SocialTech Lab

What SocialTech Lab does

SocialTech Lab is a Cyprus-based non-profit innovation organization founded in 2016 (originally as CyprusInno) that operates at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and peacebuilding. It delivers a portfolio of programmes including hackathons, accelerators, bootcamps, mentorship cohorts, and multi-year EU/UN-funded projects targeting entrepreneurs, youth, and ecosystem partners in divided and conflict-affected contexts across Cyprus, Western Balkans, Middle East, and broader Europe. Core digital products include the CyprusInno inter-communal platform, the CyprusInno Alumni App (a mobile networking platform with 7,000+ members), and ChatGLT, an AI-powered assistant for navigating Green Line trade regulations. The organization's flagship physical asset is The Base by CyprusInno, a co-working and innovation space housed in a former UN peacekeeping container inside the UN Buffer Zone.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than commercial: revenue is sourced from EU institutions (EIT, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+), the United Nations (UNDP), bilateral donors (U.S. Department of State, Kingdom of the Netherlands), and corporate sponsors (Chevron Cyprus, Microsoft). Programmes are delivered free of charge to participants; non-dilutive funding distributed to entrepreneurs (over €100,000 in 2024) is pass-through. Distribution relies on direct programme delivery in target geographies and a 100+ partner ecosystem network including universities, municipalities, NGOs, and innovation hubs. As of 2024 the organization reached 1,600+ participants, supported 130+ startups, and helped portfolio ventures raise over €1.1 million in follow-on funding. The proprietary Social Impact Generator™ methodology is the operating framework, combining research, capacity building, policy engagement, live innovation programmes, digital tools, and physical spaces.

Leadership consists of co-founders Steven W. Stavrou (Director of Strategy & Impact) and Burak B. Doluay (Director of Innovation & Commercialization), supported by Innovation Programmes Manager Annita Tsolaki and Incubation Lead & Growth Specialist Berfu Ilgililer. The organization has accumulated recognition including the 2022 Obama Leaders Europe award, 2024 UN SDG Digital GameChangers Award (Peace), 2024 MIT Solve semifinalist, 2025 New European Bauhaus Prizes finalist, and multiple Stelios Bi-Communal Awards.

Name

SocialTech Lab

Legal name

SocialTech Lab

Website

https://socialtechlab.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SocialTech Lab is a Cyprus-based non-profit that runs entrepreneurship programmes, digital platforms, and the Base innovation space in the UN Buffer Zone to advance cross-community peacebuilding and support entrepreneurs across Europe, the Western Balkans, and the Middle East.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Peace Innovation & Social Entrepreneurship Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Post-Conflict Recovery, Reconciliation & Social Cohesion Programs (BPADAFAL), Social Entrepreneurship & Impact Business (EDAMAHAK), Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms (EDAFAMAN), Institutional Capacity Building & Training (Workforce/Systems Strengthening) (BPADAEAC)

Keywords

• Peace innovation
• Entrepreneurship programmes
• Innovation ecosystem
• Social entrepreneurship
• Venture incubation

Headquarters

HQ city

Nicosia

HQ country

Cyprus

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary revenue from grants and funding programmes from EU institutions (EIT, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+), international organizations (UNDP), and bilateral donors. Non-dilutive funding distributed to programme participants.
2. Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships: Funding and support from corporate partners including Chevron Cyprus (Women Entrepreneurs Lab), Microsoft (AI/ML Hackathon), and other private sector sponsors for specific programmes.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SocialTech Lab is a Cyprus-based non-profit that builds resilient innovation ecosystems in divided and conflict-affected contexts by running entrepreneurship programmes (hackathons, accelerators, bootcamps, venture builders), operating digital platforms (CyprusInno, ChatGLT AI assistant, Alumni App), and maintaining a physical innovation hub (The Base) inside the UN Buffer Zone. Its proprietary Social Impact Generator model combines research, capacity building, policy engagement, live programmes, digital tools, and physical spaces to deliver peace-driven entrepreneurship support across Cyprus, Western Balkans, and the Middle East.

Product overview

SocialTech Lab is a peace innovation organisation operating at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and peacebuilding. Rather than a single unified product, SocialTech Lab offers a portfolio of interconnected programmes, digital platforms, and professional services built around its Social Impact Generator Model. Core platforms include CyprusInno (an inter-communal digital and events platform), The Base by CyprusInno (a physical innovation hub in the UN Buffer Zone), the CyprusInno Alumni App (mobile networking platform with 7,000+ members), and ChatGLT (AI-powered assistant for Green Line trade navigation). The service offering spans Mentorship & Founder Support, Positive Peace & Conflict-Sensitive Innovation, and Curriculum & Programme Development. Activity is delivered through multiple programmes including accelerators (Women Entrepreneurs Lab, UNDP BOOST), hackathons (AI/ML Hackathon, EIT Community Ignite NEB, Levers), academies (Urban Innovators Academy, New European Bauhaus Academy, Academy for Women Entrepreneurs), and multi-year projects (Y-PLAN Erasmus+, EUSOME Horizon Europe). The portfolio is designed to build resilient, inclusive innovation ecosystems in divided and conflict-affected contexts through six pillars: Research & Local Insight, Capacity Building, Policy, Live Innovation Programmes, Digital Tools, and Physical Spaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CyprusInno: Award-winning inter-communal platform building an island-wide entrepreneurial ecosystem through digital tools and live engagement, connecting entrepreneurs, youth, and institutions to drive economic growth, social cohesion, and long-term peacebuilding.
• The Base by CyprusInno
• ChatGLT
• CyprusInno Alumni App

Products and services

• CyprusInno Award-winning inter-communal platform building an island-wide entrepreneurial ecosystem through digital tools and live engagement, connecting entrepreneurs, youth, and institutions across divided communities in Cyprus to drive economic growth, social cohesion, and peacebuilding.
• The Base by CyprusInno Physical innovation hub housed in a former UN peacekeeping container in Cyprus' UN Buffer Zone, providing a shared home for entrepreneurs from both sides of the divided island for coworking, mentorship, podcasting, training, and community programming.
• ChatGLT (Green Line Trade) AI-powered conversational assistant that provides real-time, personalised responses to help individuals and businesses navigate Green Line trade regulations in Cyprus, lowering barriers to cross-border entrepreneurship.
• CyprusInno Alumni App Mobile application bringing together 7,000+ entrepreneurs, founders, professionals, and innovators across Cyprus and beyond, enabling meaningful connections through smart search, direct messaging, and real-time access to events, opportunities, and ecosystem updates.
• Social Impact Generator Model Proprietary systems-driven model combining six pillars to build resilient, inclusive innovation ecosystems in divided and conflict-affected contexts through research, capacity building, policy engagement, live programmes, digital tools, and physical spaces.
• Mentorship & Founder Support Tailored mentorship services for entrepreneurs and innovators of all stages, youth-led teams, and social innovators in fragile and transition contexts, including one-to-one mentoring, cohort-based guidance, and expert-led sessions.
• Positive Peace & Conflict-Sensitive Innovation Service integrating positive peace principles and conflict-sensitive approaches into innovation ecosystems, including hosting innovators from conflict-affected communities in safe, neutral spaces, and advisory support for organisations embedding social cohesion and trust-building into entrepreneurship initiatives.
• Curriculum & Programme Development Design and co-development of curricula for entrepreneurship, innovation, and positive peace-driven programmes, creating learning journeys combining practical tools with systems thinking, inclusion, and community-led approaches, tailored to specific contexts.
• Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Cyprus 4-month academy empowering women in Cyprus to turn ideas into sustainable businesses through skills training, mentorship, and global networks, combining structured online learning with hands-on mentoring from concept to MVP or venture scaling.
• Women Entrepreneurs Lab (WEL) Women entrepreneurship accelerator empowering women-led businesses in Cyprus to scale sustainably and strengthen investment readiness through intensive workshops, expert-led sessions, personalised mentorship, and pitch preparation covering business growth, financial planning, branding, leadership, and fundraising.
• Y-PLAN (Youth for Participatory and Localized Action in Neighborhoods) Erasmus+ project (2025-2027) empowering young people to shape urban planning and local decision-making across Europe, equipping youth with GIS mapping, data visualisation, and participatory design skills in Cyprus, Greece, Serbia, and Belgium.
• UNDP BOOST: Urban Future Finance Acceleration Programme Regional acceleration programme that identifies, accelerates, and scales innovative financing solutions for urban development across the Western Balkans, supporting startups, social enterprises, municipalities, and academic institutions.
• EUSOME (Enhanced Urban & Suburban Operations of Manned and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) Horizon Europe-funded 4-year project shaping the future of Advanced Air Mobility in Southeast Europe, bringing together 16 research institutions, aircraft manufacturers, civil aviation authorities, and innovation specialists.
• AI/ML Hackathon Three-day intensive hackathon bringing together regional talent to co-create scalable AI/ML solutions for agrifood, health, education, logistics, and social cohesion sectors using Azure AI/ML tools.
• 50:50 Startups Bootcamp Two-week fully funded incubator programme combining venture-building with peacebuilding, empowering Jewish and Palestinian entrepreneurs to innovate together, hosted at The Base by CyprusInno.
• EIT Food Startup Networking Event & Bootcamp – From Ground to Scale (G2S) Two-day bootcamp empowering young agrifood innovators to build sustainable, digitally driven solutions and scale ideas from local to global, delivered in partnership with EIT Food.
• Urban Innovators Academy 5-day academy empowering young changemakers to co-create sustainable urban mobility solutions for Cyprus, engaging 40+ international bachelor students with the support of EIT Urban Mobility.
• New European Bauhaus Academy (NEBA) Regional pillar of the New European Bauhaus Academy (NEBA) upskilling youth and professionals in the built environment sector across the East Med region, co-funded by CBE JU under Horizon Europe.
• EIT Community Ignite NEB Hackathon Cyprus 3-day hackathon bringing together innovators from both sides of Cyprus to address pressing urban challenges through New European Bauhaus values, with winners advancing to Grow NEB incubation phase.
• Agrifood Digital Transition & Sustainability Bootcamp Two-day bootcamp empowering the Cyprus agrifood ecosystem to adopt digital tools and sustainable practices, helping farmers, agrifood professionals, startups, and SMEs explore emerging technologies.
• Levers Hackathon – Hacking the Supply Chain for Sustainable Products One-day hackathon empowering students and young innovators to reimagine sustainable supply chains and turn waste into value through circular economy solutions.
• SDG Innovation Pre-Accelerator Programme Pre-accelerator programme empowering young people across Cyprus to turn early-stage ideas into impact-driven ventures addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Youth Innovation Factory Venture builder programme for youth tech innovators tackling social and environmental challenges, co-implemented with UNDP Cyprus, supporting teams developing tech-based solutions with several receiving early-stage funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivered 150+ programmes engaging 7,000+ community members
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• EIT FoodflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026SocialTech Lab appointed as EIT Food Country Representative for Cyprus and member of EIT Community Hub Cyprus. Role includes connecting national agrifood ecosystem with European opportunities including funding, education, entrepreneurship programmes, innovation projects, and strategic partnerships.
• UNDP Europe and Central AsiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2024Partnership for BOOST: Urban Future Finance Acceleration Programme supporting innovative financing solutions for urban development across Western Balkans. SocialTech Lab provides programme design and implementation support.
• United Nations Development Programme Cyprus (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implementation of Youth Innovation Factory supporting youth tech innovators. Partnership leverages UN infrastructure in Cyprus Buffer Zone for The Base innovation hub.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationCo-organized AI/ML Hackathon providing Azure AI/ML tools, expert mentorship from Microsoft specialists, and technical training for regional talent development.
• FINOMENAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of AI/ML Hackathon for regional talent development in scalable solutions for agrifood, health, education, logistics, and social cohesion.
• NEBA South HubflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocialTech Lab integrated into NEBA South Hub consortium, strengthening European collaboration across innovation, sustainability, and social impact. East Med Consortium led by SocialTech Lab includes SURF Lab, KARMA Mixed Reality Lab, and Aks Creative Hub.
• SURF Lab (University of Cyprus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in East Med Consortium for NEBA South Hub. Provides expertise in urban innovation and research capabilities.
• KARMA Mixed Reality Lab (Koç University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in East Med Consortium contributing XR, speculative design, and participatory urban methods expertise.
• Aks Creative HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in East Med Consortium providing creative and innovation expertise for regional initiatives.
• EIT Community NEBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for EIT Community Ignite NEB Hackathon Cyprus bringing together innovators across Cyprus. Winners advance to Grow NEB incubation phase.
• KimitisikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Urban Innovators Academy and EIT Community Ignite NEB Hackathon, supporting sustainable mobility and urban innovation challenges.
• 50:50 StartupscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implemented 50:50 Startups Bootcamp combining venture-building with peacebuilding for Jewish and Palestinian entrepreneurs.
• US Embassy in NicosiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporter of Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Cyprus, a global U.S. Department of State initiative implemented in Cyprus.
• Digital Innovation Hub Cyprus (DiGiNN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizer of Agrifood Digital Transition & Sustainability Bootcamp with support from SocialTech Lab, addressing digital tools and sustainable practices for agrifood ecosystem.
• EIT Urban MobilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting Urban Innovators Academy bringing 40+ international students to co-create sustainable urban mobility solutions for Cyprus.
• KIOS Center of Excellence (University of Cyprus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinating EUSOME Horizon Europe project on Advanced Air Mobility. SocialTech Lab contributes expertise and stakeholder connections.
• IAAC (Spain)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder of New European Bauhaus Academy. Lead partner for NEBA South Hub establishing lifelong learning programmes in built environment sector.
• Cesefor (Spain)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of New European Bauhaus Academy contributing to NEBA South Hub for skills development in circular bio-based economy.
• Regione Liguria (Italy)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of New European Bauhaus Academy supporting NEBA South Hub regional activities across South Europe.
• URBANA (Greece)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerY-PLAN project partner hosting youth camp in Athens and providing expertise in youth engagement and participatory urban design.
• OPU Collective (Cyprus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerY-PLAN project partner contributing expertise in urban planning and community-led action in Cyprus.
• Mladi Ambasadori (Serbia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerY-PLAN project partner bringing youth engagement expertise from Serbia.
• Toestand (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerY-PLAN project partner contributing expertise from Belgium's innovation ecosystem.
• CAMPDEN BRI HungaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted EIT Food Country Representatives Meeting in Budapest alongside Pannon Pro Innovation Services.
• Pannon Pro Innovation ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of EIT Food Country Representatives Meeting in Budapest.
• Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network partner for intercultural dialogue and civil society cooperation.
• European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization for EIT Food, EIT Urban Mobility, and EIT Community NEB partnerships enabling broad innovation network access.
• Alliance for Inclusive EntrepreneurshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network partner supporting inclusive entrepreneurship across the continent.
• Cyprus National Rural NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network partner supporting rural innovation and development initiatives.
• Cyprus Ministry of Energy, Commerce and IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner that nominated SocialTech Lab for European Enterprise Promotion Award.
• New European Bauhaus PrizesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Impact Generator Hub selected as finalist (Cyprus' only finalist) in New European Bauhaus Prizes 2026 under Enablers for New European Bauhaus Transformation category.
• Tech2PeacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted PeaceTech Gathering bringing together Israelis, Palestinians, Greek Cypriots, and Turkish Cypriots for peacetech dialogue and collaboration.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Peace Direct: Organisation focused on locally-led peacebuilding, including through supporting peace entrepreneurs and innovators. Comparable in mission and in targeting grassroots peacebuilders in conflict-affected contexts, though with a different programme architecture.

Direct peers

• Tech2Peace: Co-organiser of the PeaceTech Gathering bringing together Israelis, Palestinians, Greek Cypriots, and Turkish Cypriots. Operates in the same peacetech category with shared target audience and methodology of cross-community tech/entrepreneurship encounters.
• 50:50 Startups: Active co-implementation partner of SocialTech Lab on the 50:50 Startups Bootcamp combining venture-building with peacebuilding for Jewish and Palestinian entrepreneurs. Direct operational peer with shared methodology and shared constituency of conflict-affected entrepreneurs.
• Endeavor: Global high-impact entrepreneurship support organisation selecting and mentoring founders, with peer networks, mentorship, and capital connections. Comparable in delivering accelerator-style support to high-potential entrepreneurs across emerging markets, including in fragile contexts.
• Impact Hub: Global network of impact-focused innovation hubs offering coworking, accelerator programmes, and community building for social entrepreneurs. Closest direct structural analog to The Base by CyprusInno, though Impact Hub operates a for-impact franchise model rather than a single peace-driven mission.
• Ashoka: Largest global network supporting leading social entrepreneurs through fellowships, mentorship, and convenings. Highly comparable in mission (empowering changemakers) and model (fellowship-style support, ecosystem building), though Ashoka is significantly larger and global.

Others

• EIT Food: Parent network of SocialTech Lab's EIT Food Country Representative role and a flagship funder/programme partner. Included as an enabling ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor; relevant for understanding SocialTech Lab's positioning within European innovation networks.

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Corps: Major international humanitarian and development organisation with extensive programming in conflict-affected regions, including economic recovery and youth entrepreneurship. Operates at much greater scale and is a potential partner, competitor for grants, or downstream implementer in shared geographies.
• Search for Common Ground: Largest dedicated international peacebuilding NGO, operating conflict-transformation programmes across dozens of countries. A broader incumbent in the same peacebuilding category that SocialTech Lab operates in, with substantially larger scale and a wider thematic remit beyond entrepreneurship.

Regional players

• Digital Innovation Hub Cyprus (DiGiNN): Active co-organiser of the Agrifood Digital Transition & Sustainability Bootcamp with SocialTech Lab. A regional peer operating in Cyprus's digital innovation ecosystem with shared audience of agrifood SMEs and overlapping programme themes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@socialtech-lab
• Facebookfacebook.com/socialtechlaborg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/socialtech-lab
• Instagraminstagram.com/socialtechlab/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SocialTech Lab