Ugne Buraciene: “Thirteen years ago, I got a call to visit Cyprus, I came — and I never left”
Ugne Buraciene, Group CEO of payabl., brought nearly two decades of experience in banking and payments to INSPIRE 2025, where she joined ‘The Global Entrepreneur Stage panel Breaking Borders: International Entrepreneurs Transforming Cyprus’.
“I ended up in Cyprus by accident,” she admitted. “Thirteen years ago, I got a call to visit, I came — and I never left. That’s the real story, and I’m proud to say I’ve called it home for some time now.”
Over the past six years, Buraciene has overseen payabl.’s transformation from a team of 20 into an international fintech with Cyprus as one of its headquarters. “Cyprus, in general, has seen significant growth in the ICT sector. It’s small, which is actually an advantage — you can reach the right authorities and make things happen in an approachable way.”
On challenges, she was pragmatic: “Wherever you are, bringing a product to market and getting clients will always be difficult. But we found strong talent here, and being in Cyprus was never an obstacle. Challenges are part of growth — they make you stronger.”
Looking ahead, Buraciene sees no ceiling for the island’s tech ecosystem. “There are so many driven individuals here, pushing the sector forward. ICT is now the largest contributor to GDP, and with the right vision across organisations and government, the sky is the limit.”
Her advice to young professionals: “Be curious about what’s out there. Work hard, realise your potential, and whatever you do — do it wholeheartedly.”
The discussion was moderated by Demetris Sparsis, Board Member, Invest Cyprus.