For the third consecutive year, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou — creator and owner of the easy family of brands and founder of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation — celebrated the vision and creativity of Cyprus’ young entrepreneurs through the Stelios Awards for Young Entrepreneurs in Cyprus 2025.

Held on October 7 at the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation in Nicosia, this year’s ceremony awarded a total of €200,000 to three winners whose business ideas stood out among a record 77 entries, marking the awards’ strongest participation since their inception.

The top prize of €100,000 went to Giorgos Chrysostomides for Shrine, a Shopify web development company.

Chrystallena Poulli won the second prize of €60,000 for CP Herbalist, her brand of natural skincare products.

The third prize of €40,000 was awarded to Harout Chouldjian and Panayiotis Frantzesko for Luxmery, a global e-commerce company specializing in shapewear and fashion products.

Sir Stelios, who joined the ceremony via Zoom, congratulated the winners, expressing pride in the growing talent and determination of young Cypriot entrepreneurs. 

Chrysostomides, whose company Shrine received the top honor, announced that he will donate the full €100,000 prize to charitable causes and to support other young entrepreneurs. “This is not just a recognition but a reminder that innovation, persistence, and creativity are rewarded when paired with hard work and vision,” he said. “Supporting and empowering young people is the most valuable form of investment for the future.”

Poulli noted that her company will use the prize money to expand production with new specialized equipment and to create new jobs in Cyprus. “This award gives us the strength to continue with even greater dedication,” she said, encouraging other young founders to participate in future editions of the awards.

Meanwhile, Chouldjian and Frantzesko of Luxmery emphasized that their win will be reinvested in their team through their parent company, TCC Ventures. “Sir Stelios is proof that with vision, hard work, and social contribution, dreams can become reality,” they said.

In his remarks, Sir Stelios highlighted the importance of youth entrepreneurship as a driving force for Cyprus’ future: “These awards have become a symbol of innovation and empowerment for the island’s new generation. The three winning startups stand out in fields that reflect Cyprus’ creative and entrepreneurial potential — from digital services and global e-commerce to natural cosmetics.”

He added that despite the challenge of choosing among dozens of strong applicants, the record participation reflects “the talent, courage, and creativity of young Cypriots.” Concluding, he urged all participants to keep trying: “To those who didn’t make it this year, my message is simple — try again in 2026.”