Ιnnovation often starts with the simplest encounters: the random hangouts after class, the events we end up at, and that shared curiosity that makes the universe go, “Yep, you guys need to meet.” That’s pretty much how Unimates came to life. We’re John, Thanasis, Thomas, and [one more] John, second-year Computer Science & Engineering students at the University of Ioannina, connected from the start by our love for building things and creating something out of nothing.

Our idea for Unimates formed the same way many ideas here do: by going out, staying curious, and getting involved in student life.

Around us, we kept seeing the same problem. Students struggling to find safe, structured, student-friendly house-sharing options. With rents rising and co-living becoming more common in Greece, we realized we could actually help. And practically speaking, signing up for the Techfuse Hackathon this past Spring pushed us to start taking it seriously. 

Unimates works through a simple, smart system: students fill out a lifestyle quiz, the platform suggests compatible “top picks,” and if there’s a mutual “like-like,” both sides can check each other’s social profiles. During our very first mini marketing test, twelve students signed up—not huge, but enough to confirm the need.

That small success pushed us to enter competitions and accelerators.

We didn’t win at first, but instead of stepping back, we kept learning from mentors and refining our idea. Eventually, we placed second in one competition and later won €5,000, which let us print merch, run ads, and keep going. Now we’re preparing for the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards, hoping to represent Greece in Dublin next year.

Our story kind of reflects what’s happening in Ioannina itself. The city’s startup ecosystem—once seen as a “no man’s land”—is now full of support, inspiration, and young people attempting bold things. We’re proud of our city: walkable, nature-filled, a gastronomic heaven, and full of students.

And, it’s about time we brag a bit more about Ioannina. Something exciting is happening here, and we’re just getting started.