HiJiffy, a digital hotel service platform, won the 3rd edition of Net Me Up that took place this Wednesday, October 14th, in Albufeira.
More than two dozen startups presented the projects on a sea voyage off Albufeira. On land, HiJiffy was elected the winner of the 3rd edition of Net Me Up.
This platform will receive 2 euros and six months of incubation. «This initiative is fundamental to boost tourism recovery in the region, which saw its activity greatly reduced with the Covid-19 pandemic», says Luís Matos Martins, CEO of Creative Territories.
Hijiffy went to startup winner of the 3rd edition of Net Me Up, having presented an innovative platform that centralizes, automates and measures all customer service activities in hotels.
The event took place at Marina de Albufeira, last Wednesday, and was attended by more than two dozen startups, three dozen investors, partners and potential customers who are part of “Net Me Up”. This initiative aims to boost tourism recovery in the Algarve and Baixo Alentejo region, making it more innovative and competitive.
«HiJiffy is a communication platform for hotels: a chatbot, which automates 80% of conversations between guests and hotels, and a virtual concierge, which promotes check-in and check-out and features campaigns en casa via whastapp e sms”, explains João Freitas, from HiJiffy.
«With the need for social distancing brought about by the pandemic, HiJiffy provides a level of interaction with guests similar to face-to-face, only through fully digital communication. The platform is already being used in more than 700 hotels in 15 different countries», he adds.
On board the AlgarExperience boat, the startups had moments of networking de inspiring talks and presentation of their projects. On land, the three winners were announced – from a range of six finalists – who will have six months of incubation in Creative Territories, the consultancy and entrepreneurship support company that organizes Net Me Up. also a cash prize of 2 euros.
Second place on the podium was occupied by MobiFast, a app of mobility, which brings together all available transport options, whether public transport or shared mobility. TailsTravel – an online advertising and booking platform for services and products for pets – followed, which occupied the third position.
“This initiative – which was aimed at startups Algarve and Baixo Alentejo – intends to leverage opportunities for partnerships, investments and attraction of new customers. This dynamic is essential to boost tourism recovery in the region, which saw its activity greatly reduced with the Covid-19 pandemic», says Luís Matos Martins, CEO of Territórios Criativos.
«The participating entrepreneurs had direct access to the largest companies and players in the tourism sector, namely to Turismo de Portugal, Portugal Ventures, the National Federation of Business Angels Associations, IAPMEI, Startup Portugal, Grupo Barraqueiro or Frota Azul”, he adds.
The six finalist startups presented both technological and non-technological projects, placing them in the categories of "Seamless experiences throughout the tourist's travel cycle", "Segmentation and customization of digital strategies for companies and destinations" and "Mobility and consumption sustainable, of companies and tourists”.
The six finalists were Breakfast Away, HiJiffy, KuizTime, Letsgo.world, MobiFast and TailsTravel. All presented their pitches to a panel of judges composed by Cristina Salsinha (Turismo de Portugal), Isabel Neves (president of the National Federation of Business Angels Associations), João Borga (director of Startup Portugal and the National Network of Incubators) , Pedro de Mello Breyner (administrator of Portugal Ventures) and Roberto Antunes (director of NEST – Tourism Innovation Center).
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