18 JANUARY 2022
ARIS │ A REALLY INSPIRING SPACE, in collaboration with the Cyprus University of Technology, is pleased to announce the upcoming International Investment Forum, scheduled for October 19, 2022, at 09:00, at the ASBIS HI TECH CLUSTER in Limassol.
The Forum is organized as part of the Gazelle project (orGAniZing accELaration for high-potential innovativE SMEs), funded by the INTERREG V-B BALKAN MEDITERRANEAN 2014-2020 Programme.
This event aims to bring together and foster connections among innovative companies, SMEs, and Business Angels (BAs) from the Balkan Mediterranean region, including Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, and North Macedonia. Participants will have the opportunity to showcase their activities, business ideas, and expectations, boosting their market competitiveness and enhancing collaboration with international companies, particularly from the Balkans. During the Forum, selected innovative companies from Greece, Cyprus, and Bulgaria will be given a 5-minute pitch to present their business ideas.
The event is open to the public. ARIS Accelerator, along with startups and investors, is gearing up for an International Investment Forum in Bulgaria.
ARIS (A Really Inspiring Space) also took part in the International Investment Forum in Ruse, Bulgaria, organized by the Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry within the framework of the Gazelle project (“Organizing acceleration for high-potential innovative SMEs”), funded by the Interreg Balkan-Mediterranean Programme 2014-2020. Held successfully on May 18, 2022, the Forum gave 15 SMEs & Startups from the Balkan MED region a platform to pitch before a wide audience, including business angels and investors, while participating in networking and matchmaking activities. The Cyprus delegation, led by ARIS Manager and Director of Deloitte’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centre, Eliza Loucaidou, was joined by Rafaela Tsolakki from Exerte Partners and Chris Droussiotis from Kinisis Ventures, alongside three startups supported by Gazelle: Verality, Mindswaps, and Pokerload.
The Gazelle project addresses significant challenges faced by “Gazelles” (innovative, high-growth companies), such as limited access to finance. It supports the creation and enhancement of Business Angels Networks (BANs) and facilitates access to external knowledge, including market insights and technical expertise. The project also promotes technology transfer strategies and strengthens links between universities and innovative SMEs. Its primary goals are to develop and implement a pilot program that accelerates the growth of innovative companies, strengthen organizations supporting the formation of Business Angels networks, and promote knowledge and best practices transfer. Additionally, it aims to develop practical tools for both business angels and entrepreneurs.
The project consortium is led by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry and includes the Cyprus University of Technology, the University of Athens, ENTERPRISE GREECE, the Ruse Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, and the Chamber of Commerce in North Macedonia. ARIS serves as the local Project Support Centre in Cyprus, guiding startups on their entrepreneurial journey and participating in investment forums across Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia.
On March 23, 2022, ARIS (A Really Inspiring Space) launched the BalkanMed Gazelle Acceleration Program in Cyprus. The kickoff event, held at ARIS’s Limassol facility, began with coffee and an introduction by ARIS Director, Eliza Loucaidou. Following that, startups gave 3-minute pitches to introduce themselves. The event revealed the remarkable potential of the innovative startups participating in the Gazelle program in Cyprus.
The startups included:
Following the pitches, Dr. Hristo Andreev from the Cyprus University of Technology presented the StartupToolkit platform, designed to support businesses in the acceleration program. Afterward, Eliza Loucaidou highlighted the structure and added value of the acceleration program for startups. The event concluded with a productive Q&A session, followed by networking opportunities.
The Cyprus University of Technology, in collaboration with ARIS, is inviting innovative startups and SMEs to apply for the Gazelle Acceleration Program in Cyprus. This intensive business acceleration program, part of the EU-funded Gazelle project, offers startups a unique opportunity to develop their business models, access transnational technology transfer, and enhance international cooperation. Selected participants will also benefit from ARIS’s local Project Support Centre and have the chance to participate in investment forums in Cyprus, Greece, and Bulgaria.
Interested applicants must submit their applications by email before February 28, 2022. Selection will be based on three main criteria: excellence, impact, and implementation.
For more information or clarifications, contact the ARIS team at hello@ariscy.com or by phone at 25868634 (available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
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