Forbes Cyprus The Future of Fintech Summit

28/07/2025

🇨🇾 Can Cyprus go from sun-soaked paradise to serious startup power player?

At the Startup World Cup Cyprus Finals 2025, the first panel didn’t shy away from tough questions.

Titled “Made in Cyprus,” the session brought together ecosystem leaders as:
• Kyriakos Attouni (Invest Cyprus)
• Frixos Larkos (Crowdbase)
• Panis Pieri (Panis.News)
• Olga Polkovnikova (BrainRocket)

Moderated by brand strategist Martin Zarian, the discussion explored:
⚠️ Bureaucracy, infrastructure gaps & “village mentality”
📈 Growing investment appetite
🧩 Talent: import vs local development
🌍 Why Cypriot startups must build beyond borders

Their message? Cyprus has the parts to build a thriving startup ecosystem — but it must move fast, think globally, and collaborate boldly.

Read the full article to discover more: https://thefuturemedia.eu/made-in-cyprus-startup-ecosystem-leaders-tackle-whats-holding-the-island-back-and-whats-pushing-it-forward/

25/07/2025

🚀 From Waze to the world stage.

Uri Levine — co-founder of Waze (acquired by Google for $1.1B) and early investor in Moovit, FairFly & Pontera — took the spotlight at Startup World Cup Cyprus 2025, delivering a keynote packed with hard truths and startup gold.

His message to founders:
💥 Fall in love with the problem, not your solution
💡 Fail fast — and learn faster
📈 Only build if the problem is truly worth solving

From bootstrapping in Tel Aviv to reshaping how millions navigate cities — Levine’s formula is rooted in resilience, relentless testing, and razor-sharp focus on user pain.

💬 “If you’re afraid to fail, you already failed. Because you’re not going to try.”

As Cyprus rises as a regional startup hub, Levine’s visit felt less like a keynote, more like a masterclass.

Read the full story: https://thefuturemedia.eu/waze-co-founder-uri-levine-shares-his-billion-dollar-startup-formula-at-cyprus-world-cup-finals/

25/07/2025

🧠💼 AI meets the runway.

What if a fashion brand could skip the photo studio and generate styled product images in seconds?

Meet Aiuta — the Cyprus-based AI fashion tech startup led by industry veterans from Farfetch, Amazon Fashion, and LVMH: Maísa Benatti (CEO) and Sergey Akimov (CTO).

They’re helping billion-dollar retailers scale visuals, cut return rates, and reduce costs by up to 10x.

🚀 In an industry battling rising returns and growing demand for content, Aiuta is proving the future of fashion isn’t just faster — it’s smarter.

From enterprise pilots with Hepsiburada and About You, to pitching at the Startup World Cup Cyprus 2025, Aiuta is building the AI infrastructure for fashion’s digital revolution.

📍Why they chose Cyprus as a tech hub
📈 How they cut return rates and boost conversions
🛍️ What this means for fashion’s future

Read the full story: https://thefuturemedia.eu/aiuta-is-using-ai-to-help-fashion-brands-scale-content-cut-costs-and-lower-returns/

25/07/2025

🔥 Wildfires in Cyprus: The Frontlines of Relief & Hope

As wildfires sweep across Limassol — leaving over 120km² scorched, lives lost, and entire villages evacuated — an unprecedented humanitarian response is underway. 🆘

From emergency shelters and first-aid stations to veterinary support and donation hubs, civil society, public institutions, and local communities have mobilized fast and fearlessly. 💪🇨🇾

This is not just disaster relief — it’s solidarity in motion.

📍 Find where to get help
📞 Contact vital hotlines
🏥 Locate shelters, medical centers, and donation points
🐾 Discover where animals can receive care

This emergency guide is designed to support the displaced and empower those looking to help: https://thefuturemedia.eu/wildfire-aid-centres-shelters-limassol-district-wildfire/

24/07/2025

🌍 What if relocating across borders was as easy as taking a quiz?

Meet RELOC8 Online — a legaltech startup born in Cyprus 🇨🇾 that’s making life easier for digital nomads, remote workers, and founders 🌐💼

With just a few clicks, their AI-powered platform finds the best tax residency for your lifestyle and income — no consultants, no confusion, just clear and fast answers.

💡 Co-founded by international tax expert Alina Kulikovska and her ex-client turned co-founder Navid Homayoun, RELOC8 helps you navigate global mobility without the usual stress.

Their innovation just earned them the Audience Favorite Award at Startup World Cup Cyprus Finals 2025 — and it’s only the beginning 🚀

Discover how they’re turning complex relocation into a smart, simple experience: https://thefuturemedia.eu/reloc8-online-is-automating-international-tax-relocation-with-just-a-few-clicks/

22/07/2025

18/07/2025

Uri Levine, legendary co-founder of Waze, inspired founders at the SWC Cyprus Finals 2025 with a powerful reminder: failure is part of the journey. His message hit home for Cyprus’s growing startup scene — proving big ideas can come from small places.

https://youtube.com/shorts/9rYdwIuCfuo?si=xpq29vLdrgftiAiQ

18/07/2025

🏆 Cyprus Startup Reinvents Cement — and Wins Big

Cement accounts for 8% of global CO₂ emissions. But a deep-tech startup from Cyprus is turning that reality on its head.

Meet Calspak — a spinout from ETH Zurich that’s building low-carbon, fast-curing cement that’s up to 50% faster than the industry standard.

Led by Dr. Arnesh Das (CEO) and Dr. Ioannis Koureas (co-founder), Calspak blends cutting-edge material science with scalable solutions for a greener future.

Their breakthrough just earned them the crown at the Startup World Cup Cyprus Finals 2025, securing a spot at the $1M grand finale in San Francisco.

🧪 Lab-validated.
📈 Market-ready.
🌍 Impact-driven.

Read the full story: https://thefuturemedia.eu/startup-world-cup-cyprus-winner-calspak-reengineering-cement/

17/07/2025

🧠 The Loneliness Economy Is Booming — and Cyprus Is in the Spotlight

Loneliness isn’t just emotional — it’s economic.

Backed by Social Discovery Group, SDG Lab Venture Studio is investing $20 million into startups using AI and tech to reimagine how humans connect.

🎙️ “Virtual intimacy is the next frontier,” says Alex Kudos, CEO of SDG Lab — a seasoned founder, venture builder, and early advocate for emotionally intelligent tech. He’s helped launch over 30 ventures across 15+ markets — and now, he’s betting on Cyprus.

From AI companions to emotional presence apps — this isn’t science fiction. It’s already here.

Read the full story and find out why Cyprus might be the perfect launchpad: https://thefuturemedia.eu/the-loneliness-economy-how-social-discovery-groups-20m-bet-is-logging-us-into-a-new-kind-of-intimacy/

14/07/2025

🛤️ From Spain to Norway, Europe’s iconic pilgrimage routes are seeing a modern revival.

Whether walking in silence or shared in conversation, these ancient trails offer more than scenic landscapes — they’re spiritual journeys through history, culture, and purpose.

📍Discover:
• The Camino de Santiago’s record numbers
• Ireland’s mystical Kerry Camino
• Italy’s stunning Via Francigena
• St. Olav’s Nordic trails
… and more routes reshaping mindful travel in 2025.

Read the full list: https://thefuturemedia.eu/spiritual-tourism-8-iconic-european-pilgrimage-routes-and-ancient-trails/

11/07/2025

🇨🇾 €41M for the future of Cyprus tech

The Research & Innovation Foundation (RIF) just unveiled a bold new €41.15M investment — designed to fund everything from early-stage startups to AI in government. It’s one of the most comprehensive innovation packages Cyprus has ever launched.

🚀 Here’s where it goes:

€24.25M across 4 flagship programmes:
• STEP (Scale to Production) – up to €2M/project
• SEED (Startup Acceleration) – up to €500K/startup
• INNOVATE (Expansion Support) – up to €1M/company
• BOOST (Co-funded Innovation) – for VC-backed firms

🤖 €5M to deploy AI in the public sector, with the first pilots already running. President Christodoulides calls it a “flagship action” for 2025.
🔬 €16.9M more to boost national research infrastructure: from postdoctoral support to open-access labs.

This is more than funding — it’s a national strategy to shift Cyprus toward a resilient, knowledge-driven economy.

Read the full breakdown: https://thefuturemedia.eu/e41m-in-new-rif-funding-aims-to-future-proof-cypruss-innovation-ecosystem/

11/07/2025

💼 Making crypto smarter: Cyprus-based UFarm.Digital is building DeFi infrastructure for serious investors — and making it accessible to all.

Founded by blockchain veteran Olga Tiagunova, UFarm.Digital simplifies asset management in crypto by combining institutional-grade tools with seamless onboarding for retail users. No gas fees, no MetaMask required — just transparent strategies and secure, on-chain ex*****on.

With $750K raised so far and a $2M round in motion, the platform is scaling fast: cross-chain integration, tokenized real-world asset pools, and a private layer in partnership with Hinkal are just the start.

🔐 Built for professionals. Open to everyone.

Read the full story to see why Cyprus is becoming a hub for Web3 infrastructure: https://thefuturemedia.eu/making-crypto-investing-smarter-and-safer-inside-ufarm-digitals-mission-for-defi/