Ksekino Epichirimatika: 1,907 Applications Approved with €43.2 Million – What Comes Next
The evaluation of all applications under the program «Ξεκινώ Επιχειρηματικά» (Ksekino Epichirimatika, “I’m Starting a Business”) has been completed, with the approval, on October 7, 2026, of results for the Less Developed Regions. In total, 1,907 business plans are approved with a funded budget of €43,225,200, while 907 applications are rejected.
Specifically, under a decision of the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikolaos Papathanasis, 1,385 applications were approved in the Less Developed Regions (North Aegean, Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, Central Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly, Western Greece, Crete, Western Macedonia, Ionian Islands, Central Greece, Peloponnese), with a funded budget of €31,056,300. A further 590 applications, totaling €11,499,500, were rejected for incomplete supporting documents or failure to meet formal conditions, while one application was withdrawn through OPSKE, the state aid submission portal.
The Ksekino Epichirimatika program targeted newly established or about-to-be-established very small businesses founded by holders of higher education degrees, offering 100% public funding and a maximum grant of up to €36,000 per plan. Applications closed on June 30, 2026, after opening on May 6, 2026.
A first decision, issued September 3, 2026, had already approved results for the Transition Regions (Attica, South Aegean). The second decision now completes the evaluation of all 2,815 applications submitted under the program.
Results by region category
According to the decision, 1,976 applications were submitted in the Less Developed Regions, one of which was withdrawn, leaving 1,975 evaluated. Of these, 1,385 were approved and 590 rejected. Combined with the Transition Regions decision, 1,907 applications are approved under the program with a funded budget of €43,225,200, and 907 applications, worth €18,216,784, are rejected.
The approved projects are co-financed by the European Social Fund+ (ESF+) and national funds, under the «Ανταγωνιστικότητα» (“Competitiveness”) Program 2021-2027.
How beneficiaries are notified
Beneficiaries are notified electronically, at the email address they declared on their application, through OPSKE. Applicants may file an administrative objection within ten calendar days of notification, exclusively through OPSKE.
What happens next for approved applicants
Approved businesses must complete at least two six-month periods of verified operation, as the grant is paid in semi-annual installments under the simplified cost method set out in the call. Detailed implementation conditions, the ranking tables and the terms for each installment are set out on the program’s page.
The decision for the Less Developed Regions was issued on October 7, 2026, completing the evaluation that began with decision no. 140120 EX 2026/03.09.2026 (ADA: RBNYH-KNX, Greek time) for the Transition Regions. For information and support with the application, applicants can contact +30 211 182 3461 or info@espa.io.
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