GREATER NICOSIA
STARTUP ECOSYSTEM GUIDE

Below you may find various components, resources, and partners available within the ecosystems to entrepreneurs in and near Greater Nicosia.  We will be continuously updating this list with more and newer resources to ensure that it is the most comprehensive startup ecosystem guide for Greater Nicosia.  If your organization is missing from the list below or if you know of any organization that should be added, please feel free to let us know by sending us an email at info@cyprusinno.com!  We’ll review it and add it to the list.  We kindly ask that you share this ecosystem guide with your network so we can continue to build the most comprehensive startup ecosystem guide for Greater Nicosia!

CyprusInno’s island-wide startup ecosystem guides are produced in partnership with Panis Pieri and GiGEM.

Incubators
Accelerators
Enablers
Co-Working
Uni E-Labs
Investments
Network
Hackathons

INCUBATORS IN
GREATER NICOSIA

A startup or business incubator help new companies grow and develop by providing training, office space, and other resources. Some incubators are independent, while others can be sponsored or operated by angel investors, governments, private corporations, VCs, etc. Below is a list of incubators in Greater Nicosia.

  • Gravity Ventures - Gravity is a cutting edge, venture building incubator that fosters and propels innovation. Through constant interaction we empower founders to make real impact and shape the entrepreneurial community of tomorrow. Our approach focuses on building startups from early-stage to mature ventures, by assisting them in all the necessary steps and being with them throughout their journey.  Gravity is a new generation venture building incubator aiming to attract aspiring entrepreneurs driven by ambition and passion.  Behind Gravity lays the hard work and motivation of the CyRIC team, which envisioned an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cyprus, fostering collaboration over competition. CyRIC’s extensive experience and expertise in deep Research, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurial issues as well as its close interaction with aspiring young entrepreneurs, allows for Gravity to provide targeted, hands-on support to local and international startups.

ACCELERATORS IN
GREATER NICOSIA

Accelerators typically support early-stage, growth-driven startups by providing mentorship, training/education, and some financing (for a small amount of equity). Startups enter an accelerator for a fixed-period of time as part of a selected “class” of startups that enter the program together. The experience of an accelerator is fast, intense, and immersive, and it accelerators the life cycle and growth of young, innovative startups. Accelerators also offer networking opportunities and pitch events and demo days. Below is a list of accelerators in Greater Nicosia:

  • IDEA CY - An incubator-accelerator and entrepreneurship hub, aiming to support the development of innovative start-ups with a global outlook and to change the culture of the country towards innovation.

 

  • Chrysalis Leap - Promotes entrepreneurship through an annual accelerator program with a focus on sustainable development.

 

  • KOBİGEM - An incubator - accelerator governmental body focus on economic development of SME’s in the region.

STARTUP ECOSYSTEM
ENABLERS IN
GREATER NICOSIA

Startup ecosystem enablers support local startups and entrepreneurs through networking, community-building, mentoring and trainings, workshops, events, and more. Below is a list of startup ecosystem enablers in Greater Nicosia:

  • Cypriot Enterprise Link - A youth-led organization aimed to connect and support the Cypriot entrepreneurial talent in order to form a local and a global entrepreneurial network supported by events, meetups, workshops and projects.

 

  • CyprusInno - A non-profit social startup operating the first and largest bi-zonal, inter-communal digital platform connecting Cypriot entrepreneurs, startups, and innovators island-wide.

 

  • Center for Social Innovation - The Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) is an International Research and Development organization which focuses on fostering social innovation that can bring about a positive change to local, national, regional and global challenges. CSI team is composed of open-minded, fully equipped social researchers, entrepreneurs, project managers, trainers and Information Technology Developers. The areas of expertise are in the fields of education and e-learning, social entrepreneurship, vocational training, vocational training, business development, youth, research and evaluation, social integration, and social work social support.

 

  • Startup Cyprus - Startup Cyprus is the Cyprus startup ecosystem entity that culminates the ecosystem’s efforts to realize the pledge made by the Cyprus startup community, by people that believe in the creative and disruptive power of startups and innovation, to startup Cyprus.

 

  • Startup Kibris - A group for startup and entrepreneurs in North Cyprus

 

 

  • KPMG Enterprise and Startups CY - KPMG Enterprise and Startups was established to form a reliable and solid base which will assist in the development of new business ideas in Cyprus.

 

  • Invest Cyprus / Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA) - Invest Cyprus is a non-profit national body and the government’s dedicated partner responsible for the facilitation of investments into Cyprus. In close collaboration with all government authorities, public institutions as well as the private sector and

 

  • #Hack66 -  An innovation centre/hackerspace hybrid that is only just beginning to take form, with real-space premises at the Artos Cultural and Research Foundation, in Nicosia Cyprus. It is open and welcoming to all, providing infrastructure and collaboration opportunities for anyone interested in programming, hardware, crafts, science, robotics, halloumi, art, and technology. We teach, we learn, and we share openly, with no leaders. Following the hackerspace spirit, we have one rule: Be excellent to each other.

CO-WORKING
SPACES IN
GREATER NICOSIA

Co-working Spaces are business that offer plug-and-play shared office spaces for entrepreneurs, early stage startups, freelancers etc for a price per seat / program. Here are all the co-working spaces present in Greater Nicosia

  • HUB Nicosia - A co-working and educational space, and a community of individuals, organisations and enterprises with cultural, environmental or social aims. It offers desks, offices, seminar and meeting rooms and an inspiring environment to work and thrive in. It is housed at an elegant, renovated old house in the Agios Andreas district of Nicosia, only 10 minutes from the city centre. Hub Nicosia was founded and is operated by SYNTHESIS Center for Research and Education Ltd, a pioneering enterprise aiming at developing and supporting social entrepreneurship and social  innovation in Cyprus. Hub Nicosia is a member of the European Creative Hubs Network.

 

  • Regus - Regus is the leading global workspace provider with an unparalleled network of office, co-working and meeting spaces for companies to use in every city in the world. It’s a global infrastructure built for businesses to support every opportunity. Regus provides modern, flexible workspace to customers including some of the most successful, entrepreneurs, individuals and multi-million dollar corporations.

 

  • Goffice - The first shared co-working space in north Nicosia.

LABS & RESEARCH
CENTERS IN
GREATER NICOSIA

Entrepreneurship Cells (E-Cells) are set up to foster entrepreneurship among students. They provide a conducive and healthy environment for budding entrepreneurs. Here are some of the E-Cells in Greater Nicosia:

  • Centre for Entrepreneurship (C4E) University of Cyprus - C4E serves the entire University of Cyprus community, namely undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students, researchers and young scientists, faculty, and staff. Beyond the University, we contribute to the emergence of Cyprus’ “start-up” ecosystem, participating in relevant initiatives and liaising with people and support structures, such as accelerators, incubators, and maker spaces. C4E serves the entire University of Cyprus community, namely undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students, researchers and young scientists, faculty, and staff. Beyond the University, we contribute to the emergence of Cyprus’ “start-up” ecosystem, participating in relevant initiatives and liaising with people and support structures, such as accelerators, incubators, and maker spaces.

 

  • Cyprus Research and Innovation Center (CyRIC) - Cyprus Research and Innovation Center is a pioneering Cyprus-based private company with a strategic aim to become an important regional Innovation Center developing novel products for the world markets.

 

  • RISE - RISE is the first Research centre in Cyprus focusing on Interactive media, Smart systems and Emerging technologies aiming to become a centre of excellence

 

  • University of Nicosia?
  • EUC PEAK Innovation Center - The European University Cyprus (EUC) Performance Enterprise Accelerator & Knowledge (PEAK) Innovation Center (EUC-PEAK) aims to research, support and accelerate efforts of Entrepreneurship, Business Innovation and Knowledge Transfer. EUC-PEAK Innovation Center targets to become the hub for research, applications and education for the Cypriot start-up companies, SMEs, industrial and manufacturing community, social entrepreneurship and green entrepreneurship, stakeholders and public authorities and to become a major player in the wider area of South East Europe.

 

  • CY Center for Algorithmic Transparency (CyCAT) - The Cyprus Center for Algorithmic Transparency (CyCAT) is hosted at the Open University of Cyprus, the second public university in Cyprus and the only one dedicated to open and distance education. CyCAT collaborates with other researchers internationally and recently teamed up with four leading universities across Europe and Israel through an H2020 Twinning grant. The team holds key expertise in the algorithmic processes involved in information access, user interactions with algorithmic systems, user-system interaction, as well as the social and cultural implications of algorithmic processes.

STARTUP
INVESTORS IN
GREATER NICOSIA

Investors are individuals, groups of individuals or corporations who invest their capital in startups at various stages, in exchange for equity in the company. The investment amount and equity allocated determines the net valuation of the company at any stage. Investors usually invest at Seed (Very Early Stage), Angel (Medium Stage), Venture Capital (VC - fast growing stage). Here are some of the investors from Greater Nicosia:

  • Cyprus Business Angels Network (CYBAN) - Cyprus Business Angels Network CYBAN is the only Angel Investment Network in Cyprus. uring a time of economic crisis in Cyprus, when local major banking systems were crumbling, and the unprecedented haircut of the deposits of tens of thousands of depositors in the island’s largest bank was taking place, a small group of investors decided they could make a difference both for themselves, and for the betterment of their local economy, and joined in the creation of CYBAN. CYBAN is a full member of EBAN, the European Business Angels Network, which is the pan-European representative for the early stage investors gathering for over 150 member organizations in more than 50 countries today. CYBAN is also a full member of GBAN, the Global Business Angels Network, a global community of business angel networks and organizations coordinated by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), which are interfacing with entrepreneurs, policymakers, early-stage finance actors, and leading entrepreneurial support programs to strengthen the global entrepreneurial ecosystem.

NON-GOVERNMENTAL
BUSINESS NETWORKS
& COMMUNITIES IN
GREATER NICOSIA

A startup or business incubator help new companies grow and develop by providing training, office space, and other resources. Some incubators are independent, while others can be sponsored or operated by angel investors, governments, private corporations, VCs, etc. Below is a list of incubators in Greater Nicosia.

  • Nicosia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) -  The Nicosia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) was established in 1952 and it is associated with the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).  Today over 1250 local and 270 international companies are registered to the Nicosia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Besides the town and district of NCCI also covers geographically the town and district of Kyrenia and the area of Morphou.

 

  • Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) - The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry was founded in 1927 and in 1963, a new structure was adopted, which remains in operation to date, under the name of: “Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry”. The CCCI is the federation of the local Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCIs) which operate in Nicosia, Limassol, Famagusta, Larnaca and Paphos. The local CCIs have a geographical coverage of their respective districts. The Nicosia CCI covers also the districts of Kyrenia and Morphou. The membership of the CCCI exceeds 8,000 enterprises from the whole spectrum of business activity. Affiliated to it are more than 140 Professional Associations from the trade, industry and services sectors.

 

 

  • Startup Europe Week Nicosia - Talks and networking in Limassol during SEW with local Cypriot entrepreneurs, startup founders, and investors on disruption and innovation.

 

 

  • Cyprus Blockchain Association - Blockchain Association of Cyprus is to bring together professionals and enthusiasts for making Cyprus a hub for all distributed technologies

 

  • Cyprus Computer Society (CCS) - The Cyprus Computer Society (CCS) is a professional and independent not-for-profit organization, seeking to improve and promote high standards amongst informatics professionals, in recognition of the impact that informatics has on employment, business, society as well as on the quality of life of the citizen. Through the advancement of IT Science and good practice our organization promotes wider social and economic progress, bringing together industry, academics, practitioners and government to share knowledge, promote new thinking, inform the design of new curricula, shape public policy and inform the public.

 

  • JA Cyprus - Junior Achievement Cyprus is a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, one of the largest global NGOs dedicated to addressing fundamental social and economic challenges of young people by educating and empowering them to transform their future and own their economic success.

 

 

  • Youth Board of Cyprus (ONEK) - The Youth Board of Cyprus actively supports the specific scheme that it is operating under the umbrella of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (Industrial Development Service), as the implementing agency.  The program aims to develop, support and promote entrepreneurship to young people for the development of new and sustainable SMEs, through financial support and educational training courses. Through this scheme particular emphasis is given to the usage of new technologies and innovative production methods, to the promotion of products and services, to the enhancement of entrepreneurship in the field of the environment and generally to the promotion of modern entrepreneurial operations for the development of dynamic, evolving and competitive businesses.

 

  • TEDxNicosia - TEDxNicosia was born in quest for inspiration and dialogue instigation within day-to-day lives in Nicosia, Cyprus. It was the very first TEDx event presented on the island in 2011 as an initiative by Founder Marina Theodotou, bringing the TED like experience of ‘ideas worth spreading.’

 

  • TEDxUniversityofNicosia - TEDxUniversityofNicosia is the first University TEDx in Cyprus. The University of Nicosia is the leading private University in Cyprus and is actively involved in supporting events that contribute to making Cyprus a more knowledge-driven society.

 

  • Global Shapers Nicosia - The Global Shapers Nicosia Hub is part of the Global Shapers Community - an initiative of the World Economic Forum.

 

  • NGO Support Centre - Cyprus - The NGO Support Centre is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to the development and strengthening of civil society in Cyprus. It also provides support to social startups and social entrepreneurs in Cyprus.

 

  • Cyprus Employers and Industrialist Federation (OEB) - Through a course of over 55 years of activity, OEB has been a key provider of social and economic development in Cyprus. At the same time OEB is the employers’ organisation of Cyprus (internationally recognised) and the leading representative of employers and businesses in decision-making centres.  The collective bodies of OEB, consisting of businessmen and other professionals, as well as its highly-qualified staff, are altogether an important representative body for its Members in Cyprus and abroad.

HACKATHONS IN
GREATER NICOSIA

Hackathons provide a venue for self-expression and creativity through technology. People with technical backgrounds come together, form teams around a problem or idea, and collaboratively code a unique solution from scratch — these generally take shape in the form of websites, mobile apps, and robots. Hackathons are no longer just for coders. Companies far outside the tech world are using these intense brainstorming and development sessions to stir up new ideas on everything from culture change to supply chain management. Here are some of the hackathons in Greater Nicosia:

  • CY Insurtech - Hackathon cy #Insurtech is organized by Crowdpolicy and KPMG, within the framework of the open innovation event Crowdhackathon.com. The hackathon focuses on the creation of innovative applications (Minimum Viable Products – MVP) in the wider insurance sector (#insurtech).  KPMG in Cyprus organized the hackathon to develop and showcase new tech solutions within the insurance industry.

 

  • Cyprus Smartcity Hackathon - Cyta Smartcity Crowdhackathon is a hackathon for the Development of Innovative Applications and Services, during which participants are to develop pilot services and applications solving problems that Local Authorities face and supporting local and national development through new technologies.

 

  • BoC hackathon #fintech - A hackathon for the development of applications on innovative technologies in the field of financial transactions (fintech).  The Bank of Cyprus hackathon #fintech 2.0 is coordinated with the technological and operational support of Crowdpolicy.

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