Everyone has ideas. Far fewer manage to turn them into something capable of changing a market.
Between the two lies perhaps the hardest part of entrepreneurship: research, technology, funding, talent, setbacks, second attempts — and that critical moment when you have to convince someone else to believe in something that, until then, has existed mainly in your own mind.
This is the world brought to life at the NBG START UP STAGE of INSPIRE 2026, powered by the National Bank of Greece, through a programme built around Innovation Cyprus 2.0.
The stage brings together different parts of the innovation ecosystem: startups and established businesses, universities and researchers, venture capital funds, institutional stakeholders, technology companies and business leaders. Because innovation rarely happens in isolation. It needs an ecosystem capable of taking an idea from the laboratory to the market — and from the first pitch to international growth.
Among those contributing to the conversation are Ernestos Panayiotou of the National Bank of Greece and Dr Nicodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, while Dr Spyros Arsenis, Head of Business Innovation Development and NBG Business Seeds, brings the perspective of an organisation closely engaged with startups, entrepreneurship and business innovation.
Then comes experience from the business world. John Christodoulou, Chairman & Owner of Yianis Group, takes to the stage for a keynote speech, while Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou, Co-CEO of TOTOTHEO GLOBAL, explores innovation within established businesses.
Because disruption does not always mean starting from zero. Sometimes, it means having the courage to reinvent an organisation that is already successful.
From there, the conversation moves from concept to impact. Alexandra Dimitriadou and Marios Pafitis, Co-Founders of MammoCheck, explore the journey of “Turning Ideas into Impact: From Concept to Growth” — the challenge at the heart of every startup story.
Another major focus is technology transfer: how research and academic knowledge can move beyond the laboratory and become technologies, products and businesses with real-world value. Academics and researchers from the University of Cyprus and Cyprus University of Technology join Pavlos Chatzidimitriou of Amazon Web Services to examine how research can connect more effectively with entrepreneurship and the market.
And, of course, no serious startup conversation is complete without the question that eventually reaches every founder:
Who is going to invest?
Representatives from Uni.Fund VC, Metavallon, Investing for Purpose, Big Pi Ventures and L-Stone Capital bring the investors’ perspective to INSPIRE, opening the discussion around what funds look for, how opportunities are assessed and what it takes for a promising startup to reach its next stage of growth.
That is the NBG START UP STAGE: a meeting point where ideas encounter research, technology meets entrepreneurship, and founders connect with the people who can help turn ambition into growth.
Because the next great Cypriot startup may, today, be nothing more than an idea.
The real question is: who will dare to turn it into reality?
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
