Plug and Play Cyprus has unveiled its first cohort of 10 startups, following the launch of its activities on the island in April as Cyprus continues to build momentum as an emerging technology and innovation hub.

The Silicon Valley-based innovation platform said its first Plug and Play Cyprus cohort would bring together Sprouty, ModelRoom, Cleedee, BLEND.app, Digital Fox, EleniAI, EMBIO Diagnostics, Fewton, Neura Energy and QubeHub.

“It’s official. After officially kicking off our activities in April, we’re thrilled to share our first ever cohort, Plug and Play Cyprus, Batch 1,” the organisation said in an announcement.

The programme comes as Cyprus records its strongest recent performance in international startup rankings, with the country climbing to 34th place globally in the StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026.

Cyprus rose six places compared with the previous year, while its startup ecosystem recorded annual growth of 62.7 per cent and reached a total value of $4.2 billion, according to Plug and Play.

The organisation said Cyprus had recorded the highest annual rise among EU countries for the third consecutive year, while Limassol became the first Cypriot city to enter the global top 200 startup cities.

“It’s a momentum we’re proud to be part of,” Plug and Play said.

The first cohort forms part of a wider three-year initiative intended to strengthen Cyprus’ startup ecosystem, connect emerging companies with international markets and investment, and support the country’s broader technology strategy.

The programme is funded by the Republic of Cyprus, the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy and the Research and Innovation Foundation, with Asbis, ECOMMBX, Tototheo Global and Mastercard participating as corporate partners.

“Our programme will adapt to this momentum as we help drive the national Tech Island strategy forward,” Plug and Play said.

The initiative follows the official launch of the Plug and Play Cyprus Innovation Centre at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia in April, bringing the Silicon Valley-based platform to Cyprus as part of efforts to strengthen the island’s position as a regional hub for technology, investment and entrepreneurship.

Plug and Play operates across more than 60 locations worldwide, connecting startups with investors, corporations, universities and public-sector organisations.

The Cyprus centre is expected to run six incubation and acceleration programmes over three years, with each programme lasting three months and being hosted in Limassol.

The overall programme aims to support around 60 startups and contribute to the creation of more than 500 jobs through participating companies, while improving access to international markets, investment capital and specialist expertise.

The initiative also involves internationally active Cypriot companies, with Tototheo Global having joined the project as a corporate anchor at its launch.

Tototheo Global said in April that its participation would contribute expertise, strategic insight and international experience to an innovation platform intended to improve Cyprus’ access to global expertise, investment opportunities and international markets.

The broader programme was presented at the April launch by Plug and Play’s Alfredo Gomez and Research and Innovation Foundation director general Theodoros Loukaidis.

Loukaidis said the initiative was building on momentum that had developed within Cyprus’ startup ecosystem over the previous decade.

“I think it’s very important to mention that this ecosystem, if we go back about 10 years ago, there was very little we would have talked about,” Loukaidis said.

“But over the years it has gained significant momentum,” he added.

Plug and Play said the first 10 companies would now work closely with the programme over the coming months, with support focused on growth, connections and scaling.

“Over the next months, we’ll be working closely with each of these teams to help them grow, connect, and scale,” the organisation said.

The programme will also lead towards its first Expo, with Plug and Play saying it would provide further details about the programme, its partners and the companies involved as the initiative progresses.

“We couldn’t be prouder to help write the next chapter of that growth story starting with these 10 teams,” Plug and Play said.

The launch of the first cohort marks the first operational stage of a project that the government has presented as part of a wider effort to develop a more outward-looking, internationally connected technology ecosystem in Cyprus.