Reflect gears up for its biggest edition yet: Limassol to transform into a “playground of doers”
Reflect Festival, the flagship technology event of Cyprus, is set to take over Limassol seaside this September again, with its most impactful program yet.
Reflect Festival, one of the fastest-growing tech events in the region spanning Southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, has unveiled ambitious plans for its 6th edition. The organizers are preparing five stages and an expo with over 200 booths located in the heart of Limassol, attracting a community of more than 8000 people. “It will be a truly immersive city experience – the city center, as well as the seaside promenade, will be full of festival activities during two Reflect days. Essentially, we’re transforming the city – including its squares, restaurants, and parks – into what we call a playground of doers,” says Stylianos Lambrou, co-founder of Reflect.
The event has quickly evolved into a major technology and entrepreneurship gathering, solidifying its position as the ultimate one-stop shop for building connections across three regions. The program is designed to maximize opportunities and foster synergies among the audience, consisting primarily of founders, startups, tech powerhouses, decision-makers, and investors.
“No fluff” learning and a startup competition
Reflect’s stages will welcome over 100 speakers from around the world. This year, the topics at the Old Port Stage will cater to founders and startups, with a dedicated section for investors. “We’re introducing a brand new program feature on this stage: ReflectX, a startup competition that shines a spotlight on some of the region’s most promising young businesses,” says Dusan Duffek, the festival’s co-founder. The winner of ReflectX will receive a €15,000 cash prize and a Cyprus Startup Destination Package to explore Cyprus as a location to establish an office. Microsoft will offer a spot in the global startup program, Microsoft for Startups FoundersHub, which means up to
$150,000 in free Azure credits and guidance from business experts, mentors, and technical advisors from Microsoft’s curated network. All prizes are listed on ReflectX’s website, with more continuously being added.
Tech enthusiasts will enjoy two days filled with fintech, blockchain, gaming, Web3 and the future of the internet at the Carob Mill Stage. Meanwhile, the Molos and Pier stages will cover a wide array of trending topics, including the latest in tech, the future of work, health, well-being, the future of society, and sustainability. In addition to talks and panels, attendees can engage with speakers through hands-on workshops and roundtable discussions.
The first round of announced speakers includes Loulou Khazen Baz (Managing Partner at Spade Ventures), Lubo Smid (CEO & Founder at STRV), Leanne Elliott-Young (CEO & Co-Founder at Institute of Digital Fashion), Mergim Cahani (Founder and CEO of Gjirafa), and Alexandra Balkova (Partner and Head of Portfolio at Startup Wise Guys), with more names being continuously added.
Large-scale expo and enhanced networking
Reflect’s expo will feature over 200 companies, with both Cypriot and international startups, scale-ups and tech players showcasing their innovative products and services. Additionally, event partners are preparing exciting activities within their booths, further enriching the exhibition area. “We’re thrilled to see how many businesses recognize the value of coming here to meet their peers and potential investors and customers. This year’s expo will span throughout the city, bringing tech and innovation to the forefront of public attention,” says Lambrou.
To enhance networking opportunities, the organizers are introducing several lounges for investors, startups, C-level guests, and VIPs. An AI-powered networking app will help attendees connect with the right individuals. Parties, networking lunches, and meetups will also encourage serendipitous encounters. “Networking is at the heart of what we do,
and we’ll ensure that our doers have plenty of opportunities to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Reflect is all about open-minded, positive people in a family atmosphere, and it will always stay that way, no matter how much we grow. Through these genuine connections, we strive to create measurable impact for the attendees, as well as the wider business ecosystem,” concludes Alexander Jahn, Reflect’s Managing Partner.
Those who want to attend can currently purchase Early Bird tickets, which are already on sale on Reflect’s website. For partnering or exhibiting with Reflect Festival, please reach out to partnership@reflectfest.com.