Driving Innovation: Gaia at the SIM Conference

Alfândega do Porto became the European epicenter of innovation and entrepreneurship during the SIM Conference (Startups & Investment Matching). In the midst of a massive event, bringing together over 4,000 participants, 450 startups, 270 investors, and 40 partners, INOVAGAIA and the Municipality of Gaia were far from just another name on the list. They made a disruptive, energetic, and unforgettable impact.

A booth that came to life (sticker by sticker)

The main attraction was our incubator’s booth, which was transformed into a truly collaborative piece of art. Thanks to the visitors’ participation, 4,000 stickers were put up throughout the event, shaping a visual and dynamic replica of our coworking space, bootcamps, and acceleration programs.

This creative activation served as the perfect showcase for Gaia’s talent, attracting dozens of strategic partners fascinated by our region’s energy.

Gaia’s talent on stage

The Gaia ecosystem made its voice heard (and its presence felt) across all fronts of the conference:

Startup Showcase: Six of our incubated startups – Compy, Visual Thinking, Pocket Theatre, Azure Photon, Factor AI, and Simplifyer – shined at the event’s official showcase.

High-Impact Pitch: Our very own Isabel Carapeta, from Simplifyer, took the stage to raise the bar with a top-tier pitch in the highly competitive Fintech session.

Ending balance? More than just participating, the SIM Conference was definitive proof of the dynamism, boldness, and unstoppable force of Vila Nova de Gaia’s technological ecosystem on both the national and international stage. The future happens here!

And since the ecosystem never stops, the focus is already on the next chapter. See you next year, on May 8th and 9th, back at Alfândega do Porto! Can we count you in?