Community, Networking and Resilience at the forefront of transforming ideas into reality

Last week I attended the Doers Summit in Athens – an event bringing together a community that transforms ideas into reality. And it was by no means just another startup event; it was a space where the importance of community, networking, resilience and daring to get this done were at the forefront.

In the fascinating world of startups, one can often get caught up in the idea of doing everything on one’s own. But as many founders shared their own journey, it became clear that successful startups seldom succeed in isolation. And let me be clear: networking isn’t merely about exchanging contact details or making connections that could benefit you short term – it’s about investing in lasting relationships that can evolve into impactful collaborations, and even lifelong friendships.

Many of the speakers were serial entrepreneurs who had failed before reaching success. Their emphasis on vulnerability stood out to me the most. They openly shared their toughest moments. The moments they had failed fast but learned and ultimately got back up to go at it again. They turned their failures into fuel, driving them toward success. This vulnerability in discussing failure created a more human connection. It helped the people in the room understand that failure is by no means the end – it is an opportunity to learn, pivot, and try again with more wisdom and grit.

While the fear of failure can paralyze most people, the Doers Summit encouraged a mindset shift: embrace uncertainty, lean into it, and have faith that the skills and community support you gain along the way will lead you to success. Indeed, perhaps one of the most impactful aspects of the conference was the sense of community it fostered.

It was more than just people talking about making money or scaling their company; it was about creating a network of people who get amazing things done, disrupt the status quo and dare to innovate time and again.

The Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation was of course there! We proudly supported the participation of nearly 20 startups and innovative enterprises. We also took the opportunity to highlight the various funding paths available through our startup grants, blended finance schemes and zero cost support services. I had the privilege of sharing the stage with incredible co-panelists Niloufar Gharavi Myrto Papathanou Thaleia Misailidou Niloufar Gharavi Ar?n ?zkula delving into the diverse funding paths that startups can explore to fuel their growth.

As discussed, reaching out to investors at the right time and seizing the opportunity to showcase your startup can be a game-changer in unlocking new avenues for reaching a company’s growth potential. It is by no means an easy task, but nevertheless a necessary step toward turning ideas into reality.

And that’s where RIF’s new funding scheme comes in. It covers travel costs for meetings with investors abroad, removing financial barriers and making this critical step just a bit easier for startups. It is a simple and easy to navigate funding tool, that ensures that you can focus more on making meaningful connections and less on the logistics. Another testament to the fact that we, too, are doers.

We’re fuelled by a drive to keep moving things forward, offering the support – big or small – local businesses need at every turn. We overcome challenges, pushing ahead with unwavering determination. After all, those challenges are there to make the journey that much more exciting.

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. – Walt Disney.