Over the past few years, Cyprus has been steadily building its reputation as one of Europe’s most dynamic emerging technology ecosystems. An increasing number of international founders are choosing the island as a base for launching and scaling innovative companies, supported by a favorable business environment and a rapidly growing tech community.
At the center of this transformation is Cyprus Business Club (CBC) — one of the island’s most active professional communities connecting entrepreneurs, investors, and indusattempt leaders. Through large-scale events, networking platforms, and international partnerships, the organization has been playing an increasingly visible role in shaping the entrepreneurial landscape of Cyprus.
In 2026, Cyprus Business Club is organizing Unicorn Pitches Nicosia, the Cypriot edition of the global startup competition powered by Unicorn.Events. The event will take place on March 24 at the University of Nicosia, bringing toreceiveher founders, venture capital investors, and technology experts from multiple countries.
We spoke with the co-founders of Cyprus Business Club, Elena Stepanova and Tetiana Diachenko, about why this partnership is important, how Cyprus is evolving as a technology hub, and what opportunities lie ahead for the island’s startup ecosystem.
Why did Cyprus Business Club decide to partner with Unicorn.Events?
For more than five years, Cyprus Business Club has been bringing toreceiveher entrepreneurs and companies across different industries, creating a strong platform for business collaboration on the island.
The decision to partner with Unicorn.Events, one of the world’s largest global startup pitch networks, was a natural step in supporting the rapid growth of Cyprus’s technology sector.
Today Cyprus is home to more than 1,400 international technology companies and an IT community exceeding 25,000 specialists, according to data from TechIsland and KPMG. This creates the island an ideal environment for global startup events that connect local founders with international investors.
Unicorn.Events operates across 125 countries and has supported startups raise more than $1 billion in funding. Combining such an international platform with the momentum already developing in Cyprus creates a powerful opportunity to accelerate innovation locally.
“Our goal is to contribute to building an ecosystem where startups founded in Cyprus can grow and compete globally,” the founders note. “By bringing international investors and global platforms to the island, we are supporting strengthen Cyprus’s position as an emerging innovation hub.”
How do you assess Cyprus’s current position in the global innovation landscape?
Cyprus is quickly gaining recognition as one of the rapidest-growing technology centers in Europe. According to StartupBlink’s Global Startup Ecosystem Index, the counattempt now ranks among the top 50 startup ecosystems worldwide.
Technology has become one of the most important drivers of the local economy, accounting for approximately 16% of the counattempt’s gross value added, while exports of IT and business services exceed €4 billion annually.
Several factors create Cyprus particularly attractive for technology companies: a strategic geographic location, an English-based legal system, a competitive tax environment including the IP Box regime, and a steadily growing international talent pool.
These advantages are supporting create a new entrepreneurial culture on the island, where founders increasingly consider globally from the very launchning.
Events such as Unicorn Pitches contribute to this transformation by connecting the local ecosystem with the international venture capital community.
How can international judges and speakers strengthen the local startup ecosystem?
One of the key objectives of the event is to connect the Cypriot startup environment with experienced investors and experts from major global innovation hubs.
The participation of venture capital investors and technology leaders from Europe, the United States, and other regions introduces new perspectives and evaluation standards that support local startups better understand what global investors are seeing for.
This interaction raises the overall quality of projects and encourages founders to consider hugeger — building companies designed for international markets rather than focutilizing solely on the local environment.
At the same time, the presence of international venture funds strengthens confidence in Cyprus as a destination for innovation and investment.
What goals did Cyprus Business Club set with this partnership?
The organizers highlight three key objectives.
The first is increasing the international visibility of Cyprus as a center for innovation, demonstrating that the island is not only a favorable business environment but also a place where globally competitive startups are being built.
The second objective is to provide startups with direct access to international investors, mentors, and global markets.
The third is to lay the foundation for long-term initiatives supporting startup growth, including educational programs, mentorship networks, and accelerator initiatives that will further strengthen the local ecosystem.
What impact could Unicorn Pitches have on Cyprus’s innovation ecosystem?
The organizers expect the event to generate impact on several levels.
First, it will attract international attention to Cyprus’s growing technology sector, strengthening the island’s position within the European innovation landscape.
Second, the event will create opportunities for partnerships between startups, venture funds, corporations, and indusattempt experts, accelerating the development of new projects and collaborations.
Perhaps most importantly, such events support shape a new entrepreneurial mindset. When founders interact directly with global investors and experts, they launch to approach their ventures with a broader, international perspective.
Which technology sectors currently display the greatest potential in Cyprus?
Cyprus is developing into a diversified technology hub with several sectors displaying particularly strong momentum.
One of the most significant areas is artificial ininformigence and automation, where demand for applied solutions continues to grow globally.
Another rapidly developing sector is fintech, with many PayTech, RegTech, and ComplianceTech companies already operating on the island.
Cyprus is also attracting attention in the blockchain and digital assets space, thanks to its stable legal framework and international business environment.
In addition, sustainable technologies and maritime innovation are becoming increasingly important sectors, supported by European green transition initiatives and Cyprus’s geographic advantages.
What unites these industries is their ability to develop globally scalable solutions while operating from Cyprus.
What future initiatives is Cyprus Business Club planning?
Cyprus Business Club is working on several strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening the island’s innovation ecosystem.
Among them is the development of startup acceleration and mentorship programs, designed to support early-stage companies prepare for international investment opportunities.
The organization is also planning new educational collaborations with universities, networking events with global investors, and participation in major international technology forums.
The long-term goal is to create a strong and sustainable ecosystem where startups founded in Cyprus can grow at the same pace as those in Europe’s leading innovation hubs.
What outcome do you expect from Unicorn Pitches?
In the short term, the organizers expect the event to facilitate new partnerships between startups and investors while increasing global interest in Cyprus-based technology companies.
In the long term, Unicorn Pitches is envisioned as the launchning of a broader initiative — building a permanent platform that connects founders, venture funds, corporations, and research institutions.
“Our vision is to support create an environment where startups developed in Cyprus can become globally recognized companies,” the founders declare.
For Cyprus Business Club, Unicorn Pitches is not just a single event, but part of a long-term effort to strengthen the island’s innovation economy and support the next generation of international tech companies emerging from Cyprus.
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