At Kinvent, innovation starts with curiosity. With the desire to test limits, challenge what’s considered impossible, and build things that didn’t exist before.
Few people embody this spirit more fully than Manolis Athanasopoulos, Co-Founder and Head of Hardware at Kinvent.
Engineer at heart, inventor by nature, Manolis has been part of the Kinvent journey since the very beginning—long before the company expanded to more than 70 countries, and long before its technologies became a global reference in biomechanics.
An engineer driven by innovation
Manolis joined Kinvent in 2017, while completing his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the Aristotle University. Even during his academic years, innovation was already at the center of his work. He was involved in industrial R&D projects spanning automotive engineering, robotics, and energy, contributing to two patented innovations along the way.
But beyond degrees and patents, what truly defines him is passion.
“Engineering is my passion,” he says. “I love to tinker, build, and innovate.”
From the very first meeting, Kinvent stood out to him. Its ambition to innovate beyond existing competition, to rethink how technology could serve health and performance, was exactly the kind of challenge he was looking for.
Turning ideas into reality
Today, as Head of Hardware, Manolis leads the team responsible for designing and building all of Kinvent’s sensor hardware and firmware, as well as the test rigs and machinery that support production and quality.
His team is a multidisciplinary powerhouse, combining expertise in:
- Mechanical engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Industrial automation
- Robotics
Their mission is both ambitious and exciting: bring to life anything the product teams can imagine.
Whether it’s a new sensor concept, a production innovation, or a custom testing solution, the hardware team turns ideas into tangible, high-performance devices—while never losing sight of experimentation, creativity, and fun.
Loving the challenge of the impossible
What motivates Manolis and his team? Challenges.
Technology is evolving at an incredible pace. Advances in AI, miniaturization, and next-generation electronics are opening doors that once seemed firmly closed—things that textbooks declared impossible just a few years ago.
At Kinvent, Manolis gets to explore those frontiers every day.
“I get to build tools and sensors from start to finish,” he explains, “tools that help thousands of people every day.”
That’s where fulfillment truly lies: seeing something go from concept to physical device, then watching it become part of a larger ecosystem—combined with powerful software—to deliver a seamless experience for users around the world.
Those moments, when hardware and software come together and users experience the full Kinvent ecosystem, are deeply meaningful.
Growing with the company
Manolis has experienced Kinvent’s evolution firsthand.
From a five-person startup to a team of more than 80 people.
From simple sensors to advanced radar-based technologies.
From local beginnings to a presence in over 70 countries worldwide.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” he says.
Kinvent has never stood still. The company constantly adapts, evolves, and challenges the status quo—rethinking how physiotherapy is practiced, how training is performed, and how technology can elevate both.
That evolution is powered by teamwork. By people from different disciplines working together toward a shared vision, always pushing one step further.
A defining moment: K-Power
Among the many milestones Manolis has witnessed, one stands out as particularly symbolic: the launch of the K-Power sensor.
More than a product release, it represented a new level of collaboration across the entire company. From the initial industrial design, to hardware and firmware development, to software integration, and finally to marketing and social media campaigns—every team delivered outstanding work.
Seeing it all come together, from a distance, was a powerful moment.
It confirmed something Manolis deeply believes: Kinvent isn’t just growing—it’s building something that will last.
“The best is yet to come”
There’s a song by Frank Sinatra called “The Best Is Yet to Come.”
For Manolis, it perfectly captures the spirit of Kinvent.
Despite everything already achieved, the company continues to move forward—innovating, adapting, and setting new standards in biomechanics. With each new product, each new idea, and each new collaboration, Kinvent strengthens its position as a future leader in the field.
And for those building it from the inside, the journey is just as exciting as the destination.
Want to build technology that changes the game?
Inspired by Manolis’ journey? At Kinvent, we’re always looking for engineers, innovators, and builders who want to push boundaries and create technology with real impact.