Made In Cyprus | Big biz stories from a tiny island

Hosted by Martin Zarian @Factory 39

Business Entrepreneurship

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Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

Made in Cyprus," the first English podcast that takes you behind the scenes of building a business and brand on this small but mighty island. Join us as we explore the big business stories from a tiny island, diving deep into the journeys of the people putting Cyprus on the global map. From the challenges to the triumphs, "Made in Cyprus" shines a light on the individuals putting Cyprus on the global map, embodying the spirit of "mitsi alla rotsi" — small but mighty! Brought to you by Factory 39, hosted by Martin Zarian.

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41 recent

August 5, 2026Episode 81 hr 2 min

Made in Cyprus | S3 E8 | The Leap of Faith with Eddy Nassar.

Made in Cyprus | S3 E8 | Trading 24 years of hospitality for Cyprus with Eddy Nassar. After 24 years climbing to the top of Cyprus's hospitality world, Eddy Nassar walked away to build something of his own.In this episode of Made in Cyprus, we sit down with Eddy Nassar, founder of MICA (Mediterranean Influencer Creator Association) and the voice behind The Cyprus Insider, to unpack the leap of faith that turned a 24-year Columbia career into a fast-growing creator platform. From growing up between Beirut and Limassol, to running entertainment at Columbia Plaza, to reaching Managing Director and realising that comfort had become the problem - Eddy shares the real triggers behind the pivot, including his mother's passing and the loneliness that set in the higher he climbed.We talk about why he refuses to be paid for his Cyprus content, why every trip abroad makes him fall back in love with the island, and how MICA grew from 5 creators to 120 members in a single year. And we dig into the harder conversations too - is Limassol becoming a city locals can no longer afford, is the government keeping pace with the growth, and can Cyprus really become the biggest creators hub in ten years? This is a conversation about ambition, authenticity, and finding the courage to leave the safe seat behind. Brought to you by Factory39 and Martin Zarian.

July 7, 2026Episode 742 min

Made in Cyprus | S3 E7 | Building Global Events from a Tiny Island with Lilly Pavlou

Everyone talks about networking. Lilly Pavlou thinks half the industry might not survive without the word. In this episode of Made in Cyprus, we sit down with Lilly Pavlou, Executive Director at QUBE Events, to unpack what it actually takes to run global events from a small island - beyond the conference stages and the sponsor decks. From last-minute cancellations and entire delegations failing to show, to the moment she realised events could be a serious global business, Lilly breaks down why running events today means being part business leader, part crisis manager. We talk about the difference between events that build real community and ones that are just expensive networking theatre, and why bigger isn't always better.We explore what it means to build a predominantly female team, whether the industry has become too commercialised, and what actually separates a good event from a great one. This is a conversation about events, but more importantly, about credibility, community, and building something worth people's time. Brought to you by Factory39 and Martin Zarian.

June 4, 2026Episode 654 min

Made in Cyprus | S3 E6 | Building the Cyprus Startup Ecosystem with Andreas Panayi

Cyprus wants to be an innovation hub. But are we building the foundation first?In this episode of Made in Cyprus, we sit down with Andreas Panayi, Co-Founder & CEO of Kinisis Ventures, to unpack the real state of the Cyprus startup ecosystem - beyond the LinkedIn theatre and the headlines.From fragmentation and isolated players to the gap between investors, founders and universities, Andreas breaks down what's actually holding the island back. We talk about why the biggest problem isn't funding, but coordination, mindset, and the missing infrastructure underneath it all.We explore what real startup infrastructure looks like, why collaboration and connection are the two pillars that matter most, and whether Cyprus needs to stop trying to do everything and finally specialise.This is a conversation about startups, but more importantly, about ambition, honesty, and building an ecosystem that actually lasts.Brought to you by Factory39 and Martin Zarian.

May 5, 202657 min

Made in Cyprus | S3 E5 | Reinventing Souvlaki: O Tatas with George & Christos Chimonides

Souvlaki in Cyprus isn’t just food. It’s identity. In this episode of Made in Cyprus, we sit down with the Chimonides brothers, founders of O Tatas, to unpack how they’re taking one of Cyprus’ most emotional foods and turning it into a scalable, modern business. From building Salt & Fire to launching multiple concepts across different segments, they share what it really takes to operate in one of the most saturated and opinionated markets on the island. We talk about why consistency is the real competitive edge, how pricing in food is often misunderstood, and why most restaurants fail not because of the food… but because of everything around it. We also dive into operations, hiring, branding, and the reality of running multiple concepts - from high-end dining to fast casual. This is a conversation about food, but more importantly, about systems, discipline, and building something that lasts. Brought to you by Factory39 and Martin Zarian.

April 7, 2026Episode 41 hr 5 min

Startups, Exits and the Experience Economy with Michael Economou

In this episode of Made in Cyprus, we sit down with Michael Economou, Founder of Exyde and co-founder of Foody, one of Cyprus’ most successful startup stories. From building At Your Service to scaling Foody and navigating a major exit, Michael shares what it really means to be a founder beyond the headlines.We talk about his journey from Foody to Exyde - a marketplace for authentic experiences, and why this new venture is driven by passion, not just problem-solving. We explore the mindset of entrepreneurs, the importance of choosing the right early customers, and why experiences are becoming more valuable than material things.Michael also shares insights on resilience, risk-taking, and why success is simply “a game” for those who love building. Brought to you by Factory39 and Martin Zarian.

March 3, 2026Episode 348 min

Inside Cyprus’ Delivery Food Game with Yiannis Hadjiconstantouras

Cyprus isn’t just eating more delivery, it’s outsourcing cooking. In this episode of Made in Cyprus, we sit down with Yiannis Hadjiconstantouras, a marketer-turned-serial food entrepreneur behind Marinato, Flipstreet, and Makai, to unpack what it really takes to win in the food business. An industry where margins are tight, competition is brutal, and “good food” is only the entry ticket. We talk about building multi-brand kitchens during COVID, why most new food concepts don’t survive past the first hype wave, and the four numbers Yiannis obsesses over daily (reviews, food cost, staff cost, sales). He also shares why service recovery is a brand superpower, why “ghost kitchens are history,” and what it will take to turn a Cyprus-born operation into a franchised chain. Brought to you by Factory39 and Martin Zarian.

February 3, 2026Episode 243 min

Despo Pavlou on Coming Out, Culture & Why Cyprus is Behind

It’s not on tv, it’s not on the radio, and it’s rarely on podcasts, but in reality, it’s everywhere. In this episode of Made in Cyprus, we sit down with Despo Pavlou for a conversation Cyprus still treats like a taboo: LGBTQ+ visibility, rights, and what it actually feels like to grow up believing you’re alone. Despo shares her journey from the Cyprus Diaspora in South Africa, to suppressing her identity for decades, to coming out, rebuilding, and turning trauma into a story that helps others feel seen. We talk family, faith, and why religion and politics should never decide who gets to love who. We also get into her book "My Kind of Normal", why representation matters, and what has to change in Cyprus - from policy, to culture, to the everyday way people speak about "normal". Brought to you by Factory39 and Martin Zarian.

January 6, 2026Episode 153 min

From Bolt to Piney: Nicolas Chrysostomou on Scaling Operations in Europe

Short-term rentals host new guests every day, but very few people understand the chaos behind getting each property ready, on time, every time. In this episode of Made in Cyprus, we speak with Nicolas Chrysostomou, founder of Piney, a company scaling across Europe by turning short-term rental operations into a tech-driven logistics engine. Nicolas shares the lessons from launching Bolt in Cyprus, surviving COVID when revenue hit zero overnight, and why building from Cyprus is powerful… but can’t be your only test. We get into why Piney isn’t just “a cleaning company,” how the team built the technology first, and what changes when you operate across Athens, Lisbon, Madrid, and Paris, where infrastructure and logistics rewrite the rules. Brought to you by Factory 39 and Martin Zarian.

December 2, 2025Episode 1644 min

Inside Cyprus’ Startup Scene with Panis Pieri

Cyprus’ startup ecosystem didn’t appear overnight, it was built slowly, event by event, founder by founder, and story by story. Few people have witnessed that journey as closely as Panis Pieri, one of the most familiar faces in the island’s innovation scene.In this episode of Made in Cyprus, we talk about how the ecosystem began, the impact of expat founders, the challenges early-stage startups face, and the need for stronger collaboration between cities. Panis also breaks down why mindset matters, how founders can think global from day one, and what the island must fix, from infrastructure to commercialising university research, to become a true launchpad for innovation.Whether you’re a founder, investor, or simply curious about Cyprus’ potential, this conversation offers a clear view of what the next decade could hold for the island’s startup scene.Brought to you by Factory39 and Martin Zarian.

November 4, 2025Episode 1550 min

Mike Charalambous on Threedium, Hyper-Personalisation and Scaling Globally.

In this new episode of Made In Cyprus, our guest flips the script on what a Cyprus-based company can do globally. Mike Charalambous, co-founder and CEO of Threedium, to explore how a company born in Limassol is now powering 3D commerce for brands like LVMH, BMW, and L’Oréal. Mike shares the story behind Threedium’s breakthrough technology, how it’s redefining online shopping through interactive 3D and hyper-personalised experiences, and why attention (not clicks) is the new currency for brands. We dive into the challenges of building from Cyprus, the realities of scaling globally, and how to navigate the ever-changing hype cycles of AI, blockchain and the metaverse while staying true to your vision. It’s a conversation about innovation, resilience and how to build something world-class from a small island with big ideas. Brought to you by Factory 39 and Martin Zarian.