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Interview with Thomas Mylonas, Winner of Europe’s Young Entrepreneurs 2007 and CEO of 3 companies

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Message Frederik Van Lierde


What was the reason you decided to startup your own company?
 I had my first entrepreneurial activity at the age of 14. At that time, I was  organizing parties and events in clubs and besides I was 14 years old I was very  successful. Since that time, it was clear to me that I would be operating as an  entrepreneur because I simply loved the freedom of doing what I wanted, when I  wanted and how I wanted. Moreover, I love creating and develop new  ideas/ concepts and in combination with my entrepreneurial mindset I can realize  my dreams to reality.


What were the main obstacles you encountered launching your idea/company?
The main obstacle was probably the age. It was (and still not) simple to enter a boardroom in a meeting and being the youngest of the group. Of course, that was not a problem because since the beginning I tried to make everybody understand that they should not look to my age but to what I had to say and the energy and passion I had/have to create businesses


What innovation your company is offering to the customers, what is the added value of your company?
Dot Kite has a Total Consumer Experience approach in the world of design. Dot Kite offers professional design services in many different areas, from Strategic Branding & Communication to product & Furniture design to consumer electronics, from packaging solutions to graphics till the complete interior and retail experience. By offering such variety of creative services of high standard and high quality, we make sure to provide them one-stop-shop for their business needs. Moreover, Dot Kite is always willing to work as a real partner with its clients in order to show full commitment and of course to make sure the final outcome will be the best possible for all parties involved.


What are, in your opinion, the success keys of your startup?
The success keys that brought me to success are the following: Passion for developing new businesses, Commitment to any new project and loads of Energy to make things happen also when things appear to be difficult.


What was the impact of being awarded from Business Week as "Europe s Best Young Entrepreneur 2007 ?
Business Week award was a great experience. It was a form of recognition for all the effort, passion, energy and commitment I placed to my entrepreneurial activities. The impact of "Europe s Best Young Entrepreneur was more of a psychological than actual/practical. People now are searching for me instead of the other way around.


What are the possibilities for your company with this crisis?
All my three businesses, perform very well during this year. Actually, I do not feel there is any Financial Crisis. I believe that in such times, businesses should be more flexible and being able to adapt to the new business environment as fast as possible. This is also what I always tried to do with my entrepreneurial activities. To work on a smaller scale and being able to maneuver faster and more efficient


What would you like to see the government will do to push innovation and young entrepreneurs?
Governments should try to work closer with the entrepreneurs and try to understand which new policies, rules and legislation might help to boost all business operations. Moreover, I believe that governments should start working from the educational system rather than providing funds to new companies and/or young entrepreneurs. What we lack today is a proper educational system that stimulates the entrepreneurial mindset of every single person. Unfortunately, at schools they teach us on how to be great workers and how to obey to orders. Entrepreneurship is totally the opposite! Entrepreneurs love to be challenged and to think out of the box. Entrepreneurs love to live at the edge and of course this is what makes them successful as well.
Therefore, I believe that governments should put more of their efforts to create a more stimulating educational environment that will "build more independent thinkers and people that love to take risks rather than just people that are trained to do one job.


How do you see/handle expansion to other countries or do you stay local?
Currently my businesses expand in three different countries in Europe. Dot Kite has offices in Amsterdam, Athens and Rome and for those offices we provide our high quality design services to our clients.
In addition, Loggia Import is operating in The Netherlands but we are planning to expand our operations to the BeNeLux market very soon.

Finally, Crux Group is my investment vehicle that I am looking for interesting a new projects all over the world. Staying local in this global market is not an option and therefore every new business activity I undertake I always think if and how it could scale up for the global market.

Visit the original page of the article (http://frederikvanlierde.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/thomas-mylonas-crux-group-dot-kite-loggia-import/) and find the different possibilities of contacting Thomas Mylonas

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I was born in 1974 so I consider myself still as a young entrepreneur. I started to sell at the age of 12, when my father had Open-Door days. I was selling the garden furniture stock. My grandfather Eduard Van Lierde always told me that if you (more...)
 
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Interview with Thomas Mylonas, Winner of Europe’s Young Entrepreneurs 2007 and CEO of 3 companies

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