Hello! This is Sergei, editor of Startupt.co. First of all we are honored to celebrate a significant milestone: the 10th anniversary of Startup Braga, a cornerstone of Portugal's entrepreneurial landscape. This anniversary marks a decade of remarkable growth and showcases the immense potential within our country's startup ecosystem. As of today, we reflect on this journey and the vibrant community that has flourished.

In this edition, we offer an in-depth exploration of the latest developments, achievements, challenges, and emerging trends shaping our dynamic entrepreneurial community. Here’s a snapshot of what's inside:

• Recent Funding Highlights: Startups like Gresys Hub and Checkfirst have successfully raised capital, with Gresys Hub securing €156k in the edtech sector and Checkfirst attracting $1.5m for business development and management innovations.
• Event Spotlight: The SIM Conference, orchestrated by Startup Portugal, brought together over 2,000 participants, including 400 startups and 150 investors, fostering significant networking and innovation opportunities.
• Innovative Milestones: We highlight groundbreaking initiatives such as Havelar’s 3D-printed home in Porto and MoneyDog’s new app promoting financial literacy among children.
• Insights and Opportunities: Featuring contributions from industry experts, including reflections on the SIM Conference and new investment opportunities in the agrifood sector.

Now — let's go deep.

MESSAGE FROM PARTNER:

Mauricio Bueno

We are launching our new vertical of short interviews with founders about their life, expertise and the path. And the first guest — Mauricio Bueno, co-founder of Bud and Weme: "The most difficult thing was to learn how to work with other people, who are obviously not think the same way as you".
Read more on our website.

#SIMConf

SIM Conference sparks innovation: A hub for networking and entrepreneurial growth

Image credits: Startup Portugal

SIM Conference – Startups & Investment Matching, orchestrated by Startup Portugal, successfully convened over 2,000 participants, including 400 startups—200 of which took the opportunity to exhibit. The event also drew 150 investors, 100 speakers, and 20 incubators, marking a significant international turnout.

This initiative organized by Startup Portugal aimed to knit together a diverse fabric of national and international entrepreneurs, startups, and investors. Notably, more than 20 startups from the University of Porto participated, showcasing the budding innovation within Portugal's academic sectors.

Participants at the conference shared their invaluable insights, underscoring the event's impact. Venture investor Igor Ryabenkiy reflected on the networking opportunities, stating, "The biggest impact for me personally from the SIM Conference was the opportunity to network and connect with industry professionals, gaining insights and perspectives that I wouldn't have access to otherwise." Similarly, another participant — Tocha Serra , early-stage investor, highlighted the refreshing nature of the event: "See what's new in the Portuguese ecosystem, reconnect and support those who continue to develop projects and meet those who are creating new ideas."

Diogo Alves de Oliveira appreciated the chance to "connect with fellow entrepreneurs from the ecosystem and get the chance to build rapport with them," emphasizing the collaborative atmosphere fostered at the conference.

The event not only served as a networking hub but also as a beacon for future engagements, setting a high bar for subsequent editions. Rui Gouveia, CEO of Build Up Labs, captured the event’s essence: "It was great to (re)connect with so many different players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in a very friendly and open environment. Great first edition, high expectations for future ones." And Ivanoel Rodrigues (Granter.ai and CEO Hortee), also pointed the value of engagement: "The biggest value was the community engagement. It was very promising to be connected with peers from the ecosystem to whom I was already connected and some new acquaintances. This will lead to new business opportunities and ventures, definitely. "

Overall, the SIM Conference has established itself as a cornerstone for fostering entrepreneurial spirit and innovation, promising even more fruitful interactions in the years to come.

Portuguese innovation on the rise: from biotech hubs and 3D-printed homes to AI in health and new financial literacy tools

◉ Valvian, a new Portuguese company founded by Nuno Prego Ramos, aims to transform Portugal into a global center of excellence in biotechnology and a hub for health innovation and development. The startup, created with capital from the sale of CellmAbs to BioNTech, will focus on developing pre-clinical therapies and new technology for discovering and developing new therapeutic targets using artificial intelligence. (Business IT 🇵🇹)

◉ The Portuguese startup Havelar completed the country's first 3D-printed home in Porto, demonstrating the potential for affordable and rapid construction using robotic 3D printing technology. (Business Indsider)

◉ sheerME introduced the sheerMAP feature, an interactive map that helps users easily find nearby spaces such as spas, beauty salons, and personal trainers. (sheerME 🇵🇹)

◉ The Portuguese startup Bridge In, which assists international companies in expanding their business to Portugal, announced its expansion into Spain as its first international market. (O Jornal De Economica 🇵🇹)

◉ MoneyDog, co-founded by Lewis Cross and André Ramos, is a new app and card system dedicated to fostering financial literacy among children through a gamified experience. Now it is available on Apple Store and Play Store. (MoneyDog)

◉ AskCory.ai launched a new Teams & Workspaces feature to facilitate collaboration, organization, and project management for marketing professionals. (AskCori)

◉ Enline Energy Solutions, a scaleup from Unicorn Factory Lisboa, won the ABB Startup Distribution Solutions Challenge, marking the beginning of a collaboration with ABB to develop cutting-edge technology for distribution grid monitoring systems. (Unicorn Factory Lisboa)

◉ Sticky has emerged as the winner of PayTech On-the-Go, the acceleration program for startups with payment and mobility solutions in tourism by NEST Centro de Inovação do Turismo & Mastercard. The sticker-based payment software, which reduces the consumer experience to less than 10 seconds, claimed victory after an intense seven-week journey involving bootcamps, masterclasses, networking, and deep dives into the challenges and opportunities of the sector, ensuring the solutions were market-ready. The startup was awarded €10,000 and direct access to the six-month incubation program Startup Lisboa to further develop its solution. (Unicorn Factory Lisboa)

Insights from StartUp Portugal, gaming innovations from Madeira, in Óbidos and new agrifood investment opportunities

◉ In a podcast episode, Patrícia Roque from StartUp Portugal clarified what constitutes a startup and why not all companies are considered startups. She also discussed what makes a company attractive for investor funding and how to venture into entrepreneurship even without being an entrepreneur. (Manual de Boas Ideias)

◉ Unicorn Factory Lisboa offered a program module on combating the S-curve phenomenon and flattening growth, led by Patrick Flesner. (Unicorn Factory Lisboa)

◉ Startup Madeira participated in a gaming event in Óbidos, reflecting on the video game market, creative industries, and the work developed in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. (Startup Madeira)

◉ COREangels Food, YAngel, and EIT Food organized the Agrifood Investment Launchpad to connect investors with opportunities in the agrifood sector and introduce the new COREangels Food fund. (COREangels Food)

◉ Startup Braga presented the first episode of "10 X Forward," featuring the heads of Primavera (Cegid Primavera) and Nutrium, two software companies based in Braga with a shared history. (Startup Braga)

Portugal's economic landscape: from low public investment to high tech innovation and entrepreneurial success stories

◉ A report by ECO revealed that in 2023, public investment in Portugal totaled around 6.7 billion euros, equivalent to 2.5% of GDP, one of the lowest levels among European Union countries. Over the past decade, Portugal has consistently ranked among the countries with the lowest levels of public investment within the European framework. (The Portugal News)

◉ According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), the Portuguese economy grew 1.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024 and 0.7% compared to the last quarter of 2023, ranking fourth among Eurozone countries. (INE 🇵🇹)

◉ The Porto Leading Investors program generated a significant economic impact in 2022, contributing €2,073 million to national production and €1,166 million to Gross Value Added (GVA). These companies provided over 25,000 jobs and are expected to grow by 14% annually until 2026. Between 2019 and 2022, they invested €222 million in Porto and generated €2,301 million in production. (Portugal Global)

◉ The first episode of the "É de Propósito (It's on Purpose)" podcast featured Carlos Goncalves from Casa Mendes Gonçalves, discussing his life story, purpose, and how to achieve goals with colleagues. (É de Propósito)

◉ aicep Portugal Global will be present at The Next Web Conference to promote the Portuguese ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship, highlighting the country's capabilities and attractiveness as an investment destination for international companies in this area. (aicep Portugal Global)

◉ In a Bitalk, Bernardo Almada-Lobo, Co-Founder of LTPlabs, discussed whether Homo sapiens is on the brink of extinction, the concept of Homo Sapiensartificius, the impact of artificial intelligence, and its applications in various industries. (Bitalk - Negócios à Portuguesa 🇵🇹)

◉ KPMG Portugal launched the fourth edition of its "KPMG Private Enterprise Tech Innovator in Portugal" competition, aiming to highlight and award the most promising technological innovation startup in the national market. The winner will have the opportunity to present its products/services globally and compete in the "Global Tech Innovator 2024" competition during Web Summit. (Executive Digest 🇵🇹)

📝 Cintia Mano shared insights on analyzing startup pitches, focusing on market size, competitors, and traction slides, to help evaluate a startup's potential, competitive landscape, and progress. (Cintia Mano)

⏩ What else? In brief

• Navigating media relations: some key strategies to pitch your funding announcement effectively. (EU-Startups)
• Join industry leaders at the Tech.eu Summit London 2024 on May 16-17 in London. This year’s theme, "Shaping Tomorrow’s Tech Today," promises innovative collaborations and networking opportunities to shape the future of technology. (Tech.eu)
• Freepik acquires Spanish AI image upscaler Magnific, advancing its AI goals and international growth. (Tech.eu)
• Exploring Europe's next potential fintech unicorns: Four have emerged this year, with more on the horizon. (Sifted)
• Samsung Medison, Samsung Electronics' medical device division specializing in diagnostic imaging devices, announced plans on Wednesday to acquire Paris-based startup Sonio, which develops AI-powered software for ultrasound workflows, for approximately $92.7 million (KRW 126 billion). (TechCrunch)

🛠️ Useful Tools For Startups

• 6 books that can help in growing: Henrique Cruz (head of growth in Rows.com) shared 6 books that influenced him most.
• Tax Incentive System for Research and Business Development: ANI | Agência Nacional de Inovação offers a significant advantage for enhancing company competitiveness by backing R&D endeavors. It permits deductions from corporate income tax on R&D-related expenses, with potential deductions up to 82.5%
• The Master Investor List: Kevin Jurovich (co-founder, CEO at Circles | Startups & VC) shared the ultimate lists of VCs, Angels and Accelerators
• Coral AI: AI quickly summarize, gather information, translate, and cite your documents, saving you hours each week

Let us know what tools help you run your startup: hi@startupt.co.

That's all for today! See you next week. And don't forget to check your email on Monday — you'll find "7 questions for 1 startup".