In an age influenced by algorithms and instant validation, it’s easy for substance to get lost in the scroll. Social media rewards speed over quality, likes over listening, and yet, the hunger for meaningful connection hasn’t gone away.
Launched in 2024, TEDxEleftheriaSquare is proof of that. In the heart of Nicosia, a city built and rebuilt by ongoing conversations and contradictions, the event has already established itself as a space where ideas sit with intention, and where people who don’t usually meet, finally do.
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In this interview with The Future Media, co-organizer Artem Rodichev shares how the TEDxEleftheriaSquare team built the platform from scratch, what it means to create a truly independent space for ideas, and why Eleftheria Square might be one of the most meaningful places for conversation today.
Before we discuss TEDx, can you tell us a little about your background and the journey that shaped you into someone who wanted to create a platform for new ideas?
I’ve been obsessed with technology my entire life. As a student, I’d often skip sleep and meals just to crack a tricky algorithm. Not out of obligation, but because I couldn’t stop until I figured it out. That moment when everything finally clicks into place is addictive. It feels like unlocking a new layer of reality.
If you go back fifteen years, professional conferences tended to be predictable and stale. Sponsor-driven keynotes in hotel ballrooms, scripted panels, and networking built around coffee breaks. People often showed up more for the social rituals than for the content itself.
That changed for me in 2013, when I attended my first TEDx event in Moscow. The atmosphere was completely different. Everyone came with an intention. Speakers had crafted their talks with precision and purpose. The audience came to invest their time in ideas, in diverse perspectives and personal stories, ready to agree, question, or debate. In that moment, it became clear to me: meaning creates value. It wasn’t just about presenting ideas. It was about shaping an experience people could connect to and carry with them.
For readers who don’t know, what exactly is TEDxEleftheriaSquare, and what makes it different from other TEDx events around the world?
TEDxEleftheriaSquare is part of the global TEDx network — independently organized events licensed by TED. TEDxEleftheriaSquare holds the highest license level currently active in Cyprus (Level 3 out of 4), which reflects TED’s confidence in our team. It also gives us greater flexibility in formats, the ability to host large live audiences, and more. These are important, but ultimately structural aspects.
The real answer to “what exactly is TEDxEleftheriaSquare” lies in its purpose and mission. The word that resonated most in our team conversations was “bridges”.
Bridges are not just a metaphor. Cyprus is home to people of different generations, backgrounds, nationalities, interests, and ways of thinking. And yet, even when we live side by side, our paths rarely cross. TEDxEleftheriaSquare was created as a space where those paths could meet. Not just between disciplines, but between perspectives. Between people who might never otherwise be in the same room. At the intersection of cultures and rhythms, we try to hold space for something else: moments of recognition, curiosity, and the beginning of conversations.
Why Eleftheria Square?
TEDx events are traditionally named after a specific local place. The largest possible name is usually the city itself — like TEDxNicosia or TEDxLimassol. But for our team, it felt important to choose a name that reflects not just geography, but the values we care about: freedom, connection, and the power to bring people together. That’s why we chose the name Eleftheria Square.
Eleftheria means “freedom” in Greek, and the square is more than a place to pass through — it’s a symbol of unity. Today, it’s a striking piece of contemporary architecture designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, with Christos Passas, Director at ZHA, leading the project. He spent more than 10 years of his life building Eleftheria Square. He was the speaker at our event in 2024 and shared his story with the audience.
But the meaning of the square goes beyond architecture. Historically, it connects the old town of Nicosia, the part within the Venetian walls, with the newer, modern part of the city. It sits at the intersection of several major roads and public spaces in the heart of the capital. All of that brings us back to the idea of connection — the idea of bridges.
Not every event takes place directly on the square, but we do try to stay close, physically and symbolically. Eleftheria Square has become the physical expression of a mission we believe in: to connect communities.
How did the very first edition of TEDxEleftheriaSquare come together? What were the biggest hurdles in getting permission, organizing logistics, and securing speakers?
Launching TEDxEleftheriaSquare was not easy. It wasn’t just about organizing an event, but about creating something meaningful from scratch. No visibility, no set path, just a clear sense of direction.
Everything shifts when someone believes in you. For us, that first leap came from 33East, a Cypriot venture fund that was the first to support us – it was a signal that bridges could be built.
We gathered 60 guests for TEDxES Live in April 2024. It wasn’t about numbers, but the energy in the room. People stayed, debated, asked questions, and shared stories. That evening made one thing clear: curiosity still brings people together. It gave us the momentum to go further. Six months later, we held our first full-scale TEDx in Eleftheria Square.
Who are the people behind TEDxEleftheriaSquare? How did you find them, and what kind of culture did you want to create behind the scenes?
If there’s one question that gets to the heart of TEDx, it’s this one. TEDx has always been about people. Over ten years in the TEDx program, I’ve had the chance to work with people I might have never met otherwise. Teammates, speakers, partners, guests – each brought depth, perspective, and a kind of clarity you don’t easily forget. It’s still one of the most valuable things TEDx has given me.
One thing I’ve learned is that you can’t build TEDx alone. You need a partner – a true partner, an equal partner. Someone who carries the vision with you and challenges it when it matters. For me, that person is Kate Solovyeva, co-head of TEDxEleftheriaSquare. We come from different backgrounds — professionally, personally, and in how we approach challenges. That difference gives us perspective. The bridge we built between each other has become one of the strongest parts of our foundation.
And that spirit extends to the team. TEDxEleftheriaSquare is built by people from different countries, backgrounds, and disciplines. Right now, our team includes people from Argentina to Italy and beyond. Some join for a project, others stay longer, but what brings them together is not time, but a shared curiosity and a drive to make a real impact.
I believe teams like ours grow through trust and the freedom to shape something of their own. It’s not about assigning tasks but about creating space where people can take initiative and stand behind their ideas. Some of our most memorable decisions came from people who were willing to take thoughtful risks. Not because they had to. Because they believed it was worth it.
Why was it crucial for you to keep TEDxEleftheriaSquare as a non-profit? What challenges have you faced because of that?
TEDx is non-profit by definition. This is how TED structures this license, and it’s how this beautiful international community is organized. The challenge was building a local version of that model from scratch.
And at the same time, it felt like the only way to do it right. It means separating the financial side from what happens on stage. Partners don’t influence the lineup. There’s no such thing as a paid speaker. That clarity sets a very different standard from commercial events. It also pushes us to be uncompromising in how we prepare.
We’re already very fortunate to have partners that are impact-driven. We’ve managed to build a thoughtful circle of supporters. Now, we’re continuing to build bridges with those who believe that growing a business can go hand in hand with strengthening the community around it and that investing in people and ideas is not a cost but a contribution.
How do you sustain the event year after year: communication and marketing, sponsorship, partnership, and volunteers? What’s the business model of survival without selling out?
The TEDx program was launched 15 years ago and has since grown into a global network that generates more conversations and ideas than the main TED stage. That alone is proof that the model works and that it’s built for the long term.
At this stage, the sustainability of TEDxEleftheriaSquare relies on two things: shared values and shared commitment. Our partners support us because they believe in the audience we bring together – thoughtful, curious, and open to dialogue. That alignment matters more than visibility.
Another foundation is our community. People don’t just attend. They buy tickets, they tell others, they come back because the experience means something to them. That support helps us not only continue but grow without losing what matters most.
We’ve also started thinking more broadly. Some ideas don’t need a stage, but they still deserve a space.
How many people have attended your events so far? Are there any particular talks or moments that created a lasting impact in the community?
Since 2014, more than 6,000 people have attended our events in person. Over 300,000 have joined via live stream. TEDx talks from our stages have reached more than 20 million views online. But numbers only tell part of the story. What stays with us are the moments when an idea shifts something: quietly, but deeply.
One such moment came during a talk by Nyuta Federmesser, who leads hospice care initiatives in Russia. She spoke about what people think about before they die. This is a subject few are willing to face. Her talk offered not just knowledge, but presence. It helped many, including myself, see death not as a void, but as a space for honesty, care, even peace. That talk now has over 5 million views. And for those who heard it, the impact wasn’t just emotional. It changed how they relate to their loved ones. That’s the kind of change we hope for.
How has the local community responded to TEDxEleftheriaSquare? Has it received any international attention or collaboration because of it?
The local response has been open, thoughtful, and warm. We’ve seen growing interest in participating, contributing, and shaping what TEDxEleftheriaSquare can become. There’s a striking variety of local stories, challenges, and perspectives here, and many of them deserve to be heard beyond the island.
We’re also grateful for the attention and openness shown by local institutions. Their interest in intellectual and cultural initiatives creates space for dialogue and collaboration, and we’re encouraged by their receptiveness to independent formats like TEDx.
At the same time, there’s growing curiosity around formats that stretch beyond Cyprus. One such example is TEDxWeekend, a global gathering of TEDx organizers. These are people who bring both professional excellence and a genuine dedication to impact. We’ve seen real interest in creating opportunities for international exchange here, introducing the island as a place not only of history and beauty, but of thoughtful conversation.
What is your vision for TEDxEleftheriaSquare over the next five years?
We want TEDxEleftheriaSquare to become a place where curious minds from many countries choose to meet. Not just for a one-day event but as part of an ongoing dialogue that keeps evolving.
Cyprus holds a unique position geographically, culturally, and emotionally. Many of us in the team came here recently, bringing with us a web of lived experiences and connections from different parts of the world. That diversity is not abstract. It’s real and personal. And when we bring those voices together with intention, something meaningful happens.
As TEDxEleftheriaSquare grows, it is becoming a point of gravity – a space where ideas, people, and perspectives converge. Alongside those who care about long-term impact, a shared interest is already leading to new questions about what else could be built around TEDxEleftheriaSquare, and how ideas might grow beyond the stage. Whether through collaborations, initiatives, or ventures, we’re curious about what this could become, not instead of the stage, but alongside it.
