,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.28,0:02:55.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they are convinced now that maybe\Nthere's something in that technology.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.54,0:02:59.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One year more passed,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.69,0:03:04.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then a night before\Nmy final national school exams,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.28,0:03:05.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is, by the way,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.86,0:03:08.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one of the most important things\Ndefining my career,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.90,0:03:09.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I decided that "Hey,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.100,0:03:12.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't want to study anymore.\NLet's leave this,"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.73,0:03:15.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I wanted to do\Nsomething about my project.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.33,0:03:19.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I started searching on Google \Nfor anything that has to do with research,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.12,0:03:21.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,innovation, banking -
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.61,0:03:25.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't know, anything that might\Ngive me money or advice.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.22,0:03:28.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Back then we didn't have the term \N"startup" that much in Cyprus,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.54,0:03:31.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so it was something new for me.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.26,0:03:33.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I sent over 50 emails,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.28,0:03:36.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and from those 50 emails,\NI got back five replies.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.81,0:03:39.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two were a "no" in a nice way,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.56,0:03:42.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and three were,\N"Yes maybe, let's hear more."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.35,0:03:47.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of those companies was -\Nluckily enough it was from Cyprus.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.42,0:03:50.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I decided that\N"Hey, why not try this out?"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.20,0:03:52.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I sent them an email,\Nwe arranged a meeting,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.63,0:03:55.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then I went there\Nwith a much better prototype.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.47,0:03:57.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I managed to convince them
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.46,0:04:00.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to work together for the next\None and a half year.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.84,0:04:04.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By the end of that time,\Nwe participated in Web Summit.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.04,0:04:07.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, Web Summit is a huge conference,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.02,0:04:08.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,especially when it comes to startups,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.89,0:04:11.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe it's one of the best in the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.80,0:04:14.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There were more than\N60 thousand participants
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.42,0:04:16.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and companies from all over the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.36,0:04:20.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All the top names: Google, Microsoft, \NInstagram, Facebook, Gary Vee,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.61,0:04:21.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whatever you can imagine.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.87,0:04:23.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everybody was there.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.63,0:04:24.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On day one,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.75,0:04:27.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had some prototypes and a small booth,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.02,0:04:29.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I was presenting to some investors,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.19,0:04:31.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it didn't go that well, to be honest.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.47,0:04:34.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't know, it was my first time\Ntalking to real investors.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.88,0:04:38.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second day was a pitch competition.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.19,0:04:41.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That pitch competition,\Nyou start from 1,500 companies,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.90,0:04:45.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then you manage, after \Nthree rounds, to get to the finals.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.33,0:04:47.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't know how or why\Nor what happened exactly,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.68,0:04:50.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't remember,\Nbut I made it to the finals.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.55,0:04:53.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The finals was actually\Npitching in the arena,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.52,0:04:55.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this one you see in the picture.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.50,0:04:59.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was actually\Nin front of 15,000 people,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.22,0:05:00.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,global media coverage,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.69,0:05:03.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so it was something really scary for me.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.50,0:05:05.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I never dreamed of talking\Nin front of people,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.68,0:05:09.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,especially my first time\Nbeing in front of a judging panel.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.08,0:05:13.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anyway, I remember\Na few hours before the pitch,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.39,0:05:16.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they gave me a wristband\Nthat said "Speaker Guest,"
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.84,0:05:20.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that wristband,\Nwell, it had magic powers.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.34,0:05:23.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You go to the backstage,\Nyou raise your hand like this,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.01,0:05:24.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and security personnel go like this,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.88,0:05:28.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you enter to the celebrities,\Nand you see something huge there.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.30,0:05:29.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All the big names.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.30,0:05:30.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I remember seeing Gary Vee there.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.96,0:05:35.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oh! Me and Gary Vee in the same room!\NThat was something I never expected.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.12,0:05:38.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, as you can imagine,\NI used this magic power wisely,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.56,0:05:42.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I went in and out, in and out,\Nin and out, and I feel like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.81,0:05:43.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.94,0:05:46.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was fun, to be honest,\Nbeing a celebrity even for a while.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.80,0:05:51.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, long story short, \Nthe pitch went better than expected,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.08,0:05:54.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and by the end of that pitch, \Nmy life was changed.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.94,0:05:58.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The day before, I was begging\Ninvestors to listen to me,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.71,0:06:01.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the day after, investors\Nwere knocking at my door.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.57,0:06:04.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not the average ones, big ones.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.60,0:06:09.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Big companies were discussing\Nmillions of dollars in deals with me,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.39,0:06:10.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was something huge.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.65,0:06:13.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, I was 19 years old, \Nand I never imagined this.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.14,0:06:16.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, you might think -
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.66,0:06:18.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,yeah, there's the picture.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.87,0:06:23.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, you might think that after this
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.21,0:06:25.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had the happiest life,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.35,0:06:27.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,making millions and millions,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.11,0:06:30.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and living happily as ever\Nan entrepreneur did,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.63,0:06:35.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the truth is that I overestimated \Nmy abilities, my experience in business,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.94,0:06:37.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and my trust in people.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.78,0:06:41.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that had a huge, huge cost to me.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.48,0:06:48.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Long story short, the project got paused.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.09,0:06:51.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I lost four years of my work for nothing.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.20,0:06:55.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The only thing that was left for me\Nwas the knowledge I got from there,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.76,0:06:57.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and nothing more.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.61,0:06:59.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can imagine\Nhow depressing that was:
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.58,0:07:00.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,being 19 years old,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.93,0:07:03.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,having to deal with such big failure,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.64,0:07:06.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and knowing that it's not your project\Nthat was not good enough
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.87,0:07:09.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the circumstances around you.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.96,0:07:11.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was terrible.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.38,0:07:15.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For a few months, I had no energy\Nto do anything, literally.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.21,0:07:19.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was like skipping school,\Nskipping actually university,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.71,0:07:22.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not meeting my friends,\Nnot doing anything specific.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.73,0:07:25.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So a few months later,\NI heard about a competition
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.50,0:07:27.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called "NASA Space Apps Hackathon."
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.94,0:07:30.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a global hackathon,\Norganized by NASA,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.44,0:07:33.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they give you some problems\Nthat you need to solve,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.03,0:07:34.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if you solve them good enough,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.76,0:07:37.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you go to the globals,\Nand then if you win ...
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.79,0:07:41.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you get an invitation\Nto Cape Canaveral for a rocket launch.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.27,0:07:43.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was like, "Whoa! That's nice!"
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.66,0:07:46.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, to be honest, I never -
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.75,0:07:49.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought that, okay,\Nwinning is impossible, it's a big thing,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.90,0:07:54.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but why not try to get on my feet again\Nand see what I'm capable of?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.92,0:07:58.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Until that time, everyone was doubting\Nmy skills as a team leader,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.27,0:08:00.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or as CEO, or anything like that,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.48,0:08:03.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I was like, "Hey! Let's try\Nand see what happens!"
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.50,0:08:06.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, what's the worst case scenario?\NLosing a competition.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.66,0:08:09.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I organized a team of 17 people.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.96,0:08:12.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From solo entrepreneur to 17-people team;
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.73,0:08:14.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was a huge difference.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.42,0:08:16.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they were from different ages,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.05,0:08:18.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,different backgrounds,\Ndifferent mentalities.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.16,0:08:20.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was ... a mess.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.16,0:08:22.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I remember, one of the local\Ncompetition organizers,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.68,0:08:25.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he came to me, and he gave me\Nhis hand and he says,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.16,0:08:29.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I bet that with such a team,\Nthere are only two options:
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.43,0:08:34.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You will either do something great,\Nor you're going to be a big failure.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.42,0:08:35.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I bet on the second."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.63,0:08:38.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was like, "Whoa! What a motivation!"
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.42,0:08:39.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.77,0:08:41.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, come on!
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.18,0:08:44.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You don't go out and say this thing\Nto somebody who is just starting,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.58,0:08:47.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,especially after a kind of\Na depressing moment, so yeah.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.26,0:08:50.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The challenge was on, again.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.71,0:08:54.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Long story short,\Nit was a huge, huge thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.04,0:08:57.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those 48 hours, we were\Nhaving like lots of trouble,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.26,0:09:01.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fighting with other teammates,\Nsome of them, they still hate me for this,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.98,0:09:03.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but at the end of these 48 hours,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.57,0:09:06.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we managed to get\Nonly the third place locally.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.42,0:09:10.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, come on, out of 10 teams,\Nthird place, that's disappointing.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.82,0:09:14.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's not something that I wanted.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.83,0:09:18.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But anyway, we got the ticket\Nto the global competition,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.27,0:09:20.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so there was a chance.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.15,0:09:27.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So next, we had five weeks of huge,\Ntroubling, I don't know how to call it,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.85,0:09:29.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it was something weird.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.46,0:09:32.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had to deal with so many\Nproblems at the same time.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.02,0:09:34.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fighting with this one,\Nfighting with that one.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.29,0:09:36.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everybody used to hate me at that moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.24,0:09:38.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even my friends, they didn't have\Nenergy to deal with me
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.91,0:09:40.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I was like super angry all the time,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.89,0:09:43.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,waking up, making phone calls,\Nand all these things.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.78,0:09:49.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, anyway, by the end of that,\Nagain I don't know how or why,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.81,0:09:54.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe, hard work, some people call it \Nhard work, some people call it luck,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.36,0:09:57.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we were the global winners,\Nsomething we never expected.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.43,0:10:02.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we got a really nice \Ninvitation from NASA.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.90,0:10:07.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was something amazing. I mean,\Ncome on! Seeing an invitation from NASA?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.34,0:10:11.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'm an engineer, so I was like \N"Whoa! This is quicker than I thought."
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.71,0:10:16.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But here the problem, the big problem,\Nactually, had just begun
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.74,0:10:19.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we had only three weeks
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.58,0:10:24.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to raise almost 80,000 euros\Nof sponsorship from Cyprus
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.20,0:10:26.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to cover the expenses of 17 people
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.40,0:10:30.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,flying to Cape Canaveral for a week\Nto experience the rocket launch,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.10,0:10:32.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so it wasn't something easy at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.60,0:10:35.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, I don't know what happens\Nin other parts of the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.60,0:10:38.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in Cyprus, it's next to impossible.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.86,0:10:44.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Again, many lost and won battles\Nand by the end of the day, we made it.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.21,0:10:47.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The big adventure, NASA!
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.37,0:10:51.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can keep talking about this\Nfor hours and hours and hours:
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.85,0:10:54.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the people we've met,\Nthe things we've seen,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.60,0:10:57.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the mentality of us that changed,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.22,0:10:59.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the way we see life after that.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.08,0:11:00.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everything was changing
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.71,0:11:03.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because maybe for some people\Nit's a small thing,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.15,0:11:05.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but for us, it was a huge,\Nhuge achievement.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.65,0:11:12.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, right after that, I decided that now\Nit was time to execute my bigger plan.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.31,0:11:14.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Doing something really\Nin the field of startups,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.59,0:11:17.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or, I don't know, doing\Nsome innovation on my own.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.72,0:11:21.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, currently, I'm 22.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.25,0:11:24.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have two startups:\None in the space of mechanobiology
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.51,0:11:27.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the other one in the space of drones,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.12,0:11:30.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and things, I can say, are going well.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.14,0:11:33.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We still have many failures,\Nover and over again,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.30,0:11:35.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but who knows what time holds for us.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.81,0:11:39.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The truth is
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.49,0:11:43.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's always something \Nstanding in your way.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.80,0:11:49.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Be it a person, a relationship,\Na lifestyle choice, a roadblock,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.51,0:11:52.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a belief, a doubt, anything.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.25,0:11:54.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's always something \Nstanding in your way.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.100,0:11:59.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our brains are hardwired to believe\Nthat success and fulfillment
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.86,0:12:03.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,come from following\Na path defined by society.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:04.12,0:12:09.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Go to school, then college, then master's,\Nthen PhD, then a good job
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.22,0:12:12.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that pays you enough so you can afford\Nmost of the things you like in life,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.80,0:12:15.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then put your kids on the same path.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.36,0:12:17.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But your purpose is more than that.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.54,0:12:22.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your purpose is to step out,\Nstand up, and rewrite that story.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.36,0:12:23.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Make it count.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.47,0:12:25.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Make that story more fulfilling to you;
Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.97,0:12:28.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not to the person next to you.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:29.10,0:12:32.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Stop putting your dreams on hold,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.02,0:12:34.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thinking that "It's not the time,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.18,0:12:37.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't feel well prepared,\NI don't feel good enough."
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.23,0:12:38.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those are all lies,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:38.31,0:12:42.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,those are all excuses that you make\Njust because you fear trying.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:44.04,0:12:46.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're belittling yourself\Nwhenever you say,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.10,0:12:48.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I'm not smart enough,\NI'm not good enough,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.34,0:12:50.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not old enough,\NI haven't graduated,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.26,0:12:52.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I haven't done this,\NI haven't done that."
Dialogue: 0,0:12:52.23,0:12:56.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's nothing like a good timing.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.38,0:12:58.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Today is a good timing,\Ntomorrow is a good timing.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.76,0:13:01.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As soon as you start,\Nyou'll get into that path,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:01.28,0:13:03.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you'll fail again and again and again.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:03.37,0:13:05.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's what I do, and I keep doing it.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.64,0:13:08.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And until today, I can not say\Nthat everything is perfect in my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:08.97,0:13:11.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have many troubles\Nwith all of those startups,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.58,0:13:13.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with my personal life,\Nwith everything like that.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:13.89,0:13:16.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everybody has this,\Nbut it's up to you to change it,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.47,0:13:18.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's up to you to make\Nsomething out of it.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.91,0:13:23.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And from every failure,\Nget some knowledge and move on.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.04,0:13:26.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there's one advice\NI would like you to keep from me:
Dialogue: 0,0:13:26.43,0:13:29.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whenever you think\Nabout the reasons, the excuses,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.57,0:13:32.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,try breaking them down into small pieces.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.68,0:13:36.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When you do so, you realize\Nthat everything becomes clearer,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.44,0:13:38.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,easier, and much better for you.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:38.84,0:13:42.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you realize that there's really\Nnothing holding you back.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:43.54,0:13:46.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, what's holding you back?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:46.75,0:13:47.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:47.94,0:13:50.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.86,0:13:53.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Cheers)