Costas Voliotis, Product Manager in Athens, Greece
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Costas Voliotis

Verified Expert  in Product Management

Product Manager

Location
Athens, Greece
Toptal Member Since
March 22, 2019

Costas is an innovative and decisive leader with over 25 years of contribution to technologically challenging projects in highly competitive markets. An inspirational problem solver and technologist, he has led demanding projects, supervised the entire lifecycle of sophisticated product developments and project delivery, and focused on optimizing added value, organization growth, and maximization of profitability.

Project Highlights

Build Verification System
Managed the design and implementation of G-Verify: Build verification and validation.
CAFlow | A SaaS Product That Automates the Static Code Analysis and the OSS Compliance Analysis
Designed and managed the development of a SaaS product that automates the due diligence software quality analysis.
C2M | A Fully Automated Source Code Assessment Suite for M&As
Released the C2M suite of tools that automated the due diligence (source code assessment/IT system inspection) during due diligence. Suitable for M&A and CI/CD development process. Development team set up and management (100% remotely).

Expertise

Work Experience

Product Manager

2024 - PRESENT
Hivello Operations B.V.
  • Performed roadmap 2024 definition, including a detailed roadmap using AHA! based on Lean start- up methodology.
  • Created the development plan for 2024, which includes a detailed budgeted plan for 2024.
  • Defined features that improve the reliability and usability of the Hivello Application.

Hands-on Product and Project Manager

2022 - PRESENT
WaterCooler, Inc.
  • Created the Watercooler Fun roadmap (AHA!) and budget plan (Smartsheets).
  • Set up the development team and the task management process using Jira.
  • Led the product alignment according to the Microsoft teams store guidelines.
  • Managed the client's communication with their pilot user.

Co-founder | CTO and CPO

2019 - PRESENT
Source Code Inspection, Inc.
  • Designed a SaaS E2E software quality and compliance evaluation suite. The C2M suite automates code reviews, security analysis, and license compliance analysis. It calculates a product's technical debt and its impact on the company's business model.
  • Released a version of C2M that automates the technical due diligence of M&A. A compilation of the white paper was published on codewetrust.com, section mergers-acquisitions. The M&A version automates the reporting to the C-suite.
  • Set up the company's metrics-driven operation model. Set up the client's training and support process.
  • Designed the digital marketing policy and the sales growth and go-to-market strategies, releasing many supporting LinkedIn blogs and articles.
  • Designed the product roadmap using Aha! and the development plan using Smartsheet.
  • Set up the company from scratch, integrating remote work methodologies, lead generation strategies, and tools, accomplishing 0–1 growth in two years. The product was adopted by major M&A firms and has already been used in numerous acquisitions.
  • Implemented the automated cyber-security scan that detects unknown and known vulnerabilities interfacing GIT, Redhat, and NSA (CVW) databases.

Pre-Series A Startup Product Marketer

2022 - 2022
Auxon Corporation
  • Compiled the Modality, their flagship product, roadmap using AHA! Smartsheet plan.
  • Assembled the go-to-market strategy (a marketing activities roadmap).
  • Recompiled the content for their website, including product presentation and use cases.

Product Manager

2022 - 2022
Blinkoo (toptal contract)
  • Managed the map initialization and initial road version defining the vision, value proposition, lean canvas, key personas, etc.
  • Created a business model initialization based on market research, considering the target personas.
  • Worked with the DeSo/DAODAO blockchain platforms evaluation and comparison with the main project goals.
  • Re-design the integration with HIVE and Steem blockchains.

Product Manager

2022 - 2022
Power.io
  • Compiled the white paper, described the main key concept, and presented the value proposition.
  • Designed the architecture of the decentralized exchange platform.
  • Created the design of the liquidity pool and its tokenomics formula.

Vice President of Product

2021 - 2022
MELECHAIN
  • Redesigned the product roadmap and set up the new development team.
  • Set up and mentored a cross-functional team of developers receiving feedback from the business stakeholders.
  • Performed technical due diligence on the product development status.
  • Set up the pre-sale terms, the governance mechanism, and the project plan for the ICO preparation. Completed the Cosmos SDK-based implementation. Integrated with the KYC/AML supplier and Coinbase Commerce.
  • Designed the DEX integration and the automated market maker (AMM) and created the liquidity pool.
  • Compiled the project's white paper and designed the new website.

Product Manager

2021 - 2022
Rapyuta Robotics
  • Created the roadmap for the two flagship products (Rapyuta.io and IO AMR) and designed a blockchain-based marketplace for robotic technology.
  • Trained and mentored a digital marketing and business development team receiving input from the engineering team, the C-suite, and the VP of business development.
  • Compiled the white paper, roadmaps, and landing page of two products: rapyuta.io and IO AMR.
  • Automated in-depth logistics market research in Europe, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and the USA.

Technical Product Manager

2020 - 2021
MVP Tech
  • Managed the product discovery and design of five products in the field of AI (auto-translation, virtual assistant, dynamic product placement, chatbot, predictive analytics suite).
  • Oversaw the setup of the development team and the remote development infrastructure (JIRA, Confluence, Aha!, boards, etc.).
  • Compiled the detailed budgeted development plan (smart-sheet plans) and the detailed roadmap (Aha!).
  • Managed the development of the AILO SaaS video processing tool, which automates the inserted ads in a film.

Advisor

2020 - 2021
Sifchain.Finance
  • Worked with the CEO towards the reconstruction of team setup and the daily interaction processes. Introduced AHA! as a product management tool.
  • Introduced the concept of Software Quality Assurance (delivered automated audits of Cosmos.SDK and the Sifchain's Sifnode proprietary code. Introduced SNYK as a dependency analysis tool. Proposed an onboarding process customized to the Blockchain domain.
  • Proposed an engineering methodology for the SifDAO (Decentralised Autonomous Organization).

Chief Product Officer

2020 - 2020
Green-light
  • Redefined the company's roadmap. Designed and planned the POC, the MVP, and the forthcoming releases of the Vision Green-light product.
  • Designed a computer vision-based approach to track the entire customer journey within a POS, including passers-by, viewers, visitors tracking and demographics, assistance level, visitors to buyers ratio, tracking of marketing ROIs, and social distance.
  • Managed the in-house development team and the external UI/UX design as well as hardware and software development teams.

Senior Product Manager

2019 - 2020
Tookitaki
  • Defined the roadmaps of two products using Aha.
  • Defined the agile sprint process For AMLS suite development.
  • Worked on the definition of PRDs for two products using Confluence.
  • Designed the web interfaces managing remote UI/UX teams.

Vice President of Acquisitions and IT Integrations (M&A)

2018 - 2019
ESW Capital
  • Designed and implemented a fast-track rigorous acquisition and integration process that synchronizes the activities of 200+ individual contributors activated on M&A and integration phases.
  • Set up and managed the source code analysis team specializing in software quality assessment and IT systems inspection for the due diligence of the M&A process. The team offers source code assessment and a budgeted integration plan.
  • Established and managed a team specializing in NetSuite (using SuiteBilling) and Salesforce integrations.
  • Served as a workstream owner of the engineering part of the due diligence process. Reported to C-suite. Performed technical due diligence for 45 acquired companies (total turnover larger than $500 million).
  • Selected as a member of the acquisitions department leadership team, responsible for the acquisitions and integrations of the ESW Capital group of companies.
  • Ranked second among 150 managers at the end of 2018 Q4 (Crossover productivity chart).

Head of Innovation

2017 - 2018
Exus UK
  • Managed the development and technical support of 20+ research projects (mainly HORIZON 2020) in the fields of security, big data analysis, blockchain, banking, and virtual reality.
  • Setup and management of research and development team from scratch (12 developers).
  • Application of critical chain project management (CCPM ) to European research projects.

R&D Director | CTO

1999 - 2016
inos Hellas
  • Founded and managed the R&D branch (50+ senior engineers) in Greece.
  • Supported the expansion to North America. Supervised the installations in more than 20 automotive sites and ten (Ford/Hyundai/Nissan/Tesla) worldwide. Handled global planning and management of an R&D budget of up to ten million euros per year.
  • Managed the implementation of the first absolute measurement system applied to the European automotive industry.
  • Managed the implementation of the first gap and flush on the motion measurement system applied to the North American automotive industry.
  • Managed the development of the company's main product, a complete inline machine vision, image processing, and gauging suite, including a contemporary robot thermal compensation system.
  • Awarded Best Machine Vision Product for the year 2004 (absolute measurement).
  • Created a C++ library that offers a full metrology package (25, 2 1/2 D, 3D, mono camera, stereo camera, laser triangulation). This technology applied, initially, on the convertible car top quality inspection (Daimler, Porsche, BMW).
  • Awarded a patent for a method for calibrating a camera-laser unit with respect to a calibration object disposed at a given position and orientation in a three-dimensional space.

Anti-money Laundering Software (AMLS)

https://www.tookitaki.ai/products/anti-money-laundering-suite/

Compiled a product PRD from scratch, defined the roadmap and sprints, and redesigned the web interface.

AI/ML/big data (fintech): AMLS ensures maximum coverage and a high alert yield.

Transaction monitoring: AMLS provides secondary scoring of the transaction monitoring process. The approach uses our proprietary semi-supervised technique based on multi-dimensional, unsupervised techniques, network analysis, and supervised learning to detect complex money laundering structuring mechanisms.

Screening: AMLS provides secondary scoring of the screening process. The approach uses our proprietary multilayered supervised techniques that combine methods in improved matching techniques (handles typos, spelling errors, titles, prefix/suffixes, etc.) and detailed analysis of secondary information obtained either from internal or external sources.

MAESTRO: A Gauging (Metrology)/Robot Guidance Suite for the Automotive Industry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1jD04xVMm4

Led product design of a machine vision-based suite of products for assembly line quality assurance and robot guidance.

AI/ML/computer vision/big data (automotive): This is a complete machine vision/image processing/3D vision-based metrology product, based on cloud-of-point processing.

In addition, the solution includes a contemporary self-adaptive robot thermal compensation/absolute accuracy product and a standalone 3D vision-based metrology library (grayscale, stereo, laser projection, fringe projection).

The system was installed, among others, at Fiat (Pernambuco, Brazil) and Jaguar Land Rover (UK).

Build Verification System

https://www.inos-automation.de/solutions/build-verification-and-validation-inos-verify/

Managed the design and implementation of G-Verify: Build verification and validation.

AI/ML/computer vision/ big data (automotive):G-Verify: Build verification and validation

Bumper-to-bumper inspection and validation.

Thumbs-up for production quality based on quality assurance big data analysis. Ever-increasing expectations for vehicle customization have resulted in a myriad of complex options, packages, and specialized features. G-Verify solutions provide objective, reliable confirmation that all of your customer’s expectations have been successfully met.

G-Verify can be configured to work in any area of an industrial production facility:
• Bodyshop, paint shop, final assembly, moving line, and stop-station
• Utilize various sensor resolutions, standoffs, illumination styles, color or gray-scale, NIR, LED, fluorescent, algorithm types, and much more to personalize a robust and reliable solution. Highly flexible, the G-Verify solution can be easily integrated into your existing production lines.

G-Verify systems offer economical and effective solutions for frame manufacturers—they automatically check hundreds of holes and slots in a matter of seconds.

CAFlow | A SaaS Product That Automates the Static Code Analysis and the OSS Compliance Analysis

Designed and managed the development of a SaaS product that automates the due diligence software quality analysis.

Security/ML/big data (M&A): During the due diligence of a software product or company acquisition, the technology stack, software quality, and license compliance are analyzed and reported. Maintenance, risk mitigation, and refactoring costs are automatically calculated based on a built-in big data analysis platform.

This SaaS product deployed on AWS offers technology stack analysis, third-party and OSS licenses, compliance assessment, building process analysis, and a plan for the product's virtualization (migration to AWS Cloud).

G-Guide: A Robot Guidance Suite for Automotive Industry Assembly Lines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=l1jD04xVMm4

Led product design and development—G-Guide has been installed in more than 50 assembly plants (BMW, Ford, Tesla, Fiat).

G-Guide systems provide unique, innovative solutions for every automated application, from basic de-racking operations to iterative roof panel insertions to complex phased door and closure assemblies.

Return on investment and system value:
• Optimize overall assembly quality and fit
• Employ leading-edge assembly techniques
• Reduce the number of vehicles requiring rework
• Automate hazardous tasks
• Reduce the manpower dedicated to assembly operations
• Reduce the number of materials dispensed
• Eliminate precision mechanical fixturing costs
• Accommodate part and process variation

$200+ million in revenue, more than 300 installations (Ford, Daimler, Audi, Daimler, Nissan, BMW, Tesla, Hyundai, Fiat, JLR, etc.)

Shared Anti-money Laundering Typologies Framework

https://www.tookitaki.ai/news-views/roundtable-rewind-embracing-next-gen-tech-collaboration-key-to-sustainability/

Defined a product roadmap and features, designed the web interface, and planned agile sprints and progress dashboards.

AI/ML/big data (fintech): Tookitakis' Shared Typologie Framework is an innovative machine learning/AI approach anti-money laundering technology. A universal cloud-based repository of anti-money laundering patterns (typologies) is automatically detected or manually compiled. It provides the ability to analyze patterns of AML criminality detected by the third party without violating PII regulations, using a data model-agnostic glass box approach. The framework mitigates the risk implied by new ML techniques.

Tech stack: AWS, Scala, Python, React

C2M | A Fully Automated Source Code Assessment Suite for M&As

https://www.codewetrust.com/products

Released the C2M suite of tools that automated the due diligence (source code assessment/IT system inspection) during due diligence. Suitable for M&A and CI/CD development process. Development team set up and management (100% remotely).

This is an end-to-end source code evaluation suite that supports (tech-stack analysis, code risks discovery, automated code reviews, security review report, and license compliance/dependency analysis/business risks report).

Melechain Double Coin

Product discovery and roadmap, set up of a development team, white paper creation, Tokenomics definition, and payments integration.

Melechain offers a gold-backed double coin supported by a DPoS (delegated proof of stake) blockchain targeting the gold investors market and the local EMEA eCommerce sector.

It is the only cryptocurrency NFT system that aims to digitize gold's value and facilitate gold circulation and micro-investments in gold. At the same time, it secures the crypto investments, backing these by gold deposits at a considerably higher level than Fiat currencies.

AILO — Automated Product Placement on Videos

Designed the system from scratch along the lines of the Ryff project; set up and managed the development team; designed the algorithm that matches the film motion with the 3D ad content; and designed the road map, plan, and budget for the project.

MVP Tech — AILO Virtual Product Placement: this product offers a complete media assets processing studio and automates the seamless insertion of ad content (labels, logos, objects) within a movie, TV show, or sports event video stream.
2021 - 2022

Certification in Economics

Stanford - California, USA

1997 - 2003

PostDoc in Cryptography/Cryptanalysis

National Technical University of Athens - Athens, Greece

1991 - 1995

Doctorate in Distributed Programming and Artificial Intelligence

National Technical University of Athens - Athens, Greece

1985 - 1990

Master's Degree in Computer Science

National Technical University Of Athens - Athens, Greece

MARCH 2022 - PRESENT

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Deep Dive

Duke University | via Coursera

MARCH 2022 - PRESENT

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Primitives

Duke University | via Coursera

MAY 2021 - PRESENT

Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies

Stanford University

APRIL 2021 - PRESENT

Principles of Economics

Stanford University (via edX)

APRIL 2021 - PRESENT

Smart Contracts - Solidity

Buffalo University- New York State University

MARCH 2021 - PRESENT

Blockchain Revolution Specialization

INSEAD-The Business School for the World

MARCH 2021 - PRESENT

Introduction to Blockchain Technologies

INSEAD-The Business School of the World

JANUARY 2021 - PRESENT

Blockchain and Business: Applications and Implications

INSEAD-The Business School of the World

JANUARY 2021 - PRESENT

Transacting on the Blockchain

INSEAD-The Business School of the World

MAY 2019 - PRESENT

Introduction to Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Stanford University

MARCH 2019 - PRESENT

From Idea to Start up

Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

MARCH 2019 - PRESENT

Create a Go-to-market Plan

LinkedIn

MARCH 2019 - PRESENT

Product Management: Building a Product Roadmap

LinkedIn

FEBRUARY 2019 - PRESENT

Creating a Business Plan

LinkedIn

FEBRUARY 2019 - PRESENT

Entrepreneurship: Raising Startup Capital

LinkedIn

OCTOBER 2018 - PRESENT

Design Thinking

Design Thinking Academy

FEBRUARY 2017 - PRESENT

Managing the Company of the Future

London Business School

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