Created in 2014, in order to support technological startups with global ambition, Startup Braga celebrates this Friday, May 7, seven years since its creation.

During these seven years of activity, the innovation hub of InvestBraga has been developing a set of initiatives and programs aimed at empowering national and international entrepreneurs, as well as the creation of highly technological projects. Altogether, the Startup Braga community has about 160 startups, which have already attracted more than 86 million euros in investment and hired, until the end of 2020, more than 700 professionals.

"Along this path, we have been strengthening our position as a reference hub for the support of promoters with disruptive business ideas in the areas of nanotechnology, health technologies, and digital economy," highlights Luís Rodrigues, director of Startup Braga, who also stresses that, for this, it is important to develop "pre-acceleration, acceleration and incubation programs, as well as joint initiatives with the main entities that promote innovation and knowledge, such as the University of Minho or INL, and with the remaining network of strategic partners.

The responsible for the innovation hub also points out that Startup Braga has been positioning Braga in the international entrepreneurial framework through the participation in networks such as the Global Startup Cities and by hosting international entrepreneurs, under the Startup Visa program.

Carlos Silva, executive director of InvestBraga, reinforces the importance of the role of Startup Braga as a vehicle to promote an increasingly technological city. "During these seven years, the support provided by Startup Braga to the entrepreneurial community has allowed the consolidation of a truly innovative ecosystem, which is translated by the impact of startups in the transformation of the remaining economic and business fabric of Braga, combining more traditional sectors with highly innovative areas," he argues.

Aiming to grow its community, Startup Braga is working on a set of initiatives that aim to support entrepreneurs in developing their business, as well as their internationalization.

Demo Day Empreender@Braga

In the month that celebrates seven years since its creation, Startup Braga is organizing an event dedicated to the presentation of the projects that have been involved in the Empreender@Braga program.

The event will take place on May 14th, at Altice Forum Braga, and will bring together stakeholders, entrepreneurs and investors in an afternoon that will serve to strengthen networking relationships and will award the three best projects of Empreender@Braga with funds for the creation of companies.

It should be noted that the pre-acceleration program promoted by the Municipality of Braga and InvestBraga has eight projects, developed by 19 entrepreneurs.