Panos Kokmotos
Co-Founder & COO of Givelink · Podcast Host · Based in San Francisco, USA & Athens/Patras, Greece
"My mission is to be useful and contribute to a better tomorrow."
Featured In & Recognised By
30 Under 30
Global Shaper
Greece
Startup Smart
Press Feature
About Me
Entrepreneur building for social impact
It was my second year of university in Patras, during COVID. I was first in my class, reading constantly, doing everything right on paper. But I wasn't satisfied. I was watching my family struggle to put the basics on the table every day, and something shifted. Grades weren't going to change that. I had to actually build something.
I studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Patras (Top 3%), spent a semester at UPC Barcelona on Erasmus, and somewhere in those years found the real question I wanted to answer: how do you help more people access a better future regardless of where they started?
In 2022 I co-founded Givelink, an in-kind donation platform where donors buy the exact goods nonprofits need. No cash abstraction. Real goods, real people, real stories. Today we're scaling globally from San Francisco with a mission to impact 100 million people.
I co-founded Entrepreneurship Talks and now help drive the strategic direction of the team. I serve as a WEF Global Shaper in San Francisco and sit on the Executive Board of Social Impact SF. Everything I do connects back to the same question: how do you make it easier for people with less to access the same opportunities as everyone else?
I get my energy from problems where the stakes are real. I train for HYROX and triathlons at a competitive level because I genuinely believe finishing a hard race and building something you care about take exactly the same muscle. Both demand radical honesty with yourself. I read 40+ books a year not to stay informed, but to think better.
San Francisco, USA & Athens/Patras, Greece
Scaling Givelink globally, 100M people mission
Why I built this site: I don't know who's reading this. Maybe you found me through Givelink, maybe a mutual, maybe you Googled me before a meeting. Either way — I built this because I believe the best things in life start with an unexpected conversation. If something here resonates, reach out. Seriously.
Right Now
What I'm working on today
🕐 Updated
Scaling Givelink Globally
Building from San Francisco towards a mission to impact 100 million people. Deepening nonprofit partnerships, sharpening product-market fit, and expanding to new markets around the world.
Visit Givelink →WEF Global Shaper, SF
Contributing to the San Francisco Hub on civic tech, social impact, and youth leadership initiatives.
HYROX & Triathlon
Competing at an elite level. The same muscle that gets you through the final kilometre of a race is what gets you through the hardest moment of building something. Both demand you be completely honest with yourself.
40+ books this year
Deep in physics, AI, and philosophy. Books are a map for navigating complexity, not a list to complete.
See my shelf →My Story
Key Milestones
Multi-Award Student (2016–2019)
Multiple distinctions in mathematics, physics, astronomy, chemistry and regional academic competitions
Winning those competitions was proof the playing field wasn't completely fixed. It gave me something to hold onto.
University of Patras Journey Begins
Started M.Eng in Mechanical Engineering. Finished 1st in class by the end of 1st semester. Graduated in 2025.
I chose Mechanical Engineering because it was the hardest thing I could think of. Finishing first that semester confirmed something I'd been waiting to confirm about myself.
Co-Founded Citathlon & First Job
Co-founded Citathlon and started first role as an innovation consultant
First time I built something from scratch. The feeling of creating real value instead of just studying it changed everything.
European Startup Universe & Atlas Analytics
Project Manager at ESU and contributor at Atlas Analytics on growth campaigns
Co-Founded Givelink & Entrepreneurship Talks
In-kind donation platform. Givelink founded. Entrepreneurship Talks launched. 100+ nonprofits supported.
The moment I stopped asking what I should do with my life and started building the answer. Two companies in one year.
Forbes 30 Under 30 Greece
Greece's top young innovators. Dragons' Den appearance. Top 4 Europe GSEA. 2× Best University Startup Greece.
I read the Forbes announcement three times before it felt real. Then I closed the laptop and went for a run.
$200K Investment Milestone
Closed a $200K investment chapter and prepared next growth stage for US operations
The first time external validation became internal conviction. The mission was real.
$160K Investment & US Expansion
Second investment round of $160K. Expanded to the US. Moved to San Francisco. Completed M.Eng degree.
Landed in San Francisco with no network and a very clear mission. Exactly where I needed to be.
Global Shaper & Social Impact SF Board Member
Contributing through the WEF Global Shapers network and serving on the Social Impact SF board
The work and the identity became the same thing.
Career
Professional Experience
Co-Founder & COO
Givelink
In-kind donation platform letting donors shop the goods nonprofits need most — with step-by-step tracking, photo confirmation, and real impact stories.
- $200K+ donations · 7,500+ contributions · 100K+ lives impacted
- Raised €200,000 Pre-Seed (LATSCO Family Office & V Group)
- 100+ charity partners · major supermarket chain · 5+ corporate donors
- Forbes 30 Under 30 Greece · Top 4 Europe GSEA 2023 · 2× Best University Startup Greece
- US expansion Sept 2025: 20+ nonprofits, $10,000+ donated in early US traction
R&D Engineer Trainee
DNV
Supported decarbonization-focused R&D initiatives and translated engineering data into decision-ready insights.
- Analyzed machinery performance datasets with Excel and Power BI to identify efficiency opportunities
- Built repeatable analytics workflows and reporting templates for technical and business stakeholders
- Contributed to early-stage R&D evaluations tied to sustainability and emissions-reduction priorities
Growth Consultant
Atlas Analytics
Drove outbound growth and partnerships for B2B campaigns across Greece, Cyprus, and the UK.
- Executed targeted outreach and qualification flows for consulting, IT, and startup accounts
- Delivered tailored sales presentations to C-level decision-makers and procurement leaders
- Improved campaign conversion through structured messaging tests and market-specific positioning
Project Manager
European Startup Universe
- Led 9-person team from 6 countries · 150+ company partnerships · 5,000+ organic visitors
- 1,500+ founders & 120+ experts from 9 countries · 450% participation growth
Innovation Consultant Intern
Break-Even Consulting
- Accelerated 4 corporate innovation labs & intrapreneurship programs
- 95% of research goals achieved across 4 internal projects
Social
On LinkedIn & X
Thoughts on entrepreneurship, social impact & building in public.
"I got the degree — but that's not the point."
A personal post about growth beyond titles, consistency through uncertainty, and why character matters more than credentials in the long run.
A behind-the-scenes look at our Dragons' Den journey — showing up prepared, staying true to mission, and turning a TV moment into long-term momentum for Givelink.
A milestone post on being recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 and what it means for the Givelink mission: scaling impact, earning trust, and building with purpose.
Honoured to be named Forbes 30 Under 30 Greece 🇬🇷
We started Givelink with zero capital and a very simple belief: donors should be able to give the exact thing a nonprofit needs — not just money. 3 years later, 100K+ lives impacted. This is just the beginning.
Things nobody tells you about building a social impact startup:
→ Investors will say "love the mission" then ghost you
→ Your best team members join for vision, not salary
→ Impact metrics matter MORE than revenue metrics early on
→ Every "no" from a nonprofit is data, not rejection
Keep building anyway.
I read 40 books a year. Here's the single mental model that changed how I think:
Your mind is like a Google Map. Most people have huge pixelated areas — things they've never thought deeply about. Reading isn't about information. It's about filling in the map so your decisions get better.
The more accurate your model of the world, the fewer mistakes you make.
Media
Watch & Listen
Dragons' Den Greece
Pitching Givelink live on Greece's version of Shark Tank — the full pitch and investor feedback.
Watch on YouTube
Naftemporiki TV
Business media interview on Givelink's fundraising milestones and social entrepreneurship model.
Hustle Hours Podcast
A conversation about startup pressure, founder mindset, and staying mission-first under uncertainty.
TechXperience Fest
A live session on startup execution, storytelling, and building impact-focused ventures.
Kathodon Podcast
A long-form discussion on personal growth, grit, and scaling Givelink from Greece to the US.
Why Should I Invest?
An investor-oriented breakdown of the problem, solution, and long-term vision for the platform.
What I've Built
Companies
Givelink
Givelink
In-Kind Donation Platform & App
Donors shop the goods nonprofits need most — step-by-step tracking, photo confirmation, and real impact stories.
Entrepreneurship Talks
Entrepreneurship Talks
Podcast · Co-Founder & Strategic Lead
Long-form conversations with founders, investors and changemakers. Co-founded and now driving strategic direction alongside hosting, with 5+ events, 10+ community partners, and a $100K+ grant secured.
Entrepreneurship Talks
Click to load Spotify player
Media & Press
Recognition & Coverage
Forbes 30 Under 30 Greece
Listed among the 30 most promising Greek entrepreneurs under 30 in 2024 by Forbes Greece.
Read more →Top 4 Europe — GSEA 2023
Reached Top 4 at Europe's most prestigious student entrepreneurship competition in Istanbul.
Read more →2× Best University Startup Greece
Recognized twice as one of Greece's best university startups at national-level competitions.
European Young Innovators Top 15 (U26)
Selected among the Top 15 young innovators in Europe by the World Summit Awards (WSA) Global.
Read more →Pappajohn Competition Winners 2024–25
First place at the John & Mary Pappajohn Business Plan Competition at the University of Patras.
Read more →Circle Future Leaders Fellow
Invited as a Future Leaders Fellow by Circle — a curated network of high-impact young professionals across Europe.
Pegasus Angel Accelerator Fellow
Selected for Pegasus Angel Accelerator, a pre-seed program for Greece's most promising early-stage startups.
WEF Global Shaper, San Francisco
Member of the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers Community, representing the San Francisco Hub since 2024.
Mensa Member · 132+ IQ
Invited member of Mensa International — the high-IQ society — with a score in the global top 2%.
Press Coverage
Feature on Givelink & Social Innovation
→Four Young Founders Looking to Change Philanthropy in Greece
→Top Greek Startups 2024
→Citathlon 2023 — Innovation Challenge
→Annual Report 2023 — Accelerator Fellow
→17-Year-Old Accepted to 4 UK Universities
→Interview on Givelink and social impact entrepreneurship
→Leadership & Community
Dec 2025 – Present
Jan 2026 – Present
2021 – 2023
132+ IQ requirement
Programs & Memberships
Academic Background
Education
M.Eng Mechanical Engineering
University of Patras, Greece
Major: Industrial Management · GPA 3.5 · Top 3% of Class
Technology & Engineering Management
UPC Barcelona · Erasmus
International Business · Strategy · Data Analysis (R, SQL, Python) · Grade 8.11
High School Diploma
3rd High School of Patras
100% · 1st of graduating class · Panhellenic scholarship (1st in region)
Writing
Blogs & Insights
Thoughts on entrepreneurship, social impact, AI, and building companies that matter.
How We Built Givelink from a Napkin Idea to Forbes 30 Under 30
The raw, honest story of building a social impact startup with no money, no network, and everything to prove.
Read on Substack →Why Every Founder Needs to Understand AI Right Now
AI is not a feature. It's a paradigm shift. The founders who ignore it will be disrupted by the ones who don't.
Read on Substack →The Google Map Theory of Learning: Read 40 Books a Year
Your mind is like a map. The more areas you explore, the better your decisions become. Here's my reading system.
Read on Substack →Get thoughts on startups, impact & AI directly in your inbox
Join 500+ readers who get Panos's occasional notes — no fluff, just signal.
Opportunities
Open To
I'm always excited to connect with people building something meaningful. Here's what I'm currently open to:
Partnerships & Collaborations
Joint ventures, strategic partnerships for Givelink, and co-creation with nonprofits and mission-driven companies.
Speaking Invitations
Keynotes and panels on entrepreneurship, social impact, AI, and the future of giving. From TEDx to university events.
Investment Conversations
If you believe in the future of in-kind giving and social impact tech, let's talk about Givelink's next funding round.
Advisory & Mentoring
Early-stage founders building for social good — I love sharing what I've learned the hard way so you don't have to.
Podcast Guests
Entrepreneurs, innovators, and thinkers who'd make a great episode of Entrepreneurship Talks. Reach out!
Just Connecting
Bold people working on hard problems. If you're building something you believe in, I'd love to hear about it.
A Filter
This site is probably for you if…
It's probably not for you if you want a polished pitch deck — that's Givelink.app.
Get in Touch
Let's build something meaningful together
Open to collaborations, speaking invitations, investment conversations, and connecting with bold people working on hard problems.