INOVAGAIA Successfully Concludes Inaugural "Scale Up With Us" Program
INOVAGAIA has reached a significant milestone in the national entrepreneurship ecosystem with the successful wrap-up of the first Scale Up With Us edition. Over nine intensive weeks, this pioneering acceleration program equipped a high-potential cohort of startups with the strategic framework necessary for global expansion.
The program followed a rigorous growth roadmap, beginning with deep-dive metric validation and the establishment of ambitious OKRs. Through high-impact workshops and tailored mentoring, founders explored critical pillars such as customer-centric business design led by Mart Kikas, and the engineering of robust sales engines with Paulo Pereira. The acceleration also featured insights from Tony dos Santos, who introduced cutting-edge AI applications for Go-to-Market strategies.
In its final stages, the curriculum pivoted toward the infrastructure required to sustain hyper-growth. João Franqueira focused on talent acquisition and organizational culture, while Carolina Dinis prepared the entrepreneurs for the complexities of venture funding.
The finale of this historic edition took place on March 24th, amid an atmosphere of high energy and competitive spirit. During Demo Day, founders pitched to a prestigious jury comprising Rui Machado (Inovagaia), Rute Sousa (COREangels Porto), Miguel Martins (3xP Global), and Rui Finteiro (Beta Capital). The final selections reflected the high technical caliber and market readiness of the participating ventures.
The Podium Finishers
1st Place: PartnershipNet – Impressed the jury with its AI-driven platform designed to disrupt the global sponsorship industry. By delivering real-time ROI measurement and full process digitalization, the startup is set to transform strategic partnerships through data-driven scalability.
2nd Place: BAUU – Stood out with its “Mobile Self-Storage” concept. By providing door-to-door storage solutions, BAUU offers an innovative response to the logistical hurdles of modern urban living, centered on total user convenience.
3rd Place: FactorAI – Secured the final podium spot with its plug-and-play industrial intelligence system. Its Edge-AI solution enables Iberian SMEs to achieve immediate, secure, and cloud-independent operational digitalization, optimizing on-site efficiency.
A Catalyst for Disruptive Innovation
Beyond the award winners, INOVAGAIA highlighted the exceptional performance and market potential of the entire cohort:
AzurePhoton: Pioneering ambient light energy harvesting to power IoT devices, effectively eliminating battery dependency.
UPinC: Leveraging IoT sensors and AI to drive resource optimization and real-time intelligence in the agricultural sector.
Vet Before Pet: Redefining pet ownership through veterinary validation and AI to combat illegal trade and foster an ethical ecosystem.
Skillful: A specialized software factory transforming concepts into high-tier digital products through agile methodologies.
Simplifyer: Bridging the gap between retail data and consumer clarity, turning receipts into actionable financial and behavioral insights.
With the success of this first edition of Scale Up With Us, INOVAGAIA reaffirms its position as a vital engine of innovation, empowering these companies to scale from Gaia to the world.
