With a mission to protect people against drone threats, MSc Software and Security Systems student, Evangelos Mantas is currently bootstraping for his first venture, CitadelGuardian. Through his startup, Evangelos is bringing a cyber security assessment approach to the cyber-physical threats that drones pose; a business idea that came to him while doing military service in his home country, Greece. Upon commencing his degree at the University of Oxford, Evangelos decided to develop the idea and work on launching his startup, which prompted him to apply to the Oxford Venture Builder programme with the Entrepreneurship Centre at Saïd Business School, as well as the #StartedinOxford Demo Night with EnSpire.
What is your background? What made you decide to become an entrepreneur?
I do not consider myself an entrepreneur, rather a drone security researcher who wants to "do stuff" as opposed to "waiting for it to happen". Setting up my own venture means that I can grow simultaneously with the drone industry and have the opportunity to lead in this niche which is critical to the public safety field.
What is your definition of entrepreneurship?
A process that demands the best of yourself that will make you "reach wherever you can't reach".
How and when did you know your idea was good enough to develop it?
Constant aggression and usage of small drones all over the major conflicts made me realise that while the "problem" might seem so far away, it is actually "next door".
What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur? Why?
Meraki, belief in cause & unconventional thinking. Meraki is a Greek word that is non-translatable but means something between passion, devotion and full of heart. Everything you do you need to believe in it. Bad days will come for sure and then only true belief in the cause will lead to success. We live in a world full of data and "noise" and connecting the pieces in a unique manner will give the value anyone seeks.
What is your favourite part of being an entrepreneur?
It is a journey with no guarantee, full of high risk and maybe... a reward. A journey that makes me want to pursue.
What individual, company or organization inspires you most? Why?
Jonny Kim - US Navy SEAL, Harvard Doctor, Astronaut. Certified badass!
If you had 5 minutes with the above individual/ company/organization, what would you want to ask or discuss?
What is the "trick" to always have the will to push for more?
What has been your most satisfying or successful moment in business?
The day that I believed enough in my idea and myself to move forward and set it up!
What would you say have been some of your mistakes, failures or lessons learned as an entrepreneur?
I have a long way to go, so while I have not seen major setbacks, I am keeping an eye on it and trying to learn from others.
How have you funded your ideas?
I am self-funding this idea and looking for grants to sustain the first few hard years.
If a new entrepreneur or startup came to you looking for entrepreneurship resources, where would you send them?
I would definitely recommend the online resources of
Saïd Business School that all Oxford students have access to via SSO. There are a ton of things to explore and learn.
