StartUp Portimão, located at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (AIA), celebrated its 10th anniversary this Tuesday, August 4, and currently has 24 startups especially targeted at “smart cities”, in the areas of energy and mobility , tourism, governance and quality of life.
The Portimão business incubator has a network of mentors made up of more than 40 professionals from different areas and more than 45 partner entities, currently with 36 jobs.
"Over these four years, 165 initiatives were carried out, a period during which its facilities received 680 visits and promoted 258 hours of training in key areas for those who want to create their own business", says the Portimão municipality in a note sent to the newsrooms. .
The future of StartUp Portimão «will now involve the affirmation of entrepreneurs, the promotion of the Bootcamp Online Aceleração do Algarve and the Smart Cities conference with international speakers, with continued participation with partners from RediAl – Algarve Incubator Network, including in future joint activities, as well as strengthening the commitment to youth entrepreneurship and even pre-school”.
Aware of the new environmental and economic challenges, namely the diversification and qualification of the Algarve's economic base, the Portimão business incubator «also intends to accompany the ambition of creating a technological center at the AIA», adds the municipality.
The program that marked the anniversary brought together entrepreneurs, mentors, partners and other individuals, with the interventions of Luís Matos Martins, administrator of the Creative Territories / StartUp Portimão, João Fernandes, president of the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA), and José Apolinário , President of the Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) of the Algarve.
According to Luís Matos Martins, «the 4th anniversary of the incubator is not only a festive moment, it is also a time to show and account for what has been done, only possible because a team has been created with the promoting entity, the Municipality of Portimão and the EIA'.
José Apolinário highlighted StartUp's experience «in creating incubation structures and increasing this intervention, in order to strengthen the existing network in Barlavento», considering as «challenge and commitment that we are partners as a public administration entity and as advocates for them. European funds also focus on the qualification of people”.
The president of the Algarve Tourism Region, João Fernandes, considered “the activity of stimulating the entrepreneurial spirit in younger layers and attracting talent to be fundamental. to the incubator'.
On the occasion, entrepreneurs Melissa Rito, Pedro Esteves and Luís Silva promoted talks inspiring.
Melissa Rito, from Rejoice is genuine, spoke of his project that aims to provide sustainable experiences linked to gastronomy, culture and well-being, Pedro Esteves, from link-a-ring, shared his experience in managing the space of co-working of kitchens and Luís Costa, from Tecnologias Imaginadas, presented the product click2care, a solution for locating, SOS and dispatching means, so that, in an emergency, there is a quick response for the user.
Isilda Gomes, president of the Portimão City Council, also disclosed that the system click2care it will be implemented with 30 elderly people in the municipality, in isolation and with a weak family or neighborhood support network, and with limited economic conditions, which were previously indicated by the municipality's social action services.
The mayor was speaking at the closing session, which was attended by Carlos Miguel, Deputy Secretary of State and Regional Development, having Isilda Gomes assumed to feel «an enormous pride in what is done here!».
“We are living at a crossroads, in terms of the pandemic, the consequences of climate change, and in fact this is worrying me. Therefore, innovation and sustainability must be the basic words», he stressed.
From the president's point of view, “this fantastic work is done with different and innovative companies, which create added value and guarantee this environmental, social and ecological sustainability. But these cannot be just words, we have to move from words to actions and the synergies created must lead to the creation of different environments, solutions and proposals, because… either companies are differentiators, or they fail to succeed».
For Carlos Miguel, «this path of four years is strongly focused on two essential areas for today and tomorrow, which are mobility and energy». The Secretary of State believes that "it is necessary to create entrepreneurial partnerships, namely with the Government, to create innovation, more wealth, better territory and better financial health for people".
In the view of Luís Matos Martins, «the balance of this intense and fruitful period is evidenced by the constant support given to entrepreneurs and by their interaction with mentors and partners, with the fact that, in recent months, StartUp Portimão has invested in activities for youth, in a clear incentive to the development of the young entrepreneurial spirit».
Also part of the anniversary program was the presentation of an electric vehicle, by Tula Labs, a company located at StartUp Portimão, which the participants had the opportunity to try out. The vehicle is associated with an app that is more than a tourist itinerary, as it allows you to give all directions and information about nearby places during your trip.
The celebration of the 4th anniversary of StartUp Portimão ended with a moment of networking where congratulations were sung by all present.
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