by amalienaustdal | Oct 10, 2017 | Startups
In the Fintech world, Portugal is recognized for having one of the most advanced payments systems. This is a result of 30 years of open collaboration between the country’s key financial players, through the creation of SIBS – the Portuguese driver of Fintech innovation.
In January 2018, new European regulation on Open Banking comes into force, bringing new challenges to the banking ecosystem. So, it’s only natural that to face these challenges the spirit of open collaboration is again put to great use. To do so, SIBS is working alongside the main banks in Portugal to provide an “Open Banking API”.
The good news? They are looking for global, Fintech startups to take part in the creation of one of the most ambitious Open Banking ecosystems through our second edition of the SIBSPAYFORWARD Accelerator.
For the second edition, we will select startups with business & consumer solutions in Open Baking context, who are able to incorporate the development of the platform being implemented by SIBS.
Applications are already open for startups with a stable functional prototype and a customer base. So, why should you apply?
- Data: SIBS is in charge of the majority of financial transactions in Portugal due to their role in managing the ATMs and a part of the POS systems.
- Access: By collaborating with SIBS you can have access to the entire Banking system at once.
- Collaborate with industry leaders: An amazing opportunity to work with one of World’s top Fintech innovators.
- Mentors: work with industry experts and true decision makers that will guide you through the complex world of finance.
Almost convinced? Then, check out our website to learn more about the program, the mentors, and last years edition. Make sure you apply before the 15th of December!
by holiveira | Sep 13, 2017 | Corporates
For the past few years, we’ve seen some of the most disruptive startups shape entire industries with their innovative technologies and business models. You find companies like Uber, Airbnb or Tesla, that took entire markets by the storm to quickly implement their businesses and grow at an unsurmountable pace.
This growth and disruptive mindset have definitely shaken things up and for the well-established companies, or the so-called big corporations, it has caused some skepticism and aversion in some cases.
However, while some have chosen to swim against the current and look at these innovative new businesses as the ones to take down, others have brought their organizations closer to innovation and growth, by standing right next to these promising startups.
But the big question is: how can startups and corporates work together?
The main goal here should be to create partnerships where both sides can benefit. Giuseppe Zocco, co-founder of Index Ventures, believes “big companies are lately waking up to the fact that their industries are disrupted by the innovations led by startups. Instead of thinking ‘some incumbents are gonna lose, some startups are gonna win’, startups should be seen as potential partners. Partners to create more value for your company, more value for the consumer, and for the whole industry.”
Corporate companies can and should partner up with startups and there are many ways to make it happen. They can be a customer of the startup’s product, and let that solution improve efficiency within their own organization and deliver a better experience, or they can create a partnership to provide a joint solution to their customers, for example.
But, even though some corporate managers realize the importance and opportunity to work with startups, most of them don’t know where to start.
At Beta-innovation, our innovation team within Beta-i, we have taken the commitment to bring the startup and corporate world together. We have introduced many of the startup methodologies and tools to big companies such as Airbus, Deloitte, Fosun, Fidelidade, Amorim and SIBS.
How? By giving insightful workshops and talks, and by developing together with some of these companies vertical accelerators that are key to bring new ideas to their industries, such as Deloitte Digital Disruptors (Insurance), Protechting by Fidelidade & Fosun (Insurance and Health), Cork Challenge by Amorim Cork Ventures (Cork solutions), Smart Open Lisboa (Smart cities), SIBSPayForward (Payment solutions) or The Journey (Tourism).
So, in the end, the truth is that most corporates now look at startups not as threats but as opportunities, and we’re keen to keep helping both by bringing them closer.
by ggomes | Apr 21, 2016 | Uncategorized
[fusion_text]After 9 intensive weeks, the Protechting Startup Accelerator program, designed by Fosun and Fidelidade and powered by Beta-i ended last thursday with an impressive Pitch Day. In the event that took place at the Fidelidade HQ in Lisbon, the teams presented their projects to the Jury, representatives from Fidelidade, Fosun and Beta-i as well as investors, the media and other invited guests.
EctoSense won the main prize of 10.000€ and LifeSymb and CleenBeen will join them in a Roadshow to China where they’ll have the chance to meet some of the world’s most influential investors.
Meet the winning teams and the Jury:
Brad Bao – Managing Partner, Fosun Kinzon Capital & President of the Protechting Jury.
Lingjiang Xu – Chief Representative Fosun Lisbon.
José Manuel Alvarez Quintero – Exective Board Member, Fidelidade.
Rogério Campos Henriques – CIO and Executive Board Member, Fidelidade.
Isabel Vaz – CEO, Luz Saúde Group
Vitor Dinis – Co-Founder and CFO, Pathena.
João Pereira – Technology Director, Portugal Ventures.
Ricardo Marvão – Co-Founder and Head of Global Resources at Beta-i.
The Pitch Day also included interventions by the following speakers:
Domingos Guimarães – Serial Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Academia de Código.
Gonçalo Fortes – Founder and Ceo of Prodsmart.
Liang Xinjun – Executive Director, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fosun International
Jorge Magalhães Correia – Presidente da Fidelidade
Xu Weili – Economic counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Lisbon[/fusion_text][images picture_size=”fixed” hover_type=”zoomin” autoplay=”yes” columns=”5″ column_spacing=”13″ scroll_items=”” show_nav=”yes” mouse_scroll=”no” border=”yes” lightbox=”yes” class=”” id=””][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”http://rethink-beta-i-pt.beta-i.pt/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2016/04/PAF3777.jpg” alt=”Protechting Demo Day – Fidelidade, Fosun & Beta-i “][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”http://rethink-beta-i-pt.beta-i.pt/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2016/04/PAF3782.jpg” alt=”Protechting Demo Day – Fidelidade, Fosun & Beta-i “][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”http://rethink-beta-i-pt.beta-i.pt/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2016/04/PAF3835.jpg” alt=”Protechting Demo Day – Fidelidade, Fosun & Beta-i “][image link=”” linktarget=”_self” image=”http://rethink-beta-i-pt.beta-i.pt/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2016/04/PAF3839.jpg” alt=”Protechting Demo Day – Fidelidade, Fosun & Beta-i “][image 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by ggomes | Apr 18, 2016 | Uncategorized
Bootcamp Done, What’s Next on the Lisbon Challenge Accelerator?
Until the day comes when we can learn new skills by uploading them directly into our brain, just like in The Matrix, learning processes will always take time. Speaking of intensive learning processes the Lisbon Challenge Accelerator Bootcamp ended last Friday and now it’s time for the next phase of the acceleration program, for four weeks, where execution is the keyword: We saw each Startup presenting their plan of «attack» for the next month. Of course mentors and experts will always be available to guide you, however don’t expect any kind of babysitting – in the end it’s your planning and execution that will decide everything.
To excel in execution, you can be sure planning is a basic need. In this early-stage of a Startup, it always seems there are a thousand things per day to focus on and most of them in the same level of relevance. Without a plan any team can easily get lost in the way, so here’s how you can make the most of this Startup Accelerator.
5 Things to Revisit and Better Prepare for the Challenge Ahead
Vision – Have your vision clearly stated: it’s your ultimate goal and the one that will allow to see the big picture when dealing with the upcoming barriers.
Set your Goals – If you set goals for everything you do, not only you’ll be highly motivated to achieve them but also you can measure performance and detect what needs improvement.
Roadmap: Essential. This will help you to continuously be aware of your focus. You have to bring to life your MVP as soon as possible and work on it so a more general roadmap should be wrapped around your Product Roadmap. Since it’s not easy to know how detailed this one should be, depending on the number of techies on the team between other factors here’s an insightful article on How Detailed Should Your Startup’s Product Road Map Be by Andrew Cohen, Founder & Ceo of Brainscape and Startup Mentor at Techstars.
Decision Making – You shouldn’t rush on hard decisions nor let your emotions guide them, but at the speed you should be progressing you can’t lose too much time overthinking every single decision. Here’s a Decision-making Framework made by Adeo Ressi, Founder & Ceo of the Founder Institute, that will allow you to save time whilst assuring that you’re not making your choices based on impulse.
Priorities – This is another tough challenge. Between all the feedback you’ll be receiving from everybody you’ll talk to and all the ideas for your product that will constantly pop up your head, you have to find a way to prioritize them. Alex Iskold, Investor and Managing Director of TechStars in NYC, tells you how in Use Action and Idea Lists to Prioritize Tasks and Get Things Done
And last, but not least..
Productivity – With so much work to do, even the most focused entrepreneurs can sometimes get lost. On the other hand, maybe working 20/7 can burn you out in less than a month (missing the amazing final day at Lisbon Challenge accelerator) so here’s How to Hack Productivity with tips from 65 Startup Founders collected by Founders Grid on how they deal with Productivity and manage the minimum balance between working hard and having the basic time to rest and unwind.
Make the most of this opportunity
Beyond these guidelines, don’t forget to use all the resources and people that you have available at the Lisbon Challenge Startup Accelerator. Try to get as much feedback as possible, and if you ever feel a conflict between two opposite given opinions, there’s nothing better than getting those two persons to talk.
There will be also an incredible number of persons crossing every day the same working space as you – mentors, speakers, investors, other startups – so leave your shyness aside and don’t miss the chance to network, a lot of opportunities might come up from the people you meet along the way.
Luck is pointed as the number one reason for success by numerous founders, but behind that ability to get lucky there’s always an incredible amount of hard work, so Good Work & Good Luck.
by ggomes | Apr 15, 2016 | Uncategorized
Yesterday was the big day – 3 Winners and one Key Announcement in Insurance
“It won’t be an easy decision” – Since the beginning of the program, we started to see that all the determination and hard work from every team wasn’t going to help the final Jury choose the winners. In these last two weeks, as we were getting closer to the final day, our expectations grew with every pitch: pilot tests were really close to implementation, group tests inside and outside Fidelidade delivered great feedback, deals were being made and an impressive collaboration ensued between these Startups, Fidelidade/Fosun and Beta-i, propelling innovation that ultimately brings great value to our daily routines.
All this expectation was surpassed as the audience listened attentively to the final pitches – these Startups didn’t just participate in the program, they absorbed all the advice they received and turned their 2-months of hard work into a set of impressively crafted pitches.
At 7h30PM the tough decision was made and…
The three grand winners were finally announced
EctoSense won the main prize of 10.000€ and LifeSymb and CleenBeen will join them in a Roadshow to China where they’ll have the chance to meet some of the world’s most influential investors. See at the end of this blogpost how each one of these Startups is bringing innovation to our daily lives.
We’d like to congratulate the winners and all the other amazing teams that proved to be headed in the right direction with their projects and mindsets. We would also like to give a big shout out to Fidelidade & Fosun and to all the sponsors involved – this great experience was only possible thanks to everyone that believed that there is immense value when the corporate world and Startups work together.
We also have another big announcement to make…
The Second edition of Protechting was announced
If this year’s edition is anything to go by, the second edition is poised to create great startups with products and services that will help shape the way in the insurance industry.
The Winners
- Ectosense leverages mobile technology to measure and analyze the user’s sleep quality in their home environment and to provide high quality insights into sleep disorders.
- CleenBeen Technologies aims to resolve one of the most predominant problems found today in hospital environments: bacterial/superbug and MRSA infections.
- LifeSymb is a high-tech startup in the mobile health sector. The first product of the company is a software that uses multiple sensors, such as 3D depth cameras and accelerometers, to analyse a person’s posture and movements in order to provide automatic health recommendations.
