On 1 October 2026, at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London, VideoWeek’s European Video Awards named Sotiris Oikonomou, Founder and Managing Director of MarkApp, Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year, one of the evening’s Editorial Choice honours.
The recognition is as much about the company as its founder: an independent business, built from first principles, now counted among the names shaping European video and connected TV advertising.
About the European Video Awards
Produced by VideoWeek, the European Video Awards, known as the EVAs, celebrate the best in European video and connected TV advertising. More than 20 categories recognise campaigns, individuals and technology from brands, agencies, publishers, creators and technology partners across the continent. The full list of 2026 honourees is published on the official winners page.
What the award recognises
The Emerging Entrepreneur award recognises a founder who has built something new, and built it to last.
Sotiris founded MarkApp at 22, with no loans and no venture capital, teaching himself code, product and sales along the way. Today MarkApp operates its own exchange across CTV, app and web, powered by a full stack of its own:
- Pantheon, a contextual SSP that helps publishers monetise premium content environments.
- Harion, a cross-device commerce DSP that activates campaigns across every screen.
- MarkDash, unified reporting that gives partners full transparency.
A recognition years in the making
The award caps a consistent record of recognition:
- Rising Star (Under 35): nominated at the European Video Awards three years in a row.
- Best New Product: Pantheon shortlisted at the 2026 European Video Awards.
- FT1000 2026: named in the Financial Times ranking of Europe’s fastest-growing companies.
- Google Authorized Buyer: certified status for MarkApp.
What it means
As video moves to streaming, the infrastructure behind it is being rebuilt. For MarkApp, the award confirms that independent, contextual and transparent infrastructure belongs at the heart of that shift.
- For publishers: a monetisation partner recognised at the highest level of European video.
- For advertisers: direct access to curated, brand-suitable environments across CTV, app and web.
- For our team: recognition earned together across London, Athens, Limassol and Dubai.
In his words
“I started MarkApp with a simple conviction: that an independent company could build premium video infrastructure on its own terms. This award belongs to the team that turned that conviction into an exchange trusted by partners across Europe and the Middle East. We are only getting started.”
Sotiris Oikonomou, Founder and Managing Director, MarkApp
What comes next
MarkApp continues to invest where video is heading: connected TV, contextual intelligence and premium content environments. The principle remains the same. We don’t sell apps; we sell content environments.
To explore what MarkApp can build with you, talk to our team.
