SIM Conference

Alfândega do Porto received hundreds of visitors in the first edition of SIM Conference (Startups & Investment Matching), on May 2nd to 4th. Promoted by Startup Portugal, this event had three distinct spaces: SIM – Connect, a space dedicated to networking, facilitating meaningful connections between participants; SIM STAGE, the main stage where lectures and workshops led by industry influencers took place, offering valuable insights and innovative perspectives; and, finally, the Startup Stage, a place where startups and incubators demonstrated their skills, providing visibility and opportunities for collaboration.

Among the confirmed participants were Mike Sigal (Sigal Ventures), investor and Founding General Partner of the 500 Startups Fintech Fund; Cristina Fonseca (Indico), founder of one of the Portuguese unicorns (Talkdesk) and investor; Sean Seton-Rogers (PROfounders Capital); Marcelo Lebre, president and co-founder of the unicorn Remote; Luther Lowe, Head of Public Policy at Y Combinator; and Virgílio Bento, founder and CEO of the unicorn Sword Health.

INOVAGAIA was also present at SIM on several stages. From the outset, with a space for the incubator, as well as the participation of five established startups: Nemobile, Bauu, Lumicroma, IScope e Pocket Theatre.

On the first day, Prof. Carlos Brito, from FEP, was the main speaker at the workshop dedicated to ‘Financial Sustainability’, at the invitation of INOVAGAIA and the presence at the round table on ‘How to interact with investors through your incubator’.

The next day, we had two remarkable moments. The first was by Luís Santos, in the Reverse Pitch, at the Startup Stage, in which he showed the work that INOVAGAIA has been doing for 15 years, supporting entrepreneurship and economic development in the municipality of Gaia.

This was followed by the Pitch Battle: ‘Agricultural and Food Technology’, in which Rogério Tavares was part of the evaluation jury.

There were three days of networking between startups and sharing ideas, making the projects known to investors and visitors.