The Bank of Cyprus (BoC) hosted its 6th Fintech Hackathon, attracting over 100 participants who formed 31 teams, showcasing their innovative ideas from October 10 to 12, 2025.
Fintech hackathon: A Theme of Innovation and Transformation
This year’s hackathon was centred around the theme “Fintech Everywhere,” exploring the intersection of technology and various societal dimensions. The bank emphasised that fintech is not limited to banking but is pivotal in reshaping how communities function.
Welcoming Remarks and Mentorship
The event commenced on Friday with Lia Ioannou, Head of IT Performance & Relationship Management at BoC, welcoming the participants and reiterating the bank’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration. Over the 48-hour challenge, participants received guidance from more than 37 mentors from the Bank of Cyprus, Jinius, Crowdpolicy, and other sectors.
Youth Involvement and Diverse Participation
The event saw participation from diverse groups, including school students, demonstrating fintech’s potential as an asset for the Cypriot tech ecosystem. This inclusive approach encouraged fresh ideas and perspectives.
Creative Solutions Presented
After intense brainstorming and development, the 31 teams showcased their final projects to an expert panel, comprising representatives from notable institutions including the Bank of Cyprus, Jinius, and local universities. The evaluations focused on innovation, practicality, and potential impact on society.
Prize Winners and Their Innovations
- First Place: Labs(dot)cy – Awarded €7,000 for their AI-driven Business Intelligence platform, which helps SMEs leverage financial data for strategic decision-making.
- Second Place: symmorphic – Recognised with €4,000 for their unified property management platform, improving communication and transaction processes in multi-tenant buildings.
- Third Place: Interns United and TestoBugs – Each received €1,000. Interns United developed a peer-to-peer micro-lending app, while TestoBugs created a solution for energy trading among photovoltaic owners.
Special Awards and Recognition
In addition to the main prizes, various special awards highlighted innovative uses of technology. The Best Use of Jinius APIs, accompanied by €2,000, went to TBD (Jinius Insight) for their predictive analytics tool aimed at providing customer intelligence. Other awards included:
- CYENS TechHub Award: 0xGG, offering workspace and mentoring for further development.
- Future Skills Hub Award: Interns United, recognised for their social impact and contributions to youth empowerment.
- C4E Award: Victor & Paul, for their eco-reward app that incentivises recycling.
A Platform for Future Development
The BoC Fintech Hackathon proved to be a crucial event for fostering innovation within the Cypriot fintech sector. The bank highlighted how collaboration and creativity, combined with hands-on experience using APIs from several partners, enabled participants to translate visionary ideas into practical solutions that address real economic and social challenges.
The event not only showcased technological advancements but also underscored the importance of community engagement and sustainable practices in fintech.
