After opening its event series with a candid discussion on resilience, From Zero returns with a second session focused on one of the most elusive — and least openly discussed — chapters of the startup journey: the exit.

Titled “Exit Stories // Before, during and post exit,” Session #2 brings together three Cypriot founders who have successfully sold their companies to larger international players, offering a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to grow, sell, and start again.

The event will take place on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, and is part of the broader From Zero initiative — a startup event series and community built around raw, unfiltered conversations for founders, technologists, creatives, and aspiring entrepreneurs building from scratch.

Moving beyond the headlines that often accompany acquisitions, the session aims to unpack the strategic decisions, personal pressures, and emotional realities that shape exits — from early planning and negotiation to life after the deal is signed.

The fireside chat will feature three founders whose exits span different sectors, markets, and growth trajectories, highlighting that there is no single “right” way to build or sell a company.

Demetrios Zoppos, co-founder and partner at 33East VC, brings a dual perspective as both a serial founder and investor. A founding partner of Cyprus’ first venture capital fund, Zoppos has built and sold several companies, including GF-X, onefinestay, and Klevio, and has backed more than 25 startups as an angel investor. His experience bridges early-stage entrepreneurship and institutional capital, offering insights into timing, scalability, and investor-founder dynamics.

Stephanos Stephanov, co-founder and COO of 2050 Materials, represents the climate-tech and construction innovation space. Over the past five years, 2050 Materials built a data platform enabling designers and construction companies to make more sustainable, data-driven decisions. In November 2025, the company was acquired by the Once For All Group — an exit that underscores growing international interest in sustainability-focused digital infrastructure.

Nicholas Andreou, co-founder and co-CEO of Locum’s Nest, comes from a health-tech background rooted in lived professional experience. A doctor-turned-entrepreneur, Andreou helped build Locum’s Nest into one of the UK NHS’s most widely used platforms for connecting hospitals with clinicians. The company was acquired by Aya Healthcare in June 2025, marking a major milestone for a startup that reshaped staffing and flexibility within public healthcare systems.

Moderating the discussion will be Michael Hadjijoseph, co-founder of Stagedoor, which was acquired by Trafalgar Entertainment in 2022 — bringing his own exit experience into the conversation.

While exits are often framed as the ultimate startup success, the session’s focus extends well beyond valuations and deal announcements. Organisers say the goal is to explore the often overlooked “after” — how founders process the transition, redefine their identity, and decide what comes next.

Topics expected to be discussed include when to start preparing for an exit, how to manage uncertainty during negotiations, the role of culture and people in acquisition decisions, and the emotional comedown many founders experience once the intensity of building is suddenly gone.

By centring real founder stories rather than abstract frameworks, From Zero aims to create a space where ambition is balanced with realism — and where success is discussed without glossing over its costs.

The event also reflects the maturing of Cyprus’ startup ecosystem, where exits are no longer theoretical milestones but lived experiences shaping a new generation of founders and investors.

Support for the event comes from across the local tech and creative community, including software engineering firm Pale Blue, QBeat Academy, Google Developer Group Cyprus, and creative production company Pink Loopa.

The evening will begin with drinks and networking at 18:30, followed by the fireside chat and audience Q&A from 19:00 to 20:30, and conclude with informal mingling until 21:30.

The event