Prokopios (Akis) Tsirigakis

Prokopios (Akis) Tsirigakis, 68, has a 42 year career in shipping and the public markets. He is Founder/CEO of SevenSeas Investment Fund (Luxembourg) and co-CEO of Nautilus Energy Management Corp. Founder/co-CEO of Growth Capital Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq:GCAC), effected $1.55bn merger in 2022 with Cepton Inc. (Nasdaq:CPTN). Founded Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (Nasdaq:SBLK) in 2007, served its CEO and President until 2011.  He lead 4 SPAC IPOs to Nasdaq and successfully concluded their de-SPAC mergers, Star Maritime Acquisition Corp. in 2005 (AMEX: SEA) precursor of Star Bulk, Nautilus Marine Acquisition Corp. in 2011 (Nasdaq: NMAR), Stellar Acquisition III Inc. in 2016 (Nasdaq: STLR) and Growth Capital in 2021. Previous positions include Chairman of Punware Inc. (Nasdaq: PHUN), Board member of Ocean Rig UDW Inc.(Nasdaq: ORIG), Dryships Inc.(Nasdaq: DRYS), Managing Director of Oceanbulk Maritime, founder/CEO of Combine Marine Inc. third-party ship management company, Technical Director KONKAR Shipping.

Affiliations: Life-member of the Propeller Club; member RINA’s Hellenic Advisory Committee and President of its Technical Committee; member Hellenic Advisory Committee of Korean Register; Yacht Club of Greece. Master’s & B.Sc. in Naval Architecture, The University of Michigan.