Interview with Evan Hareras

The “Got Greek of the Week” interview with Evan Hareras: “If someone tells me that it cannot be done, I usually won’t stop working until one of us is right.”

EVAN HARERAS is currently working towards his BS in Economics and Mathematics at the University of Indiana at Bloomington’s Kelley School of Business. At 23, he’s already founded or co-founded three businesses, one of which developed direct marketing software to identify and contact distressed real estate property — and the latest, an internet advertising exchange, which has received substantial private capitalization. In between business and his studies, he’s also served as president of Phi Kappa Sigma.

Here are excerpts from our “Got Greek?” interview with Evan Hareras:

Q: You are the co-founder of a high-tech startup. What got you interested in doing this?

A: Ever since I have been young I have been interested in entrepreneurship. I think it stems from my grandfathers. Both owned and operated successful business for as long as I can remember. My father operates a local coffee house chain as well. So it has been in my blood since birth, but I really began to put my passion in to action when I was 16. My family owned a very successful carwash in Pittsburgh that was so busy my aunt and uncle needed help running it. I came on as a line attendant and within a year was promoted to assistant manager. I was charged with day-to-day operations, hiring, ordering, and customer service. I was incredibly lucky to be able to cultivate my skills at such an early age.

Q: Tell us about your latest startup company and what it does?

A: I co-founded isocket.com with a fraternity brother at Indiana University during our Junior Year. isocket is an open, commission-free ad platform that helps advertising sellers make their inventory easier to find, purchase and execute. We looked at the current methods of buying and selling advertisements and quickly saw that the process was still very manual. isocket acts as a resources to help make these process more automated and efficient. We are currently located in San Francisco and have raised a Round A of funding.

Q: If you could do a startup in Greece, what would you do?

A: To say what startup in Greece I would do is a hard question to answer. I am not aware enough to know the needs of Greek consumers and see where market gaps are. However, if ever presented with the opportunity, Greece would be a great place do a startup. Greece is full of young, talented, and underutilized labor. Wages are comparatively cheap and people speak English very well. If you understand the culture and able to negotiate the bureaucracy, I think Greece would be a great place for an IT startup.

Q: Dream job?

A: My dream job would be to create an organization that is a combination of private equity, venture capitalism and startup consulting. This company would not have a particular focus other than to find opportunities and pursue them. To work with a small group of brilliant, motivated people who work well together and are innovated would be a true pleasure.

Q: What drives you on a day to day basis?

A: I am motivated by things I find to be interesting. I cannot say that I am driven by one value in particular. Today it might be a startup and tomorrow it is trying to figure out how to feed students of an elementary school better organic food. I only need to be excited by the project. However, if someone tells me that it cannot be done, I usually won’t stop working until one of us is right.

Q: Favorite Greek dish?

A: My favorite Greek dish is my grandmothers Pastitsio.

Q: Is there a Greek-related object you own that you really value?

A: One of my most special personal belongings is a pendent from Kefalonia. I traveled to Greece one summer with my grandfather and purchased the pendent for me while shopping in Argostoli. He passed away later that year. I wear it every day to remind me of him and more importantly how he came to America with nothing and now I am able to enjoy life because of his hard work.