How far can an idea born in Cyprus travel? What does it take to leave familiar territory, compete in international markets and build something that reaches far beyond the island? And what attracts international entrepreneurs to Cyprus as a place to invest, innovate and grow?
On 8 October, the Beyond Borders Stage at INSPIRE 2026, hosted on the 34th floor of Nicosia’s 360 Building, brings these questions to life through the experiences of entrepreneurs, founders and business leaders who have crossed borders, challenged expectations and pursued opportunities on a global scale.
The journey begins with Cypriot business leaders who have established successful international careers. Antonios Achilleoudis, Chairman of AXIA Ventures Group and Alpha Finance, James Demetriades, CEO of Commerce Club and ZAROS, and Phanos Theophanous, Managing Director at Barclays Private Bank in the United Kingdom, share the defining moments of their professional journeys. Beyond their achievements lie the difficult decisions, setbacks and personal sacrifices involved in building a career far from home. Their stories explore what it takes to earn recognition in competitive international environments and the lessons they would pass on to the next generation.
The spotlight then turns to Nicolas Ioannou, Co-founder of Hyper Expense, whose entrepreneurial journey took him into the competitive US fintech market. From identifying an opportunity to scaling a business internationally and navigating an acquisition, his story offers a compelling perspective on the ambition, resilience and determination required to build beyond borders.
But how much can you achieve before turning 40?
In Impact Before 40, Dr Orestis Omran of DLA Piper, Philotas Niarchos of AMEN New Technologies, Eleftherios Karampatsakis of PlugSecure and George Karavokyris of easyInfluencer.travel explore what it means to create meaningful impact early in an entrepreneurial career. They look beyond investment rounds and success stories to examine the risks, setbacks and decisions that shaped their journeys.
For businesses born in Cyprus, international expansion brings a different set of challenges. In Born Local. Built Global., Andreas Theocharides, CEO of KEAN Group, and Panos Protopapas, General Manager of Elysée Irrigation, share their experiences of taking Cypriot businesses into international markets. Their discussion explores the realities of competing abroad, adapting to different business environments and preserving a company’s identity while pursuing global growth.
Yet the movement of talent and ambition is not one-way. International entrepreneurs are increasingly part of Cyprus’s evolving business landscape.
In Breaking Borders, Artur Mamedov, CEO of TheSoul Group, and Christoph Pliessnig, Founder and CEO of Teroxx Global Group, discuss why they chose Cyprus, how they established their businesses and what opportunities they see for the island’s future. Their experiences offer an international perspective on Cyprus as a base for business development and expansion.
The programme concludes by looking towards an industry where geographical boundaries are becoming increasingly irrelevant: technology.
In Tech Without Borders, Liudmila Marochkina of SPORTSOFT, Vitaliy Podvysotskiy of SayGames, Elena Prochaskova of JetBrains Cyprus and Ivan Sysoev of Ecommpay explore what it takes to develop global technology businesses from Cyprus. From attracting international talent and building cross-border teams to investing in innovation and maintaining a competitive edge, their discussion examines the opportunities and challenges facing the island’s technology ecosystem.
Together, these conversations capture the spirit of the Beyond Borders Stage: a meeting point for people who have taken risks, entered unfamiliar markets and challenged the limitations of geography.
For aspiring founders, established business leaders and anyone considering their next international move, the stage offers something beyond conventional success stories: first-hand experiences, lessons learned and fresh perspectives on what it means to think globally.
Because where you begin should never determine how far you can go.
Location: Nicosia, Makarios Avenue and surrounding areas
Dates: Wednesday, 7 and Thursday, 8 October 2026
More information & Free Tickets: www.inspirecyprus.com
Information
Strategic Partner: Cyta Business
Platinum Sponsor: Bank of Cyprus
Innovation Partner: Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF)
Gold Sponsors: Cyfield, Zorbas Group
Silver Sponsor: Bioland, Petrolina
Stage Sponsors: National Bank of Greece (Cyprus), KPMG Cyprus, Invest Cyprus, Odyssey
Academic Partner: University of Nicosia
Sponsor: IMR, AnAD, Henry’s by Columbia
Panel Sponsor: allwyn
Technology Sponsor: Abasis.AI
Supporting organisations: KEPA-SkillsCyprus, National Betting Authority
Exhibitors: Drastyc, Emphasys Centre, GrantXpert, onlyseo, Photos Photiades Breweries – selection, Wolt, Nicosia Marathon, Giorgio Armani, Factorial
Supporters: CP Herbal Skin Care, MiMaJo, National Betting Authority, Robura, Voici La Mode, University of Limassol, Cloud Office
Mobility Partner: ChaPilakoutasGroup
Wellbeing Partner: Wayfitco
Sustainability Partner: EAC
With the support of: Cyprus Computer Society, CITEA, CPMA, Youth Board of Cyprus, OEB, KEBE, techisland, Student Life Academy
Media Sponsors: ALPHA Cyprus, CBN, IN Business, REPORTER, SuperFM
Organiser: IMH
Under the Auspices of: Nicosia Municipality
