A packed room, candid conversations and a strong sense of momentum marked the second session of From Zero, the Cyprus-based startup series focused on raw, unfiltered founder stories.

Held on Tuesday evening, the event brought together entrepreneurs, technologists and aspiring founders for a discussion centred on one of the least openly examined chapters of the startup journey: the exit. Titled “Exit Stories // Before, during and post exit”, the session moved beyond deal headlines to explore what it actually takes to build, sell and start again.

Photo: Pale Blue

The fireside discussion featured three Cypriot founders who have successfully exited their companies to international players.

Demetrios Zoppos, co-founder and partner at 33East VC, shared insights drawn from multiple exits and his experience on both sides of the founder–investor relationship. Stephanos Stephanov, co-founder and COO of 2050 Materials, spoke about building a climate-tech platform and navigating its acquisition by the Once For All Group in November 2025. Nicholas Andreou, co-founder and co-CEO of Locum’s Nest, reflected on scaling a health-tech platform within the UK’s NHS and its acquisition by Aya Healthcare earlier this year.

Moderating the conversation was Michael Hadjijoseph, co-founder of Stagedoor, who brought his own exit experience into a discussion that balanced strategy with personal reflection.

Photo: Pale Blue

Alongside the discussion, the event created space for networking and informal exchanges among attendees interested in building companies from Cyprus with an international outlook.

The session was hosted by Pale Blue, with support from QBeat Technologies, 33East and Google Developers Group Cyprus, underscoring the collaborative nature of the local ecosystem. 

With exits increasingly becoming lived experiences rather than distant aspirations within Cyprus’ startup scene, the second From Zero session highlighted a maturing ecosystem willing to speak openly about success, failure and everything in between. Organisers confirmed that further sessions are planned as the initiative continues to grow.