<- Back to People & Stories
Haris Karonis
Founder & CEO at VIVA.COM
The Story

Haris Karonis was born in 1974 in Athens, Greece and is the Founder and CEO of Viva Wallet.

Ever used your smart phone to accept payments? If you are a merchant, you have probably crossed paths with Viva.com. The masterminds behind this game-changer: Haris Karonis & Makis Antypas. From their roots in telecom software to becoming Europe’s go-to payment solution, their journey is one for the books.

When the internet wave hit Greece, Haris, alongside his colleague Makis, took the plunge into tech. By 2000, they were at the helm of Realize, the company that would morph into Viva.com. Initially, they were the behind-the-scenes tech guys for banks, branching out into travel and entertainment payments. But they had bigger plans. They envisioned a world of electronic transactions. By 2012, Viva was pioneering eWallets in Greece. And while banks tried to catch up, the duo, with a strategic partnership with the Latsis family, was setting the pace in Europe.
Fast forward to today, and with JP Morgan holding a 48.5% share for a whopping $800 million, Viva’s stock is soaring. But the duo isn’t resting. They’re on the quest for new adventures via More.com, 100% owned by Haris and Makis, now offering online services across 8 nations (up to date).
The ascent of Viva.com is nothing short of inspiring, and it’s all thanks to Haris and Makis’ vision and tenacity. They are the embodiment of the modern Greek entrepreneurs: passionate, persistent, and always on the lookout for the next big thing.

Stay connected

Join the Community

    By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from Innovation Nation.