Chrysalis LEAP helps entrepreneurs bring their ideas to market.
About us
Helping startups bridge the gap between idea and business
Since 2016 we have been a regional partner of EIT Climate-KIC, one of the three EIT Climate-KIC Cyprus Hub partners and the official organiser of EIT ClimateLaunchpad for Cyprus. Throughout the years we have also been partners in numerous EU funded Projects. Wearing all these hats, we undertake various initiatives to promote entrepreneurship and innovation.
Our Journey
2023
Chrysalis LEAP ran the 2023 ClimateLaunchpad competition in Cyprus for the 10th consecutive year. 9 teams were selected, and they received an intense business training, coaching and mentoring and pitched their ideas at the National Final, which this year was again held virtually. “Aquaxenolysis”, and “Auntie’s Home” got the ticket for the Regional Finals.
In 2023 Chrysalis LEAP became a partner in the MENA Maritime Accelerator and the DiGiNN project. The goal of the MENA Maritime Accelerator is to accelerate the green transformation of the maritime industry by supporting start-ups that will provide innovative solutions for the transition to Climate Neutrality and Resilience. DiGiNN is a one-stop-shop for all companies and public sector organisations, providing them an end-to-end experience in their digitisation journey. In addition to that, 2023 saw the completion of YENESIS, a 5 year project that addressed the challenge of unemployment for young people that are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) in islands.
2022
In 2022 Chrysalis LEAP ran the MED ClimAccelerator, for the 2nd consecutive year. The programme had a duration of 4-months and was implemented by EIT Climate-KIC Partners from Portugal, Cyprus and Malta. Chrysalis LEAP was in charge of the training the selected start-ups from the three countries, in all 3 stages of the Accelerator .Through the programme, they were equipped with the skills, tools and funding to perform their customer validation and were prepared for market launch and engaging potential investors.
Chrysalis LEAP ran the 2022 ClimateLaunchpad competition in Cyprus for the 9th year. In 2022 8 teams were selected and they received an intense business training, coaching and mentoring and pitched their ideas at the National Final, which this year was again held virtually. “eLectra”, “ Parktical”, and “Green Basics” got the ticket for the Regional Finals.
2021
In 2021 Chrysalis LEAP ran two Accelerator Programmes for the first time. First was the MED ClimAccelerator, which is a continuation of the EIT RIS Climate-KIC Accelerator Programme. The programme had a duration of 4-months and was implemented by EIT Climate-KIC Partners from Portugal, Cyprus and Malta. Chrysalis LEAP was in charge of the training of all 25 selected start-ups from the three countries, in all 3 stages of the Accelerator.The selected start-ups from Cyprus were: “Plastic Free Company”, “This is Presenta”, “Soferis Technologies”, “Euro CY”, “EXVE”, “Eletoyia” and “Gold Verdeera”. Through the programme, they were equipped with the skills, tools and funding to perform their customer validation and were prepared for market launch and engaging potential investors.
Additionally, Chrysalis LEAP has also been a partner in the the Maritime ClimAccelerartor since 2021. The Maritime ClimAccelerator, supported by EIT Climate-KIC, through its vast network of collaborators, is a spin-off of the business accelerator program of EIT Climate-KIC, and focuses on innovative solutions for the transition to sustainability of the maritime industry.
Chrysalis LEAP ran the 2021 ClimateLaunchpad competition in Cyprus for the 8th year. 2021 was different in many aspects, requiring us once again to adapt to the new environment of virtual Bootcamps, follow-up coaching sessions and eventually a virtual Grand Final! The 8 selected teams received intense business training, coaching and mentoring, and pitched their ideas at the National Final, which this year was also held virtually. “EVAppKit”, “E-bike for work”, and “CiPen” got the ticket for the Regional Finals, while “EVAppKit” made its way to the Global Finals!
2020
Chrysalis LEAP ran the 2020 ClimateLaunchpad competition in Cyprus. 2020 was different in many aspects, requiring us once again to adapt to the new environment of virtual Bootcamps and eventually a virtual Grand Final! The 11 selected teams received intense business training, coaching and mentoring, and pitched their ideas at the National Final, which this year was also held virtually. “Qonductive”, “WIND-E”, and “Motivw” got the ticket for the Regional Finals, while “WIND-E” made its way to the Global Finals!
Chrysalis LEAP ran a 6-month Climate-KIC EIT RIS Accelerator Programme for Stage 2 and Stage 3 startups in 2020. The selected 4 startups, ESAV-PRO, Fornelia, Mighty Kitchen and Ag Catalyst were equipped with the skills, tools and funding to perform their customer validation and were prepared for market launch and investors.
2019
Chrysalis LEAP once more ran the 2019 ClimateLaunchpad competition in Cyprus. The 11 selected teams received intense business training, coaching and mentoring, and pitched their ideas at the National Final. Ag catalyst, Terralithia and Pulse were the finalists from Cyprus that got a ticket to the Grand Final in Amsterdam.
Chrysalis LEAP ran a 6-month Climate-KIC EIT RIS Accelerator Programme for Stage 2 and Stage 3 startups again in 2019. The selected 4 startups, Econest, H2 Energy Systems, Mighty Kitchen and Innovopolis were equipped with the skills, tools and funding to perform their customer validation and were prepared for market launch and investors.
2018
In 2018 Chrysalis LEAP yet again ran a 6-month Climate-KIC EIT RIS Accelerator Programme for Stage 2 and Stage 3 startups. We drove the chosen startups with the skills, tools and funding to perform their customer validation and prepared them for market launch and investors.
Chrysalis LEAP ran the 2018 ClimateLaunchpad competition in Greece & Cyprus. Selected teams received intense business training, coaching and mentoring, and pitched their ideas at the National Final. 3 motivated startups from each country earned their ticket to pitch at the Global Grand Final in Scotland. Fiji, HomeShield, Meraki People, O-Straws and Power Forecast were the finalists from Greece and Cyprus.
2017
Stage 3 of Climate-KIC EIT RIS Accelerator Programme ran in the in the second half of the year for teams who
had already completed Stage 2. It was an intense and funded programme designed to get these
startups ready for investors.
Chrysalis LEAP had the honour of organising and hosting the ClimateLaunchpad 2017 Global
Grand Final-the largest gathering of green ideas in the world! We are very proud of
achieving this as it signifies for us a huge leap in transforming Cyprus into an
entrepreneurship destination.
Chrysalis LEAP runs, for the 4th consecutive year, the ever-evolving ClimateLaunchpad
competition in Greece and Cyprus with 35+ countries participating . Chrysalis LEAP trained
and coached the participating teams and got them good and ready to go for the Grand Final.
This year our top 6 teams did not have to travel far as the Global Grand Final was hosted by
us in Limassol, Cyprus.
2016
Chrysalis LEAP runs Stage 2 of the Climate-KIC EIT RIS Accelerator Programme for the first time, with great results for our startups, who received funding to work on their ideas, travelled for training, attending exhibitions and talking to potential customers and significantly improved their business models and strengthened their value propositions.
2016 was a turning point for Chrysalis LEAP. We had managed to become a Climate-KIC Regional Partner and a RIS (Regional Innovation Scheme) for EIT (European Institute of Innovation & Technology). These giant leaps helped put us on a new path of having the muscle to launch innovation and entrepreneurship programmes freely and without obstacles.
ClimateLaunchpad for Cyprus and Greece became even stronger this year with more countries participating. We took our top 6 teams to the EU Finals in Estonia where one of our teams from Cyprus and one from Greece were in the top 10. Great success!
2015
Chrysalis LEAP runs ClimateLaunchpad for Cyprus and Greece separately, giving more opportunity for startups to qualify and participate. We took our top 3 teams from Cyprus and our top 3 from Greece to the EU Finals in Amsterdam. During the competition, a short documentary was created about our startups and their journey to the EU Final, definitely worth watching!
2014
Our success from 2013, got us in the radar of EIT Climate-KIC. In 2014, we were certified to run the CleanLaunchpad competition, as it was then called (Europe's largest cleantech business ideas competition), for Cyprus and Greece together. We took our top 3 teams to the EU Finals in Valencia to compete against all other countries - an amazing lifetime experience for them.
2013
Chrysalis LEAP runs its first accelerator programme, with 25+start-ups from Cyprus, UK, and Turkey participating. The programme ended with a successful Demo Day, where 5 startups pitched their ideas to an audience of peers, industry experts, and investors. Chrysalis LEAP had been ignited!
2012
Chrysalis LEAP was created in 2012, amidst a time of uncertainty and confusion about current world events. Our founder dreamed of a better place for his children to grow up in. And this was exactly the dream that drove him to find the rest of us, build the team, and spur us all into action.