Christos Petalotis

About Me

Get to know me a little better

I'm driven by impact and scale. Code is my tool - it lets me turn creative ideas into products that actually have an impact. What makes me different is that I can speak both languages: the technical side of building great software, and the business side of making sure it succeeds in the real world.

Right now, I'm co-founding Mantic, an AI-powered wildfire management startup. We're helping decision-makers respond to climate risks before they become full-blown crises. We use AI and simulations to get expert solutions into the hands of the people who need them most in wildfire management and emergency response.

Before starting Mantic, I worked as a software developer at Ericsson, where I led a team of 10 developers on the company's biggest project to date. That experience taught me a lot about leading teams, designing systems, and balancing great engineering with what actually makes business sense.

I have a Computer Science Master's degree from the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, graduating Cum Laude. My thesis on energy issues in microservice systems won the award for best Master's thesis in the Netherlands for 2023 from VERSEN, the Dutch National Association for Software Engineering.

My background in Finance and Accounting gives me a different perspective on software development. It helps me think beyond just the code - I can make business decisions that make sense while still keeping the technical quality high. Basically, I build things that work well and make sense financially.

What I'm Building

Mantic - Scaling AI-powered wildfire management

Mantic

Bridging science and practice in wildfire management

I'm co-founding Mantic, a startup dedicated to improving wildfire management and community resilience. The problem is clear: climate change is making wildfires more complex and devastating every year. 2023 was the worst fire season in Europe in two decades, and a single California fire in 2025 caused nearly $30 billion in damages. Yet decision-makers still rely on outdated methods, and the latest wildfire research—while valuable—often doesn't fit real-world operations.

At Mantic, we're changing that. Our mission is to bridge the gap between science and practice in the global disaster management landscape. We take the latest validated research and transform it into operational tools for governments and businesses. Our platform lets users simulate wildfire scenarios, test preventive actions, and visualize risk with simple clicks. Using GenAI, we translate scientific simulation results into actionable insights and use-case-specific suggestions.

Right now, I'm focused on scaling Mantic to reach more professionals and communities. Every day, I'm working to grow the platform so that emergency responders, government agencies, and businesses can access cutting-edge research to assess risk, train their teams, and optimize their planning for future events. This is what I'm dedicating my time and energy to—building something that matters and scaling it to make the biggest impact possible.

GenAI Insights

Wildfire Simulations

Scaling Impact

Risk Assessment

Skills & Expertise

Bridging technology and business

Technical Development

Building robust applications with Python, JavaScript, SQL, and more. Creating fast, secure, and scalable solutions that power innovative products.

Cloud & DevOps

Utilizing AWS, GCP, Kubernetes, and Docker to implement cloud infrastructures and build highly-scalable applications ready for enterprise deployment.

Business & Finance

Background in Finance and Accounting provides a unique perspective on software development, enabling data-driven business decisions and strategic product planning.