Deon Policy Institute

What Deon Policy Institute does

Deon Policy Institute is a Boston-headquartered 501c3 non-partisan think tank founded in early 2023 by Greek academics, entrepreneurs, and professionals living abroad. The organization develops evidence-based policy proposals targeting the Greek government across four research verticals: tertiary education, entrepreneurship, energy and climate, and Hellenic diaspora affairs. Co-founders Georgios Laskaris (President, nuclear physicist with a Duke PhD and Stanford/MIT postdocs) and Afroditi Xydi (Executive Director, environmental engineer with an HBS MBA) anchor an organization whose board includes the CEO of the Miller Center of Public Affairs and the Executive Director of Viohalco S.A.

The institute's outputs are research reports, policy proposals, and advocacy campaigns rather than commercial products. Active research streams include nuclear energy (specifically Small Modular Reactors, maritime nuclear applications, and floating nuclear power plants), medical credential recognition for repatriating Greek physicians, talent visa proposals, diaspora voting reform, academic repatriation, wildfire technology, and selective social policy advocacy (e.g., period products VAT). Distribution occurs through direct engagement with Greek ministries, the Hellenic Parliament, and the Prime Minister's office, combined with op-ed placement in Kathimerini, Politico, Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business School Alumni channels.

Deon's revenue model is donation-based, with contributions accepted via PayPal, checks, ACH, and wire transfers and fully tax-deductible under U.S. law. Despite small scale (11 employees), the institute has demonstrated measurable policy traction: five proposals incorporated into Greek law (diaspora voting, postal voting, visiting professorships, talent visa, and medical credential recognition under Law 5194/2025), 17 of 28 National Diaspora Strategy recommendations adopted, 50,000 Greek expats registered to vote following its reforms, and more than 330 U.S.-based Greek doctors expressing repatriation interest.

Name

Deon Policy Institute

Legal name

Deon Policy Institute

Website

https://deonpolicy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Deon Policy Institute is a Boston-based 501c3 non-partisan think tank founded in 2023 that develops evidence-based policy proposals on education, entrepreneurship, energy, and diaspora affairs for the Greek government.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Advisory Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA), Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG), Higher Education Governance & Quality Policy Research (EDADADAI)

Keywords

• Policy research institute
• Think tank services
• Government policy advisory
• Diaspora engagement
• Nuclear energy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Deon Policy Institute is a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization recognized by the IRS. They accept donations through PayPal, checks, ACH, and wire transfers. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of US law.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Deon Policy Institute is a 501c3 non-profit think tank that develops and publishes evidence-based policy proposals for the Greek government across four focus areas: tertiary education, entrepreneurship, energy and climate, and Hellenic diaspora engagement. Its deliverables include research reports, policy recommendations, advocacy campaigns, and direct engagement with ministries and parliament to translate proposals into law. The institute's outputs are provided at no charge and are funded entirely through donations.

Product overview

Deon Policy Institute is a non-partisan think tank that develops evidence-based policy proposals rather than a commercial product or software platform. The organization focuses on four main policy areas: tertiary education (visiting professors, talent repatriation, research fellowships), entrepreneurship (innovation support, technology transfer), energy and climate (nuclear energy, SMRs, wildfire technology), and Hellenic diaspora engagement (voting rights, civic programs). Their offerings consist of research reports, policy recommendations, and advocacy campaigns aimed at Greek government stakeholders. The organization does not offer a traditional product portfolio but rather produces policy intelligence and proposals for government consideration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nuclear Energy Policy Research
• Unlocking Brain Gain in Medicine Policy Proposal
• Talent Visa Initiative
• Academic Diaspora Repatriation Research
• Expat Voting Policy
• Wildfire Technology Policy
• Period Products VAT Reduction Advocacy

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 policy proposals implemented into Greek law
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• National Hellenic SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiaspora organization focused on connecting Greeks worldwide; partner in Deon's mission to organize the Hellenic diaspora as a catalyst for Greece's progress
• Hellenic Canadian Board of TradecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness organization connecting Greek and Canadian business communities; supports diaspora engagement initiatives
• SEV (Hellenic Federation of Enterprises)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Greek business federation representing enterprises in Greece; collaborates on economic policy proposals
• Hellenic American Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber promoting business relations between US and Greece; supports entrepreneurship and talent initiatives
• The Hellenic InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization mobilizing diaspora investment and philanthropy for Greece; partner in brain gain and economic development initiatives
• ELIAMEP (Greek Institute for European Studies)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank focusing on European and international affairs; collaborates on policy research and analysis
• Hellenic AcademicsmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting Greek academics worldwide; collaborates on academic diaspora research
• Eurohellenic FoundationmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation promoting Greek culture and heritage in Europe; supports diaspora engagement
• DianeosismoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreek think tank focused on social research and policy analysis; collaborates on research initiatives
• Endeavor GreececoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting high-impact entrepreneurship; collaborated with Deon on Talent Visa proposal adopted by Ministry of Migration
• ELIOS (Hellenic Initiative for Obuda)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreek investment organization; supports startup ecosystem and innovation initiatives
• ACG (Alumni Heritage Fund)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlumni organization for American College of Greece; supports educational initiatives
• EcogeniamoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization connecting Greeks globally; supports diaspora engagement and repatriation programs
• The National HeraldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGreek American newspaper; serves as media channel for reaching diaspora communities
• RegenerationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreek organization focused on regeneration and development; supports economic policy initiatives

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Atlantic Council: International affairs think tank with programs on energy, diaspora engagement, and transatlantic policy. Comparable as a model for combining diaspora-business-government engagement with policy research, though operating at much larger scale.
• Brookings Institution: One of the largest US-based think tanks producing evidence-based policy research across multiple domains. Comparable as a peer institution in terms of research methodology, op-eds in major publications, and direct government engagement — but operates at vastly greater scale and scope.
• Hudson Institute: US-based policy research organization with strong energy and economic policy focus. Comparable in terms of willingness to advocate for controversial energy positions (including nuclear) and engagement with senior policymakers.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Established global policy research institute with a strong international affairs and democracy focus. Comparable as a model for diaspora-linked, internationally networked policy research — but with much broader geographic scope and a permanent endowment.
• Miller Center of Public Affairs: University of Virginia-based nonpartisan policy institution focused on American governance and political history. Comparable as a policy research institution and through direct board linkage — Deon board member William J. Antholis is Miller Center's CEO.

Direct peers

• Dianeosis: Greek think tank conducting social research and policy analysis. Direct peer — also produces policy proposals aimed at Greek government; listed as a Deon partner and operates in the same domestic policy research space.
• The Hellenic Initiative: Diaspora-led organization mobilizing investment and philanthropy for Greece. Direct peer — both bridge the Greek diaspora with Greek economic development, and THI is a listed partner of Deon focused on brain gain and investment.
• ELIAMEP (Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy): Greece's leading foreign policy think tank, focused on European and international affairs. A direct peer — both are Greek-focused policy research institutes producing evidence-based policy proposals, and ELIAMEP is a listed partner of Deon.
• National Hellenic Society: Diaspora organization connecting Greeks in the United States. Direct peer — both target the Greek diaspora in the US and aim to channel that community's resources toward Greece's progress; listed as a core partner of Deon.
• Endeavor Greece: Greek chapter of the global high-impact entrepreneurship network. Direct peer — collaborated with Deon on the Talent Visa proposal adopted by the Ministry of Migration, and operates in the same entrepreneurship-policy space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deonpolicy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Deon Policy Institute