at the ultimate regional startup showdown
the ultimate regional startup pitching competition at the forefront of innovation and opportunity. We are thrilled to announce that our inaugural cycle will take place during this year’s Reflect Festival on September 20-21, 2023.
ReflectX goes beyond being just an event; it is a passionate endeavor to cultivate innovation and empower startups to thrive. Join us at ReflectX to pitch your brilliance, compete with the best, and take your startup to the next level.
Ready to showcase your startup to the world?
Simply fill out our easy online application form, ensuring you meet the eligibility criteria and agree to the terms and conditions of the competition.
Our team of independent experts carefully evaluates every complete and eligible application based on its merit and potential. This is your chance to shine,
so make sure your application stands out!
Congratulations, you made the cut!
The 10 highest-scoring applications will be invited to participate in the finals of the competition. From day one, you’ll have the opportunity to network with the other finalists and the ReflectX Mentors and team through online meetups.
To help you prepare for the big day, we’ll provide online 1:1 and group mentorship sessions a couple of weeks before the event.
Our experts will help you elevate your pitching skills and perfect your pitch, so you can give it your all.
It’s time to shine! At the ReflectX event, you’ll have the chance to pitch your startup in front of a jury of seasoned
experts. This is your moment to showcase your vision, win big prizes, and take your startup to the next level.
Mark your calendars
JUNE 23
Open
AUG 6
AUG 15
SEP 21
1
Have a working product
or service:
Your startup should have a product or service that is functional and in use by customers.
2
Show traction and sales:
You should be able to demonstrate that your startup is gaining traction in the market and has a growing customer base, as well as showing evidence of sales.
3
Generate revenues:
Your startup should have a revenue model in place and be generating revenues, indicating the potential for future growth.
4
Be at an early, pre-seed,
or seed stage:
We are looking for startups that are in the early stages of development, with a preference for those that have not yet raised funding above 1,000,000 Euro.
5
Be from or operating in a
country within the
geographical scope
of ReflectX:
To ensure inclusivity, we target startups from countries with emerging innovation systems within a three-hour radius of
Cyprus.
6
Be a technology-based
and innovative company:
Your startup should be technology-driven and innovative, with the potential to disrupt existing markets or create new ones*.
*Companies operating in the areas of porn, gambling, military, marijuana are NOT eligible to participate
Participating in ReflectX offers a range of benefits for early-stage startups.
Here are some of the top reasons to get involved:
Exposure
ReflectX provides an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to potential investors,
customers, and partners. You’ll have the chance to showcase your product or service to a large audience at the Reflect Festival, and enhance your visibility before, during, and after the event through our media coverage.
Networking
ReflectX is a great way to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and industry experts. Through our Reflect networking app, you can establish valuable contacts and build relationships that can help you grow your business.
Validation
Winning or even making it to the finals of ReflectX can be a strong validation of your business idea and potential. It can also help build credibility with potential investors, customers, and partners.
Feedback
ReflectX provides valuable feedback from judges, mentors, and other participants. This feedback can help you refine your business idea and improve your pitch.
Learning
Participating in ReflectX is a great learning experience. You’ll learn from our ReflectX Mentorship program, as well as from the experiences of other entrepreneurs.
You’ll get exposure to new ideas and trends, and gain insights into the startup ecosystem.
and many Prizes
ReflectX offers a range of prizes to help you get closer to achieving your goals. From cash rewards to mentoring and essential business support we provide the resources you need to fuel your growth and reach your goals.
ReflectX offers a range of prizes to help you get closer to achieving your goals. From cash rewards to mentoring and essential business support we provide the resources you need to fuel your growth and reach your goals.
cash prize
for Startups FoundersHub
2000 euros
worth of credit
to Bolton
Datacenter
Annual image subscriptions from Depositphotos
Cybersecurity Resilience Package Worth €3,000 from BoltonShield AG
Please Note: More prizes and perks are being added to enhance the Cyprus Startup Destination Package.
PRIZES FROM
Meet Our Judges
Get ready to be inspired and evaluated by an exceptional panel of industry leaders and visionaries.
Our judges bring a wealth of expertise and experience across diverse fields, empowering them to identify the most promising startups in the ReflectX competition.
Marc Thom
Head of Henkel dx Ventures, is an expert on setting up VC funds, currently running a €200M AUM fund with Focus Areas in Sustainability, Digital Commerce and CPG Innovation.
Diana Koziarska
Founding Partner at SMOK Ventures
Nikolas Krawinkel
Nikolas is a partner at Mangrove Capital Partners, an international early-stage VC firm who were among the first backers of Skype, Wix (NASDAQ), WalkMe (NASDAQ), K-Health, or The Bank of London.
Michal Csonga
Partner at Zero One Hundred
Hasan J. Zainal
Founder & Managing Partner at Arzan VC
ReflectX is open to early-stage startups from various industries and countries within the ReflectX geographical scope. For a detailed description of the eligibility criteria please visit the dedicated section on our website.
The application process for ReflectX is simple and can be completed online. Visit our website and fill out the application form, providing all the necessary details about your startup.
No, there is no application fee to apply for ReflectX. It is completely free to participate in the competition.
The application deadline for ReflectX is on the 1st of August 2023. Make sure to submit your application before the deadline to be considered for the competition. Please refer to the website for any changes to the key dates of the competition.
The applications will be evaluated by a panel of independent judges who will assess various aspects of the startups, including the business idea, market potential, team, and innovation. The evaluation process will be based on predefined criteria to ensure fairness and transparency.
The top 10 highest-scoring startups will be selected as finalists for ReflectX. These finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their ideas and compete in the final round of the competition.
After the application review process, the selected finalists will be notified via email. They will receive further instructions regarding the next steps, including participation in training and mentoring sessions to prepare for the pitching competition.
Yes, finalists of ReflectX will have access to training and mentoring sessions conducted by industry experts. These sessions aim to enhance their skills, refine their pitches, and receive valuable feedback to increase their chances of success. The training and mentoring will be held online a couple of weeks before the competition.
The pitching competition will take place during the Reflect Festival. Each finalist team will have a designated time slot to deliver a compelling pitch presentation followed by a Q&A session with the jury panel and the audience.
The winners of ReflectX will be announced during the end of the competition. The exact date and time will be communicated to all participants and posted on our website as the event approaches.
ReflectX offers a range of valuable prizes to the winners, including cash prizes, office space, mentorship, marketing and PR services, business services, and more. Please refer to our website for the exact details of the prizes.
Travel and accommodation arrangements are the responsibility of the participating startups. However, we can provide assistance and recommendations to help with visa issues and suggest suitable accommodation options.
Visa Assistance: We understand that navigating visa processes can be challenging. At ReflectX, we offer support and guidance to participants who require assistance with visa issues. Our dedicated team is here to help you wit the necessary documentation and provide guidance throughout the visa application process, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience. We are committed to making your participation in ReflectX as accessible and seamless as possible. Please reach out to konstantinos@reflectfest.com
ReflectX is specifically targeted towards startups within the ReflectX region. However, if you believe your startup aligns with the objectives and criteria of ReflectX, we encourage you to reach out to us for further discussion.
If you can’t find what you are looking for contact us directly konstantinos@reflectfest.com
