Much of the world isn't paying close attention to Greece right now. That may be a mistake. Best known for its stunning islands, sun-soaked cities, and deep historical roots, Greece has been quietly laying the foundation for something less expected ' a modern, resilient tech economy. While the international spotlight often misses it, something real is happening on the ground, as this editor discovered this week across dozens of conversations in Athens. The country that once stood at the precipice of economic collapse hasn't merely rebranded itself as an 'Innovation Nation.' It's turning clever marketing into reality, with policy shifts, investor interest, and a renewed sense of purpose around tech and entrepreneurship. Indeed, in a sit-down Thursday night with Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, he made the case to TechCrunch that Greece isn't just catching up but poised to surprise. 'There is significant room to grow,' he conceded, but 'the stars are aligned.' It didn't happen without effort. Greece, Mitsotakis explained, made a 'conscious decision' half a dozen years ago to expand beyond its traditional economic strengths like tourism and hospitality. 'Tech could be 10% of our economy. This is perfectly doable,' he said, citing rising startup formation, increased capital flows, and an energized and growing base of founders and VCs in the ecosystem. Drawing from his own background in venture capital ' he founded Greece's first incubator in 2001 ' he spoke with a fluency not often heard from heads of state....

Until recently, when launching a company, the idea of 'location, location, location' was just as important to founders as the product itself. But today, location has increasingly become just another detail for businesses, not a dealbreaker. The forces of globalization have shifted the landscape for entrepreneurs, creating opportunities that transcend physical boundaries. My company, Augment, is a good example. Despite being headquartered in France, only 1.41% of our clients are located there. After all, if your market is the world, why limit yourself to just one country' A new type of founder is emerging today: One who builds beyond business hubs, taps into global talent, and launches in markets they've never set foot in. Not because it's 'trendy,' but because it's smart. Entrepreneurship should be based on merit, product and the ability to meet clients' needs, not your address. If you're solving a problem worth solving, your business should be able to meet customers wherever they are, rather than waiting for them to come to you....

Successful innovation doesn't hinge on the latest technology or creative hotbeds like Silicon Valley or Cambridge, Massachusetts. Innovation ecosystems exist everywhere ' you've just got to know how to engage them. Drawing from their new book, Accelerating Innovation: Competitive Advantage Through Ecosystem Engagement, MIT experts Phil Budden and Fiona Murray share a new framework for innovating ' and gaining competitive advantage ' no matter the market. Dame Fiona Murray, CBE DCMG, is the associate dean of innovation and the William Porter (1967) Professor of Entrepreneurship at MIT Sloan School of Management. Her research, teaching, and professional activities focus on the intersection of critical technologies, entrepreneurship, and geopolitics. Phil Budden is a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management. His focus is on corporate innovation, whereby large organizations accelerate their internal innovation and engage external ecosystems for their competitive advantage. Abbie Lundberg is editor in chief at MIT Sloan Management Review. She moderated the session....

Founded in 2004, Peppertree Capital manages $7.7bn and has invested in over 10,000 critical communications infrastructure assets across its ten flagship funds. The Ohio-based firm serves as a key capital partner to tower developers and is active across complementary sectors such as fiber networks, spectrum licenses, small cells, and rooftop rights. Upon completion, Peppertree will integrate into TPG's platform but retain operational independence under the leadership of Co-Presidents Howard Mandel and Ryan Lepene. The firm will continue its current investment strategy with support from TPG's scale, global network, and digital communications expertise. 'With its deep industry expertise, talented team, and portfolio of high-quality assets, Peppertree represents TPG's further expansion into the digital infrastructure space,' said Jon Winkelried, CEO of TPG. 'The Peppertree team shares our commitment to entrepreneurship, innovation, and investing excellence.' Peppertree's Mandel and Lepene added: 'Joining TPG's global alternatives platform will provide us with the additional scale and resources needed to capitalise on significant opportunities across the markets we operate in.'...