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Stephania Stefanakou
Venture Manager @ Next AI | Women's Health Advocate | NEXT Founder 2019
Stephania Stefanakou is a Venture Manager at Next AI, a program under NEXT Canada that focuses on accelerating AI-enabled startups. In her role, she is involved in mentoring entrepreneurs and helping them navigate the challenges of developing their AI-based business ideas. Next AI provides structured education, mentorship, and access to a network of industry experts to support early-stage ventures in their growth journey.
Her professional background likely includes experience in entrepreneurship, technology, and venture development, aligning with the program's mission to cultivate innovative solutions using artificial intelligence. The program emphasizes diversity and inclusion, welcoming participants from various backgrounds to foster a rich entrepreneurial ecosystem.
For more specific details regarding her career trajectory or educational background, further information may be available through her LinkedIn profile or other professional networks.
Highlights
I've debated whether to share a post with my thoughts and advice to the founders.
It’s been just over a week since NEXT Canada's Venture Day, and I’ve been moved by the founders' praise for the programs.
While this year has been a career highlight, it’s also been one of the hardest personally.
We had some fantastic startups join or created in the NEXT36, Next AI and Next Founders programs. We saw not just ventures grow and reach their goals but the founders themselves grow into better leaders and visionaries.
This past June I lost my father after battling Brain Cancer since November 2023. Navigating grief while also wanting to help founders and contributing to a successful program has obviously been challenging…
Now, you may be wondering, “Steph, why did you continue working?”, well… I did take some time off but being around the founders and the community actually did help with making me “happy” for a few hours a day. I needed that dose of energy and enthusiasm that founders had everyday when I walked into the office. I may not have been able to reciprocate it as much as I wished to but it was much needed.
I’m not mentioning this to receive condolences, believe me I have had enough of those, but to help me segue to the advice I have for founders.
In my early 20s, I poured everything into building startups. I followed the 24/7 hustle mentality and took all the risks. I skipped out on time with friends and family, thinking it would increase my chances of success. I hate to say this, because I can’t do anything about it anymore, but I have regrets. I want to live a life without regrets but unfortunately I have them… I wish I didn’t skip on those family visits, on those opportunities to create new memories with loved ones. I wish I went back to Greece to visit my father more often instead of staying in Toronto to build a startup…the outcome of the startup would have been the same, maybe with a different timeline, but still the same. Those memories though were never created…
So here is my advice in this pretty depressing post that I am now realizing I’m writing (I was hoping for something a bit more uplifting and empowering??), don’t miss out on core memories in favour of your startup. I know a lot of you won’t agree with me, that’s fine. I also know a lot of you won’t understand what I’m talking about until unfortunately you experience it as well.
You can give it your all, you can take all the risks you want to make your business successful, be ambitious as hell!!! Go after the goals and success you want, whether that is becoming a unicorn, getting acquired or being able to work and live comfortably from anywhere in the world! Not everyone has the same version of success.
But also create core memories with your loved ones, be there for them. You will not be remembered for sleeping at the office during Christmas break, you will be remembered for the happiness you brought just by showing up that day.
Now go give your parents a hug ❤️
It's been a little over 6 years since I started getting involved in the FemTech space and it brings me so much joy to finally see the well-deserved recognition this field is getting. Cap Inclusive and Femtech Canada are doing a phenomenal job in spreading awareness and finding resources and opportunities for many FemTech founders.
When you see in the news breakthroughs in areas such as endometriosis and fertility, it's because of initiatives like this that they are possible. By giving FemTech founders a platform to speak, by giving them the right tools to continue their research and grow their business. By giving them the opportunity to pitch in front of VCs and show them that Women's Health is not a "niche".
A huge congratulations to Roxanne Leduc, Rachel Bartholomew and their teams for putting together a great event in Toronto. Thank you so much for including me as a judge and to represent NEXT Canada and Next AI.
Also, I would like to give a huge shoutout to the FemTech founders that pitched and to all the VCs that came, I'm looking forward to see how this industry will look in the next 5 - 10 years because of the amazing work that you do! Dallas Barnes Robin Newman Azia T. Ellie Hong Latchmi Raghunanan, Ph.D. Leisa Hirtz
