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Cyprus-based MammoCheck Wins Top Honour At NBG Business Seeds Competition

Cyprus-based medical technology startup MammoCheck has won first place at the 16th NBG Business Seeds Innovation and Technology Competition, emerging as the overall winner from 344 entries submitted from Greece, Cyprus and other countries.

The annual competition, organised by the National Bank of Greece, announced the results during an awards ceremony in Athens. MammoCheck received the competition’s top distinction along with a €20,000 cash prize.

Founded in 2024 as a spin-out from Frederick University, MammoCheck is developing an artificial intelligence-powered Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) platform designed to support breast cancer screening. The solution combines a smartphone application with low-cost thermal cameras to provide an adjunctive screening tool powered by AI.

The company says its technology aims to address a significant gap in breast cancer screening, with hundreds of millions of women worldwide lacking regular access to mammography, including many women under the age of 45 who are not covered by most national screening programmes.

“We are honoured to receive first place among 344 entries from Greece, Cyprus and abroad. This recognition reflects the dedication of our team, our clinical partners and the women who inspire our work every day,”

said Alexandra Dimitriadou, co-founder and CEO of MammoCheck.

MammoCheck is currently conducting a clinical trial across multiple hospital sites as it advances toward FDA 510(k) clearance in the United States and CE marking under the European Union’s Medical Device Regulation (MDR).

The latest award marks another milestone for Cyprus’ growing health technology ecosystem, highlighting the increasing international visibility of locally developed medical innovations.

Shein Targets $25 Billion Valuation In Hong Kong IPO As Growth Slows

Shein is reportedly targeting a valuation of around $25 billion in its planned Hong Kong IPO, a sharp decline from the nearly $100 billion valuation the online fashion retailer achieved in a 2022 fundraising round.

Two people familiar with the plans said the company was likely to target about $25 billion, while another source put the expected range at $25 billion to $28 billion based on the proposed price band.

IPO Valuation Falls Sharply

Shein plans to sell up to 8% of its shares in the offering, according to a person familiar with the plans. At a $25 billion valuation, that would translate into an IPO of as much as $2 billion.

The latest target is also below the $30 billion to $40 billion valuation the company was seeking earlier this month as it began meeting with potential investors.

Founded in China in 2012 and now headquartered in Singapore, Shein sells low-cost clothing to consumers in about 160 countries. The company is expected to launch its long-awaited Hong Kong IPO later this week.

Trade Restrictions Weigh On Growth

Shein’s valuation has come under pressure as major markets tighten rules affecting low-cost e-commerce shipments. The European Union, for example, has moved to impose additional fees on cheap parcels from platforms such as Shein and Temu. EU Tightens Rules On Low-Cost E-Commerce Parcels

In the U.S., the removal of an import duty exemption for small packages has also affected the company. Shein reported a $99 million quarterly loss in the first quarter of 2026 as sales growth slowed, while a one-time accounting charge further weighed on its results. Shein Reports First-Quarter Loss Ahead Of IPO

Investors Question Shein’s Growth Prospects

The steep reduction in valuation reflects growing concerns over slower growth, higher trade costs, regulatory pressure and stronger competition across global e-commerce.

Some investors who reviewed Shein’s recent financial statements or attended IPO presentations told Reuters they were skeptical that the company could return to the growth rates that supported its $98.2 billion valuation in 2022. Shein’s Slowing Growth Tests Investor Appetite

A lower IPO valuation could also affect Shein’s existing investors. Under the terms of its IPO filing, the company may have to issue additional shares to certain pre-IPO investors if its valuation falls below agreed thresholds.

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