Deloitte’s second “Cultivating Success Stories of Innovation” showcases the strength of Cyprus’ start-up ecosystem

Cyprus, 21 September 2026 - Innovation in action: celebrating next generation tech high-growth start-up and scale-up innovators in Cyprus at an event organised by the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 programme and ARIS | A Really Inspiring Story accelerator

The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 programme and ARIS | A Really Inspiring Story (ARIS)  accelerator brought together the next generation of technology entrepreneurs at a high-impact event in Limassol, celebrating the momentum, ambition and growing international reach of the start-up και scale-up ecosystem in Cyprus and the Middle East.

Deloitte has long played an active role in advancing innovation and entrepreneurship across the region. Through its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (IEC), Deloitte Cyprus continues to help shape a stronger, more connected innovation ecosystem with both local relevance and international ambition. This commitment is further reflected through ARIS , the non-profit accelerator curated by the IEC. Designed to help start-ups and scale-ups accelerate their growth journey, ARIS provides entrepreneurs with access to mentorship, funding opportunities and a strong network of support.

Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 programme, launched in Cyprus and the Middle East in 2021, has also become an important platform for recognising the region’s fastest-growing technology companies. Together, these initiatives reinforce Deloitte’s dedication to creating a vibrant environment for technology ventures by providing the mentorship, resources and recognition they need to thrive, as well as help innovative businesses scale, compete and succeed. All these initiatives underscore Deloitte's dedication to fostering a vibrant and dynamic environment for tech start-ups, providing them with the resources, mentorship, and recognition needed to thrive.

Against this backdrop, an engaging event focused on the next generation of start-ups took place in Limassol on Thursday, 17 September 2026, bringing together more than 20 innovative start-ups and scaling businesses. 

The event featured a keynote address by Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus, who shared insights on the evolving innovation landscape and the opportunities ahead for emerging technology ventures. As Skourides mentioned “Cyprus has the talent, ambition and technological capability to build companies that compete far beyond the size of our market. The next challenge is not simply to create more innovative businesses, but to enable more of them to scale, internationalise and turn innovation into sustained economic impact. The companies recognised through Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 demonstrate the potential of an ecosystem where technology, entrepreneurship, investment and execution come together.”

A panel discussion moderated by Monica Ioannidou Polemiti from TKI, explored the theme “Built to last or built to fade – Founders, funding and the reality of scaling”. Joining the conversation were Yiannis Eftychiou of 33 East, Carolos Georgallis of Kinisis Ventures, Fillipos Kyprianou of Plug and Play Cyprus, and Maria Terzi of Malloc Privacy. The discussion explored the realities of building resilient, scalable businesses in today’s market, focusing on what really separates startups that scale from those that stall or disappear, examining the role of founders, timing, execution, and funding, as well as the often-unseen challenges behind success. It also addressed the questions founders most want to ask investors and accelerators, including what drives investment decisions, common misconceptions, past mistakes, how startups should assess potential investors in return, and ultimately what it takes for start-ups to move beyond early traction, secure the right backing and scale with resilience. As Polemiti mentioned, “Fast growth is exciting, and it deserves to be celebrated. What really matters over time is whether the founders, the team, the strategy and the capital can keep evolving as the company grows. That is what turns a strong period of growth into a business with real staying power.”

The event also featured a talk by Constantinos Kritiotis, Assistant Manager, Strategy & Transactions at Deloitte Cyprus, representing IEC and ARIS. His presentation focused on the importance of nurturing innovation and supporting entrepreneurs by understanding and addressing their evolving needs as they develop and grow. Continuing, he highlighted the role of ARIS in helping entrepreneurs reach their full potential through tailored support, including mentorship, access to expertise, networks, and other resources that can help them turn promising ideas into sustainable and successful ventures. He also exemplified the IEC’s broader contribution to promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in Cyprus, through practical research, innovation management, its involvement in European projects, and engagement with organisations and initiatives that support the development of the wider innovation ecosystem.

Closing the event, Kyriacos Charalambides, Partner Strategy & Transactions at Deloitte Cyprus and Middle East & Cyprus Technology Fast 50 Programme Leader, presented the 5th edition of Technology Fast 50 and awarded winning companies attending the event. The steadily increasing number of applications to the programme year after year reflects the growing maturity of the region’s start-up ecosystem. Important to note for our local market is that, across all editions, the top-ranked companies included Cyprus-based start-ups and scale-ups, reflecting the maturing of our market.

Charalambides emphasised that “entrepreneurs have the power to make a meaningful difference and shape the future. By driving innovation, they can strengthen communities, influence entire industries, and grow wider ecosystems. He noted that initiatives such as ARIS and Fast 50 play an important role in inspiring the next generation of founders while also supporting the broader innovation landscape by highlighting strong practices and deepening connections across the network.”

Speaking to aspiring entrepreneurs in the audience, he encouraged them to adopt an international mindset from the outset and pursue their ideas with persistence. He stressed the importance of having a well-defined plan for developing a product or service, alongside a clear go-to-market approach for launching it effectively. He also urged them to remain flexible and responsive to change, while staying focused on their long-term goals despite obstacles along the way.

About the Deloitte Middle East & Cyprus Technology Fast 50programme

The Deloitte Middle East & Cyprus Technology Fast 50 programme is an annual report that ranks the fastest-growing technology companies in the region, based on their revenue growth over the past four years. It highlights businesses that have achieved remarkable revenue growth and showcases their innovation, leadership, and impact on the technology sector, as well as the entrepreneurial spirit that continues to define the region’s technology landscape. By recognising these high-performing companies, the Deloitte Fast 50 provides valuable insights into the dynamic tech landscape of the Middle East and Cyprus, serving as a benchmark for industry success and fostering a spirit of innovation and excellence. More information about the programme and the 5th edition results is available at https://deloi.tt/3OMeRRg.

About ARIS | A Really Inspiring Story

ARIS | A Really Inspiring Story, is a non-profit organisation established in association with Deloitte Cyprus, for the purposes of offering innovative enterprises the support, inspiration and community needed to accelerate their growth, amplify their impact and build true stories of success. ARIS supports start-ups that want to speed up the execution time of their projects and expedite their go-to-market speed and scale-ups that need business or financial support to develop and expand further their business and contribute to the growth of the innovation ecosystem. The programme has been designed and is being curated by Deloitte’s team under the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (IEC). For more information, news, and updates on ARIS visit https://ariscy.com/.