2023 Startups for Peace (Su4P) Programme

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.

They aim to encourage innovative startup entrepreneurship with intercommunal vision in Cyprus, to bring together and increase contacts between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.

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.

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.

Prizes

• All participants will have a chance to benefit from mentorship by the experts from Northern Ireland as well as Digital Market Discovery opportunity as detailed under Delivery section.
• Pitching Battle Winners will:
  • Participate at SLUSH (travel, per diem and accommodation expenses will be covered for up to two individuals from each startup).

Delivery

• Delivery will be through a blend of physical and appropriate digital platforms. The language of the
• programme will be in English.
• The two two-day Bootcamps will be organised on a residential basis in Cyprus which will require one
• night accommodation. Applicants must hold necessary documentation to travel across Cyprus.
• Expenses of accommodation for one night and meals will be covered for each participant.
• Team building activities will be organised as part of community building efforts. This may include startup
• talks, “meet the founder” sessions within local and global context.
• Participants will have chance to attend side events throughout the programme as well as activities
• organised by Innovative Entrepreneurship project team. All participants will have access to the EU
• Incubator Hive.
• One-to-one mentoring sessions will help participants develop their startups with the support of experts.
• Digital Market Discovery opportunity will be given to each startup:
• In addition to the support provided at the application phase and Bootcamps, our experts will deliver
• additional mentoring and direct support on a remote basis which will include but not be restricted to the
• following:
  • Digital Market Discovery and Digital Market Testing using a suite of online Digital Tools
  • Support on both one to one and group basis to maximise the use of well-known Digital Tools such as
  • LinkedIn and Facebook to assist with the identification of potential customers, partners and competitors
  • etc.
  • Support on both one to one and group basis on the individual or collective use of other very effective
  • digital tools such as Quora, Reddit, Rocket Reach, Uber Suggest, Buzz Sumo, Google Keyword planner
  • in the Market Discovery and Market Assumptions Testing process.
  • Support with general marketing and market development activity.
  • Creating and maximising the impact of a website landing page
  • Managing online surveys
• The pitching battle where startups will present their business ideas in a limited time (strict 5 mins) will be organised at the Buffer Zone and all presentations will be evaluated by a jury of independent professionals.

Eligibility Criteria

• Su4P programme participation will be limited to 16 businesses with maximum of two (2) individuals/ team members from each business / entrepreneur. The participants in bootcamps may change if justified, however the “pitching battle” should be presented by bootcamp participants.
• Female founders’ participation is particularly encouraged and collaborative startups from across Cyprus will have advantage in the evaluation process.
• There will be a formal and competitive application process to identify up to 16 startups across the island.
• The programme will be open to all sectors.

Essential Criteria

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

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following applications will be ineligible for evaluation:
  • Applications from previous Su4P programme winners (teams & individuals).
  • 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.

For more information, visit Startups4Peace.