Hess Adnani: Unifying Cyprus’ Entrepreneurial Ecosystem to Build a Global Gateway
In the rapidly evolving landscape of Mediterranean innovation, Hess Adnani is the driving force behind Unity Growth. Adnani has moved beyond the traditional role of a business consultant to become a community architect. By identifying a critical lack of cohesion within Cyprus’ startup scene, she has successfully woven together a tapestry of accelerators, investors, and innovators through high-impact initiatives like StartupCon Europe and The Night Shift.
In this interview, Adnani delves into the belief that a thriving ecosystem is built on more than just capital, it requires authentic human connection and a global mindset.
Unity Growth has become a key player in Cyprus’ entrepreneurial ecosystem. What gap did you initially identify that led to its creation?
When we started Unity Growth, we identified a critical gap: fragmentation across Cyprus's entrepreneurship ecosystem. Different organizations, communities, and ecosystem players were operating in silos rather than collaborating to strengthen the ecosystem as a whole. We created Unity Growth to unify all these partners—accelerators, investors, communities, organizations—and bring them together through programs and activities that advance entrepreneurship collectively. Our goal was to create one of the largest entrepreneurship communities and support systems in Cyprus.
You’ve been involved in multiple initiatives, from StartupCon Europe to Women in Business & Beyond. How do these platforms connect within your broader vision?
All of our initiatives—Elevate Bootcamp, Women in Business & Beyond, StartupCon Europe, and The Night Shift—serve the same core mission: creating engagement and meaningful connections within the startup and innovation ecosystem. The Night Shift is our ongoing monthly gathering where entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and scientists come together. Elevate Bootcamp accelerates early-stage founders in a 6-month program. Women in Business & Beyond celebrates and empowers women entrepreneurs. And StartupCon Europe brings the entire ecosystem together under one roof for two days of connection, inspiration, and deal-making. Each initiative creates different touchpoints and opportunities for people to come together, showcase their work, connect with each other, inspire one another, and thrive together.
The Women in Business & Beyond conference has grown into one of the largest empowerment events in Cyprus. What makes this event different from typical business conferences?
Women in Business & Beyond isn't just a business conference—it's a celebrated and festive day dedicated to bringing all women together to connect, inspire, and empower one another. It creates a unique space where women can showcase their work, strive for their goals, and discover opportunities that don't otherwise exist in the ecosystem. It's characterized by high energy, celebration, and authentic connection. Women come together not just to learn, but to celebrate each other's achievements, build genuine relationships, and create a supportive community where they can thrive together. That human element—the celebration and the emotional connection—is what sets it apart.
From your experience, what are the biggest challenges women entrepreneurs still face today, both locally and globally?
Women entrepreneurs face several significant challenges. First, they're operating in male-dominated markets that were largely created and shaped by men, which creates structural barriers. Second, there's a confidence gap—many women struggle with self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Third, when it comes to fundraising and financing, women face trust issues. Investors don't fund women entrepreneurs at the same rate they fund men in Cyprus and globally. Fourth, there's a significant equity gap—women hold far fewer leadership positions and own fewer businesses than men. And finally, there are ongoing workplace equity issues that affect both employed women and entrepreneurs. These aren't just individual challenges; they're systemic barriers that need to be addressed at the ecosystem level.
Community building is at the core of what you do. What does a strong business community actually look like in practice?
A thriving business community is one where members are deeply engaged and investing their time and energy. Community leaders create spaces and opportunities for activities to happen. Within that community, real value is being created: connections are being made, deals are happening, opportunities are emerging. The community inspires and
How important is mentorship in accelerating entrepreneurial success, especially for early-stage founders?
Mentorship is absolutely critical because we don't teach entrepreneurship skills in schools and universities. Even MBA programs don't fully prepare someone for the realities of building a business. The only way for entrepreneurs to truly learn is through experience—and mentorship accelerates that process dramatically. When early-stage founders have access to entrepreneurs who have already been through the journey, they gain knowledge and experience they simply can't get elsewhere. Mentorship helps them avoid costly mistakes and errors that would otherwise take years to learn. It's one of the most valuable resources a founder can have.
Startup ecosystems are becoming more global and interconnected. Where do you see Cyprus positioning itself in this landscape?
Cyprus is uniquely positioned to connect three continents—Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The tax incentives, business regulations, and corporate structures are very startup-friendly. Plus, it's a beautiful island where founders and their families can enjoy a high quality of life, reduce stress, and focus on building their businesses. However, the Cyprus ecosystem isn't large enough yet to sustain itself and grow internally—it needs external support and connections. The real opportunity is for startups to base themselves in Cyprus while targeting international markets. That's the winning strategy: leverage Cyprus's advantages while thinking globally from day one.
Looking ahead, what is your long-term vision for Unity Growth and the impact you want to leave on the regional ecosystem?
Because Cyprus's ecosystem is still small, we need external influence, resources, and connections to help it grow. Our long-term vision is to make our programs and events—StartupCon Europe, Women in Business & Beyond, Elevate Bootcamp—iconic within the region, starting with the EMEA market. By building that international recognition, we can attract outside investment, talent, and partnerships into Cyprus. Unity Growth's role is to create the spaces and opportunities for these external resources to enter the island. We want to be the gateway that connects Cyprus to the global startup ecosystem and helps local founders access the support they need to succeed internationally.
