Introduction
In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Anthony Sapountzisspeaks with Nikos Patsis, Founder and CEO of DisruptIQ, about his journey from engineering to AIArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a very large and broad spectrum of technologies which most people would be familiar with through... entrepreneurship and building global technology ventures. Nikos shares insights from his studies at Harvard and his experience in financial innovation before founding VoiceWeb, one of the early pioneers in conversational AIArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a very large and broad spectrum of technologies which most people would be familiar with through.... He discusses how he scaled his companies across 30+ countries, navigated investor challenges, and built adaptable teams. This conversation explores real-world lessons in AIArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a very large and broad spectrum of technologies which most people would be familiar with through... innovation, startup funding, leadership, and sustainable business growth.
From Financial Engineering to AI Entrepreneurship
Nikos began his career studying engineering at the National Technical University of Athens and later specialised in financial engineering at Harvard University. His research on exotic options pricing led to a role at a private equity fund in New York, where he applied his models to real-world investments. After gaining international experience in Bermuda’s financial sector, he returned to Greece to launch his ventures, including a successful mobile value-added services company across Central America. Eventually, his passion for technology and innovation led him to found VoiceWeb, a company that would reshape the future of customer service through AIArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a very large and broad spectrum of technologies which most people would be familiar with through....
Pioneering Conversational AI with VoiceWeb
Founded in the early 2000s, VoiceWeb was one of the first companies to automate customer care using voice and chatbot technologies. The company worked with major banks and telecoms, transforming call centres through voice recognition long before AIArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a very large and broad spectrum of technologies which most people would be familiar with through... became mainstream. Nikos reflects on the challenges of educating a sceptical market and how perceptions of automation have evolved. He also emphasises the need for governments and businesses to prepare for AI’s societal impact as the technology continues to accelerate globally.
Scaling Globally and Navigating Funding Challenges
VoiceWeb’s commitment to local market understanding helped it expand into over 30 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, partnering with industry giants like Vodafone, Raiffeisen Bank, and MTN. Nikos explains how cultural sensitivity and adaptability allowed them to outperform larger competitors like Google and IBM. He also shares lessons from securing Series A funding, warning founders about the “time tax” that comes with institutional investors and the need to choose backers who offer strategic support rather than just capital.
The Right Investors and the Right Mindset
Nikos distinguishes between passive investors and operational VCs: those who bring value through experience, networks, and practical guidance. He stresses that scaling from 0–1 is very different from scaling from 1–3, and operational expertise can make or break a company’s growth. As an investor himself, Nikos looks for teams who build businesses, not just products. He believes that successful startups combine strong distribution, cultural intelligence, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing markets.
Leadership, Hiring, and Sustainable Growth
To close, Nikos offers actionable advice for founders navigating today’s competitive talent market. He advocates hiring based on results rather than résumés, setting clear performance milestones, and making fast decisions when hires do not work out. Loyalty, he warns, cannot replace competence. Poor hiring decisions can weaken culture, reduce morale, and hinder scalability. For Nikos, the foundations of long-term success are decisive leadership, outcome-driven teams, and a clear focus on business results.
Key Takeaways
- Build a business, not just a product.
- Choose investors who add real operational value.
- Market fit is dynamic so learn to adapt across regions and cultures.
- Hire for impact, not personality or loyalty.
- Scaling success requires leadership, adaptability, and focus.
Topics Covered
- From Engineering to Financial Innovation
- Early Career in Private Equity and Global Finance
- Founding VoiceWeb: Early Conversational AIArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a very large and broad spectrum of technologies which most people would be familiar with through... Pioneer
- Educating the Market on AIArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a very large and broad spectrum of technologies which most people would be familiar with through... Adoption
- Scaling VoiceWeb Across 30+ Countries
- Startup Funding and Investor Challenges
- Choosing the Right Investors for Growth
- Building Businesses, Not Just Products
- Leadership, Hiring, and Sustainable Growth
Important Time Stamps
- From Athens to Harvard: The Engineer Who Mastered Financial Innovation (0:07 – 4:31)
- “We Were Too Early”: Building Conversational AIArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a very large and broad spectrum of technologies which most people would be familiar with through... Before It Was Cool (4:32 – 8:26)
- From Greece’s Crisis to Global Success: How VoiceWeb Expanded to 30+ Countries (8:27 – 15:07)
- The “Time Tax” of Funding: What Founders Aren’t Told About Investors (15:08 – 22:00)
- The Investor’s Perspective: What Founders Should Really Look For in a VC (22:02 – 28:52)
- How a Small Startup Beat Google by Understanding Local Markets (28:53 – 32:54)
- Nikos Patsis: The Biggest Hiring Mistakes Startups Keep Making (32:55 – 36:20)
Useful Links
FAQs
Who is Nikos Patsis?
Nikos Patsis is the Founder and CEO of DisruptIQ, an AIArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a very large and broad spectrum of technologies which most people would be familiar with through... innovation company. He’s a Harvard-trained engineer and entrepreneur who previously founded VoiceWeb, one of the first conversational AIArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a very large and broad spectrum of technologies which most people would be familiar with through... companies, which scaled across 30+ countries.
What is the main topic of this DevReady Podcast episode?
Nikos discusses the importance of selecting investors who add strategic value, managing the “time tax” that comes with funding, hiring for performance, and adapting to local markets when scaling globally.
Why should startup founders listen to this episode?
Founders and leaders will gain practical advice on how to build resilient businesses, scale sustainably, and make smarter funding decisions. Nikos’ story highlights how adaptability and purpose-driven leadership can turn crisis into opportunity.
What is DisruptIQ?
DisruptIQ is a technology company founded by Nikos Patsis that focuses on applying artificial intelligenceArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a very large and broad spectrum of technologies which most people would be familiar with through... and conversational technologies to transform enterprise operations and customer engagement.
How did VoiceWeb become a pioneer in conversational AI?
VoiceWeb, founded by Nikos in the early 2000s, developed one of the first voice and chatbot automation systems for large enterprises, long before conversational AIArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a very large and broad spectrum of technologies which most people would be familiar with through... became mainstream. The company worked with major clients such as Vodafone, Raiffeisen Bank, and MTN.
