Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-13 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Twelve promising Greek startups travelling to SXSW conference in Texas [02] Nights of star-gazing to music at the Athens Observatory in Thissio --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Twelve promising Greek startups travelling to SXSW conference in Texas Twelve dynamic Greek startups will have the opportunity to present their products and services in the "Greek Booth" of South By Southwest (SXSW), one of the largest and most important innovation and technology conferences and festivals held annually in Austin, Texas, on March 10-19. Greece's participation is supported and funded by The Hellenic Initiative (THI) and the U.S. Embassy in Greece, with a grant of 50,000 euros. "THI supports Greek startups, reaffirming its belief that entrepreneurship is a key element in building a new generation of creative and innovative business projects that can contribute to Greece's future prosperity," the initiative said in a press release. The startups participate in this year's SXSW conference are ASN.gr, Infitheon, Aspalis Concierge, InSybio, Athlenda, SIBA Soft, Centaur Technologies, Tactical Systems, Filmografik Productions, 100mentors, Hopwave and Boardmaps. In the three previous years, through THI's support, more than 80 Greek startups had the chance to participate in SXSW Interactive and commence a successful business course. Indicatively, online training and education company Schoox, has managed to raise a total 6.5 million dollars, further boosting and expanding its operations, currently employing over 40 employees in Thessaloniki. Gridmates, an energy donation platform, received the second prize in 2015, for the U.S. Department of Energy in clean tech startups in the US, and was granted a prize of 105,000 dollars. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. Speakers and participants in the events are from the interactive, film, and music industries. [02] Nights of star-gazing to music at the Athens Observatory in Thissio A new programme of events combining the observation of the night sky with music will begin at the National Observatory of Athens Visitors' Centre in Thission this month, under the headline "Musical Constellations". The Athens Observatory's latest initiative to reach out to the general public invites visitors to the summit of Pnyx Hill in central Athens, to observe the constellations of the spring and summer sky through the Doridis telescope, "guided" by astronomical and musical pathways. The first musical evening in the series will be on Sunday March 19, shortly before the spring equinox, when cellist and Cretan lyra player Giorgos Kaloudis performs a series of improvisations and unreleased compositions "In the Constellation of Lyra". The "Jazz and Baroque Constellations" on April 23 is the next evening in the series, with guitar player Tilemachos Mousas, jazz vocalist Nasia Gofa and musical saw soloist Nikos Yiouseff joining forces, combining the sound palette of Monteverdi and Duke Ellington to create an otherwordly atmosphere. They will be joined by soprano Fiori-Anastasiou Metallinou singing 16th century songs, while the arrangements will incorporate sounds recorded in space. The concerts begin at 20:30 and are followed by observations from the Doridis Telescope on the Nymph Hill. Tickets must be bought in advance.