The bi-communal pitching event held on October 11 as part of Startups4Peace made a significant impact on the entrepreneurship ecosystem. The program, where innovative ideas competed fiercely, is supported by the European Union and the Embassy of Finland.
The Startups4Peace Program concluded with the Pitching Battle event held on October 11 at Chateau Status in the buffer zone of Nicosia. In this intense competition, 10 teams from across Cyprus competed fiercely, with 3 winning teams earning the opportunity to attend the globally renowned entrepreneurship event, Slush, in Helsinki. An international jury of three members, including CES executive Niyal Öztürk, listened to five-minute business pitches, challenging participants with probing questions. Aiming to foster entrepreneurship with a vision of cooperation and peace between communities, the Startups4Peace Program offers Cypriot entrepreneurs an accelerator program and a platform to present their business ideas.
Why is Su4P Important?
The Startup4Peace program brings together entrepreneurs who develop innovative solutions with the potential to create social and economic impact. With the support of civil society, interest in this program, which has gained significant momentum over the years, continues to grow each year. This year's pitching event concluded with the announcement of three winning teams—Complivio, Neema Labs, and Vevivo—who showcased extraordinary creativity and potential.
A Unified Vision for Peace
At the event, Finland’s Ambassador to Cyprus, Päivi Peltokoski, highlighted the importance of collaboration in advancing Cyprus's bi-communal entrepreneurship ecosystem, noting that peace and innovation go hand in hand. Peltokoski emphasized how programs like this contribute to a unified vision for peace and expressed Finland’s pride in supporting the initiative.
The Road to Global Expansion
The winners of Startups4Peace 2024 now have the opportunity to step onto the global stage by participating in Slush, one of the world’s largest entrepreneurship events. Slush presents a significant opportunity for these teams to grow their businesses and showcase their solutions to an international audience. At the event held in Helsinki, Finland, entrepreneurs will have the chance to meet with investors, connect with other entrepreneurs, and further develop their ideas. This experience will create opportunities for strong connections between Cypriot entrepreneurs and global networks.
Startups4Peace (Su4P) is a competition and accelerator program jointly funded by the Embassy of Finland and the European Union as part of the eUnite Project implemented by GIZ International Services. Offered in collaboration with the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, and CyprusInno, the program aims to promote the spirit of innovative entrepreneurship in Cyprus with a bi-communal vision, enhance connections between Turkish Cypriots (TCc) and Greek Cypriots (GCc), and support entrepreneurs in developing their businesses.
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