Demetri is one of the more popular connectors in the investment hotspots of California, including Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and of course Silicon Valley. With a wide-range of contacts from high net-worth individuals, private corporations, government, and the academe, Demetri’s role is to match the needs of the various individuals and entities.
Entrepreneurs come to him to be connected to willing investors. CEOs look to him for introductions to potential M&A deals. Even celebrities turn to him to improve their social connections. “I have a proven track record in making things happen quickly”, says Demetri.
Demetri’s passion for building relationships, however, did not come over night. It started very early on in his life. Having Greek roots, although born in America, Demetri learned the value of fostering good relations with all members of his family and extended family. At a young age, he would tag along with his grandfather and spend countless hours talking to people many years his senior. “We would talk about anything, from the weather, to family matters, to the more elaborate business and political developments around the world. I learned a lot just by being with them”, recalls Demetri. This training in building relationships proved vital in the succeeding phases of Demetri’s life.
When it was time to choose a school for college, Demetri again put emphasis on his desire to expand his contacts even more. “I enrolled in a small school called Westmont College located in Santa Barbara since one it was close to home, and two it allowed me to have more opportunity to interact with my peers and professors on a personal level. That might not have been possible in a bigger university”, narrates Demetri. He continued, “ To this day, I still maintain close contacts with my college colleagues and professors, and some of them are even working in my company or are members of my advisory team”.
After college, Demetri worked for several private and government firms gaining more important contacts in the process. But in 1999, he felt that it was time for him to move on and start his own business. Demetri shares, “I wanted to help other people. I believe that a lot of value can be created through my introductions”
Fast-forward to the current time and we can see the fruits of Demetri’s labor. He has been involved in the successful originating, co-founding, or being at the seed level of 36 companies in the last 7 years with total value for over $ 8 billion. “I don’t want to stop here. I know that there are still a lot of people out there who need my help”, says Demetri.
