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Startups4Peace brings the communities of Cyprus together and provides the motivation, the knowledge and the means to build and grow new business ventures.

Goals

Bring communities together

and encourage them to create joint startups.

Facilitate collaboration

between startups from all sides.

Provide a link

between startups and businesses, using expertise from Finland, Northern Ireland and Cyprus.

About

Startups4Peace (Su4P) is a competition and mini-acceleration programme co-funded by the Embassy of Finland and the European Union within the scope of the Innovative Entrepreneurship project, implemented by NI-CO. The programme is delivered in partnership with CYENS, Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce.

We aim to encourage innovative startup entrepreneurship with intercommunal vision in Cyprus, to bring together and increase contacts between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and support entrepreneurs in developing their businesses.

Su4P will provide much needed support to new and fledgling businesses through the delivery of;

  • Expert support in application preparation phase.
  • Opportunity for networking across Cyprus.
  • Access to the EU Incubator Hive. 
  • Series of workshops as part of two residential bootcamps;
  • “One-to-one” mentoring sessions depending on the needs of the startups;
  • Market discovery” opportunity for professional development of each startup, and;
  • A “Pitching battle” where startups will compete with their business ideas to impress an independent jury which is formed of business professionals.

The winners of the Pitching Battle get chance to attend the legendary startup event, SLUSH, in Helsinki, Finland.

Image taken from https://www.slush.org/events/helsinki/ address as a screenshot

Applications for Startups4Peace 2022 are now closed. Thank you for your interest. Up to 16 startups/entrepreneurs will be given chance to participate at the programme after a competitive evaluation process.

Up to two individuals can represent a startup at the bootcamps and mentoring sessions and the representative of the startup at the pitching battle must participate at the bootcamps and be actively involved in the programme.

The language of the programme will be in English.

Pictures from 2022 Bootcamps and Pitching Battle.

Essential Criteria

The applicant must be;
1. the owner/founder of the business OR,
2. an entrepreneur at pre-startup stage and must demonstrate they have a viable business idea and,
3. Participant(s) must be over 18 years of age and,
4. Participant(s) must have a good level of English language and,
5. The business / entrepreneur must be based in Cyprus and,
6. Applicant/participant(s) must hold necessary documentation to travel across Cyprus.

Exclusion Criteria

The following applications will be ineligible for evaluation:
1. Participants of winner teams and individuals of previous Su4P programmes.
2. Applications with business ideas that are not legal and above board.

Important Note: Applicants/participants are expected to attend both Bootcamps. Those who do not attend Bootcamps will neither have chance to participate/present business idea at the Pitching Battle nor attend Slush. Also, note that the priority may be given to those that did not participate in the previous Su4P Programmes.

Evaluation Criteria

Cooperation Criteria (40%)

The business idea / business must aim cooperation across Cyprus and demonstrate the bicommunal nature of the project. The business follows the objectives of increasing co-operation between the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot communities, joint business ideas and taking into consideration opportunities of operating in a cross-community environment.

Business Criteria (60%)

“The business idea / business must…”

1. Be innovative  (Max. 10%)
2. Demonstrate a clear value proposition / clear benefit to the customer (Max. 10%)
3. Have identified a target market and significant market opportunity (Max. 10%)
4. Demonstrate growth potential (Max. 10%)
5. Have a strong support network and have potential to create employment(Max. 10%)
6. Ensure that the product/service is commercialised or is capable of commercialisation (Max. 10%)

Programme Outline & Timeline

Please follow us for 2023 programme outline and timeline details on
www.startups4peace.eu 
and https://www.facebook.com/startups4peace

Programme Outline & Timeline

4 July 2022

Programme Launch 

4 July – 19 August 2022

Application Period

15 August 2022

Final date for Clarification Requests

19 August 2022

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 

31 August – 2 September 2022

Notifications to Applicants

Week of 12 September

Week of 17 October

12 September – 21 October 2022

Mentoring & Market Discovery Support

Week of 24 October 2022

PITCHING BATTLE

17 & 18 November 2022

SLUSH in Finland

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for locations and events details.

FAQ

Applicants are requested to fill in the Application Form available here and send to info@inovatif.eu by 19 August 2022.

For further questions, applicants can contact info@inovatif.eu and/or +90 548 864 64 26 up until 15 August 2022. Please contact us if you do not receive the e-mail acknowledging the receipt within two working days.

Yes, you can apply as an individual entrepreneur for a startup or business idea.

Up to 2 representatives from each startup will join the bootcamps.

No, it is not compulsory to apply with a bi-communal startup/business idea. However, please note that 40% of the evaluation criteria is dedicated for “Cooperation” aspect of your application.

No. As per the essential criteria, the applicant must be;

  1. an owner/founder of the business; OR,
  2. an entrepreneur at pre-startup stage and must demonstrate they have a viable business idea.

Yes, Participant(s) must be over 18 years of age.

Yes. Applicants/participants are expected to attend both Bootcamps. Those who do not attend Bootcamps will neither have chance to participate/present business idea at the Pitching Battle nor attend Slush.

There is no rule on the number of applications that can be submitted. Each application will be evaluated individually.

Programme will end in 24 October week with a Pitching Battle. Three winner teams will have chance to attend Slush on 17 and 18 November 2022. See programme outline and timeline section for further details.

  • Two residential bootcamps – all expenses covered!
  • One-to-one mentoring sessionsbenefit from business development experts!
  • Digital Market Discovery” opportunity – to expand your startup (idea)!
  • Experience a “Pitching Battle” – compete with your business idea presented to a jury of business professionals!
  • Get a chance to attend the legendary startup event, SLUSH, in Helsinki, Finland– all expenses covered!
  • Expand your network island-wide!

The programme will be open to all sectors. Please note that applications with business ideas that are not legal and above board will be ineligible for evaluation.

Get In Touch

 Startups4Peace is co-funded by the Embassy of Finland and the European Union within the scope of the Innovative Entrepreneurship project, implemented by NI-CO.

 

This website was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of NI-CO and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

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