Revekka Palaiologou - Turning Swipes into Real Life Connections
- Elevated Magazines
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
In an age ruled by quick swipes, likes, and fleeting digital exchanges, Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur Revekka Palaiologou is reimagining how a digital-first generation makes the “first move” with Dion—an invite-only social platform that's revived a simple, old-school gesture and turns online interactions into real-world connections, making human connection the ultimate metric.
The idea for Dion emerged from a personal experience: a small mishap while trying to share a moment with a friend abroad. That minor blunder illuminated a gap in how people digitally connect and inspired Palaiologou to create a solution. Partnering with co-founder Miltos Kambourides, she first launched an app that allowed users to send drinks to friends across the globe—a concept that quickly evolved into a broader platform for meeting new people, fostering both spontaneity and intimacy.
Dion officially launched in Dubai in November 2024, and its growth was swift. Today, the platform is live in New York, Mexico City, and Miami, with tens of thousands of members on its waitlist. For Palaiologou, building Dion has been as much a journey into understanding human behavior as it has been an engineering challenge. This philosophy is embedded in every aspect of Dion, from its curated onboarding to the events and experiences that encourage members to meet in real life.
Leadership and inclusivity are central to Palaiologou’s vision. She has built a female-led operations team across three continents, empowering women to lead city launches, oversee partnerships, and shape Dion’s global identity. Her approach emphasizes resilience, vulnerability, and authenticity. She has also pioneered what she calls the “treating economy,” a new social behavior blending technology, hospitality, and human interaction, encouraging people to celebrate moments with generosity and intention.
Palaiologou’s journey has not been without challenges. She navigates the intersecting hurdles of three male-dominated industries: tech, hospitality, and venture capital. In 2024, only about twenty percent of tech startup founders were women, and less than twelve percent of global tech funding went to female-led companies. Early in her fundraising journey, she accidentally sent investors the wrong pitch deck, complete with an internal note that read, “make this less boring.” Instead of undermining her credibility, the mistake humanized her and underscored the value of authenticity in relationship-building–a lesson that mirrors Dion’s mission.
Despite early hurdles, Dion has rapidly scaled. In just one year, it has onboarded over 80 hospitality venues and established brand partnerships with companies such as Rosaluna Mezcal and Ketel One Vodka. In 2025, Dion closed a $2 million SAFE round at a $20 million valuation, attracting high-profile investors including David Grutman and Todd Dagres. The funding reflects not just confidence in the app, but in Palaiologou’s vision and execution.
Her technical and professional foundation has been instrumental in this success. Palaiologou earned a Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens before spending five years at Bloomberg London as a senior software engineer and technical lead, managing complex financial systems. She also co-founded the Women in Derivatives community, mentoring students and speaking globally about technology, diversity, and leadership. This blend of technical acumen, global perspective, and people-first ethos informs every decision she makes at Dion.
Looking ahead, Palaiologou is focused on scaling Dion into new markets, including Paris, Los Angeles, and London, and building on the app’s community-building functionalities. Her vision is not simply global expansion but extending the platform’s ethos of intimacy and intentionality. With each city launch, Dion continues to redefine the boundaries of digital social interaction, proving that in an era dominated by algorithms, authentic human connection remains the ultimate currency.
