On May 15–16, the Mediterranean city of Limassol will transform into a playground for tech founders, investors, and future-builders. Reflect Festival, the largest tech and entrepreneurship event for startups, investors and decision-makers connecting Europe, Africa and the Middle East, returns for its 2025 edition with more ambition.
Organized by The Doers Company, Reflect Festival 2025 is designed as a connector of ecosystems across the EMEA region. With over 10,000 attendees expected, including 300+ startups and 200+ investors, this edition is shaping up to be a defining moment for the SEE innovators and tech enthusiasts.
Cyprus, sitting quite literally at the crossroads of two regions, presents a neutral ground where capital, talent, and ideas can meet without legacy bias. The festival capitalizes on this by curating a space where European VCs can discover fast-scaling MENA startups, and where Middle Eastern innovators can plug into the deep tech expertise and regulatory maturity of the EU.
A Stage for Regional Voices
Reflect Festival 2025 is positioning itself as a real engine for transregional innovation, and it also deepens its reach into SEE through this upcoming edition. Founders and ecosystem players from Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, and beyond will be among the thousands flying into Limassol. With support from international partners such as Advantage Austria, the Bulgarian SME Promotion Agency and ICI Bucharest, Reflect is the platform where regional tech talent gains global visibility. For SEE startups, Reflect offers access to VCs actively scouting, to corporate buyers exploring innovation, to mentors and peers navigating the same challenges.
“I’m proud that Reflect Festival continues to be a key meeting point for technology and innovation in emerging markets. We are focused on building stronger connections in the region and showcasing Cyprus as a growing entrepreneurial hub,” says Stylianos Lambrou, co-founder and CEO of The Doers Company.
Across its main stages, Reflect Festival 2025 brings together some of the most future-facing minds across multiple industries.
The Big Picture Stage explores macro trends in entrepreneurship, tech, and business, inviting serial founders and thought leaders to share the wins and war stories behind the headlines. It’s where bold predictions and real experiences meet. The Money Stage tackles the latest in investment, fintech, and crypto, with insights in a year when capital efficiency and smart funding strategies are top of mind for founders and investors alike. On the Future Stage, the conversation zooms out to examine what’s next for health, cities, work, and the planet. It’s where ethical innovation, sustainability, and the human side of tech come into focus. The TechIsland Summit convenes public and private sector leaders to map out what’s possible, creating dialogue between innovators and policymakers. Last but not least, there will be a stage devoted to the Future of Health and Wellness, bridging science and self-care by showcasing research, inventions and best practices.
The speaker lineup is already attracting attention. Markus Fuhrmann, co-founder of Delivery Hero and now CEO of sustainable housing venture Gropyus, brings operational insights from scaling on multiple continents. Amrapali Gan, former CEO of OnlyFans and now founder of Hoxton, promises a fresh take on platform growth, brand, and leadership. They’ll be joined by Pedro Vieira of 500 Global, Plug and Play’s Thomas Bigagli, and real estate creator Anthony Park, who brings both influencer and investor perspectives to the table.
Together, they reflect the kind of diversity of background, of scale, of sector that makes Reflect relevant to everyone from pre-seed founders to late-stage operators. The commonality both on- and off stage is the quality of discourse, as the festival fosters quality meetings between promising startups and experienced investors.
Connection Beyond Content
For the first time this year, Reflect will host a new type of startup competition,The Doers Pitch. The format is a live, high-energy contest where selected startups pitch in front of over 200 active investors. Inspired by the raw energy of “Shark Tank,” this format aims to go beyond the performative.
“Reflect Festival is a must-attend event for anyone looking to connect with the most promising startups in the region. Countless investment conversations happen here,” explains Dusan Duffek, Managing Partner and Co-founder of The Doers Company.
The festival’s organizers know what founders need: exposure to the right investors, yes, but also feedback that matters, connections that stick, and a stage that amplifies substance over hype. The goal? Real deals, real follow-ups, real visibility for startups who are ready to scale.
The side events are where the conversational magic happens. Limassol will host more than 30 unofficial and curated happenings throughout the city: rooftop investor dinners, beachside brainstorms, wellness meetups, and sector-specific workshops. Attendees can expect conversations that lead to partnerships, funding rounds and community building.
This holistic approach sets Reflect apart, making it a facilitator strengthening the connective tissue between Europe and the MENA region, two markets that are increasingly interdependent, yet often disconnected by limited exposure and fragmented networks.
Tickets are available now. From founders to tech enthusiasts who value real talk, participants can secure a ticket using the code RMHLTP200 for 20% off, limited to the first 50 tickets.
