HT Labs, the innovation and product arm of HT Media, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Doers Company, known for organising Europe’s premier innovation events such as the Reflect Festival and the upcoming Doers Summit.

The intent for this partnership is to foster international startup growth and cross-border innovation.

The MoU was signed at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), under the aegis of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), and was attended by government officials, investors, and technology leaders from India, Cyprus, and the UAE.

This trilateral collaboration comes on the heels of heightened diplomatic activity, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Cyprus and a follow-up delegation led by Cyprus’ Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation & Digital Policy to Dubai.

The delegation featured innovation officials, including Cyprus’ chief scientist, as well as key investors from across Europe and the Middle East.

The partnership positions HT Labs to tap into The Doers Company’s established European ecosystem to fast-track the global journey of OTTplay, India’s first AI-powered OTT recommendation engine and aggregator.

Cyprus will serve as the gateway to European markets, while Dubai Silicon Oasis will be a testing ground for smart city and cross-border digital infrastructure initiatives.

The Cypriot government, through its Ministry of Research, Innovation & Digital Policy, has extended full support for the alliance, aiming to make Cyprus a strategic hub for Indian startups entering Europe.

The partnership reflects a shared vision for innovation-driven growth, capital mobility, and entrepreneurial exchange.

The MoU establishes a long-term framework for deal flow, talent mobility, and co-development of next-gen tech solutions. It marks a major milestone in HT Labs’ mission to take Indian innovation global and sets a collaborative tone for future ventures in media-tech and AI.

HT Labs, the innovation hub of HT Media, creates cutting-edge, AI-powered consumer products across entertainment, food, and finance. Its flagship offerings include OTTplay, which unifies over 30 OTT platforms under one intelligent subscription, and Slurrp, a recipe discovery platform, both recognised for reshaping digital user experiences.'

Demetris Skourides, chief scientist of research, innovation and technology, Republic of Cyprus, said, “I would like to thank Mr. Avinash for his trust in our ecosystem and look forward to further profiling how Cyprus and other investors can benefit from bidirectional value creation. Such collaborations are the foundational pillars that build the future.”

Badr Buhannad, deputy director general, Dubai Silicon Oasis, added, “Dubai Silicon Oasis was envisioned as a smart, future-ready hub for innovation, talent, and entrepreneurship. Hosting the Doers Summit in partnership with The Doers Company aligns perfectly with Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33 to position the city among the world’s leading digital and economic centres. The Summit reinforces our mission to attract forward-looking ventures and connect European and Middle Eastern innovators—accelerating cross-border collaboration in support of the UAE’s vision for digital economy growth and global competitiveness.”

Avinash Mudaliar, co-founder and CEO, HT Labs, said, “At HT Labs, this isn’t just an expansion—it’s a strategic leap into the future. Dubai Silicon Oasis offers the ideal launchpad to take India’s most disruptive, AI-driven innovations to the world. At the core of our work is TaaS—Technology-as-a-Service—delivering scalable, AI-powered solutions across video, apps, web, and content systems that boost engagement, unlock new revenue, and enable global growth. With our strong focus on intelligent, tech-first solutions, we see immense potential to co-create platforms that resonate globally. What truly elevates this journey is the camaraderie we've built, especially with visionaries like Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist of Cyprus. His insights and spirit of collaboration have made him not just a strategic ally but a trusted friend in our cross-border mission. With OTTplay leading our media-tech push, we’re excited to align with DSO’s smart city vision and deliver transformative experiences in entertainment and data intelligence. This marks a defining chapter in building globally relevant platforms from India.”

Dusan Duffek, co-founder, The Doers Company and managing partner, Zero One Hundred, said, “With a young, tech-savvy population and a booming innovation ecosystem, Indian startups such as OTTplay etc. offer some of the most exciting investment opportunities globally. Similarly, startups from Europe and the Middle East are now building some of the most consequential technologies, which will have an impact not only regionally but globally. We believe now is the time to build bridges, not borders, and connect this energy with global capital and strategic partners."

Stylianos Lambrou, co-founder and CEO, The Doers Company, added, “We see a significant opportunity in India. With our growing presence in Greece, Cyprus, and now Dubai, we’re uniquely positioned to bridge the gap, providing Indian startups & companies with access to Europe, and offering European startups and companies a pathway into India. The strong relationship between my country and India gives us a powerful advantage, enabling us to amplify our impact across both regions.”