startup experience — The Zubr Capital Young Hackathon provided Cyprus students with invaluable startup experience during a one-day competition aimed at fostering practical business solutions.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
Startup experience: Bridging Education and Entrepreneurship
Organised by the investment firm Zubr Capital, the event sought to enhance Cyprus’ burgeoning innovation ecosystem by allowing university students to engage directly with established startups. Participants had the choice to either pitch their own startup ideas or collaborate with existing projects, enabling a hands-on approach to learning.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
Real-World Startup Development
Each team underwent a comprehensive startup development process, which included problem identification, conducting market research, drafting business plans, and creating a minimum viable product. The day culminated in a pitch session where teams presented their findings and concepts to a panel of judges comprising investors and seasoned entrepreneurs.
Oleg Khusaenov, CEO of Zubr Capital, remarked, “When students and startups work side by side on real business cases, they form the core of Cyprus’ future innovation economy. This kind of collaboration accelerates learning and creates a direct link between education and entrepreneurship.”
A Day of Collaboration and Innovation
With eight startup teams and fifty participants, the hackathon was designed to be a practical experience rather than a theoretical exercise. Students engaged directly with live projects, working alongside active founders to develop market-ready solutions within a single day. Mentors from Zubr Capital and its network supported participants, offering insights on market research, strategy, and investment readiness.
Pitch Presentation and Judging Panel
The competition concluded with pitch presentations assessed by a distinguished jury of industry professionals. Notable judges included:
- Oleg Khusaenov: Founder and CEO of Zubr Capital.
- Eugene Nevgen: Co-founder of Bratte.com, Locals, and Animation Inc, recognised in Forbes 30 Under 30.
- Luba Pashkovskaya: Co-founder of Verv and featured among Forbes Europe’s Top 50 Women in Tech.
- Sergey Osipov: Serial entrepreneur and co-founder of AI real estate startup Placy.
- Andrei Avsievich: Super angel investor with multiple AI exits.
- Andrei Yarantsau: Founder of Steam Power Investments and former vice president at Wargaming.
- Ulad Radkevitch: General partner at Verras Capital.
- Paul Matusevich: Fintech innovator and entrepreneur.
- Sergei Riabuhin: Managing partner at Zubr Capital.
Nikita Krivelevich, Investment Director at Zubr Capital, stated, “Such initiatives help grow a new generation of founders who can think globally while building locally. Cyprus has the talent and the environment to become one of the region’s key innovation centres.”
Connecting Students and Startups
The Zubr Capital Young Hackathon not only linked students eager to launch businesses with the active startup landscape on the island, but also provided valuable practical experience and expert guidance. Startups, in turn, benefitted from fresh concepts and potential business partners.
The initiative highlights Zubr Capital’s commitment to investing in both companies and individuals, reinforcing Cyprus’ position as an emerging international hub for technology and innovation. The firm manages $250 million across thirty technology companies, including two unicorns and counts EBRD, FMO, and Wargaming among its investors.
