The three-week Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp concluded successfully this summer of 2024, adding over 450 new alumni to our network.

During the Bootcamp, participants formed international teams of five members each. Together, they identified problems, validated them with potential customers, and meticulously built prototypes and minimum viable products (MVPs). These startups then launched marketing campaigns, acquired their first customers, and ultimately presented their ideas to a panel of expert investors.

We are proud to confirm that their innovation has been thoroughly evaluated, and they are truly amazing us year after year!

Here are few things that are certainly worth to remember to become a successful innovator and entrepreneur:
1. Better done than perfect!

2. “What good is an idea if it remains an idea? Try. Experiment. Iterate. Fail. Try again. Change the world.” — Simon Sinek

 

The Bootcamp program covers critical areas of management and innovation, including:

– Validated target market for eligibility to pitch

– Confirmed customers (300+ sign-ups for B2C or 3+ letters of intent for B2B)

– A well-established business model

To successfully complete the program, teams must participate in the Pitch Day. During this event, investors evaluate the teams on a 5-point scale, considering opportunity, traction, scalability, execution, and presentation.

The top 11 teams are distinguished not only by receiving the highest investor scores but also by earning glowing reviews from their mentors.

These elite 11 teams were given the opportunity to present to a wider audience and were honored with special prizes. These accolades included additional mentoring and coaching in brand identity creation by Codehouse,  and Isaiah Harvin, technical guidance by Paladin and Marina Petrakova (Riga Innovation Academy), marketing support by Bigger Picture Consulting, business mentoring by Rodrigo Alvarenga (HAG Ventures), Anna De Stefano, Mikk Orglaan (FStage), 

and a fast-track application process for esteemed accelerators like Antler.

Our valued long-time partner, Nixon Peabody, contributed three special awards: the Trademark Artisan Award, Patent Innovation Award, and The Ed Quinones Spark Award.

Also, our hosting city Porto selected 4 teams and 4 individual participants to enter the CityExperiment programme, which aims to accelerate urban innovation by engaging participants in collaboration with local companies, city authorities, and academic institutions.

Continue reading to discover the details about the top teams, their members, the unique problems each startup is tackling, and the awards they’ve earned.

EIA Top Teams | Portugal 2024

CriticAl

Problem: Teachers do not have the time, tools, or resources to develop lessons for Critical Thinking within their curriculum, leaving students unprepared for future challenges.

Solution: A platform designed to empower educators to seamlessly integrate critical thinking exercises into their existing curriculum.

 

Team:

  • Susanna Krammer, FH Campus 02
  • Daniel Verdi do Amarante, University of Richmond 
  • Ke’zhiah Chapman, Spelman College
  • André Ribeiro, Instituto Superior Técnico
  • Timothy Sowa, Tampere University

 

fAIre

Problem: Wildfires are mostly human-caused (75%). This poses a significant challenge for NGOs and governments in monitoring vast forested areas to prevent wildfires, especially when they result from illegal activities such as slash-and-burn practices.

Solution: fAIre solution aims to solve the problem of predicting wildfires in the Amazon with a high enough degree of dependability for our customers to make an informed, data-driven decision on how to mitigate their chances of occurring. We are creating a solution that can predict, using several weather-related and human activity parameters, where a wildfire could start, whether naturally occurring or human-caused.

 

Team:

  • Adrien Havart, CESI
  • Rebecca Buss, UC Berkeley 
  • Ellen Pilache, University of Technology of Compiègne
  • Lucas Mancilha, University of Coimbra
  • Daniel Fortunato, NOVA University of Lisbon

 

Brisa

Problem: Workers who work in extremely cold and hot climates are at risk of hypothermia and heat-related illnesses.

Solution: A wearable cooling system to keep outdoor workers in energy-related construction companies cold under the hot sun.

Team:

  • Mohamed Annan, Carnegie Mellon University Qatar
  • Ayah Karar, University of Richmond
  • Kylee Gaskins, Franklin College
  • Lujain Al Mansoori, Carnegie Mellon University Qatar
  • Tseng YuHao, Feng Chia University

 

Virture

Problem: Communities and individuals that have a difficult time sorting trash – a global issue of waste not being properly recycled.

Solution: A software that will scan the trash and generate a list of material and which trash bin that trash should go to.

Team:

  • Alpamys Yechshanov, St. John’s University
  • Kevin Lin, Feng Chia University
  • Nico Kuntjoro, UC Berkeley
  • Raina Burton, Shepherd University
  • Yi Chen Wang, Feng Chia University

 

Azalea

Problem: Women do not feel safe in urban cities.

Solution: A stylish version of life alert in the form of a ring

Team:

  • Meghan Kellem, University of Alabama
  • Paul Otterson, UC Berkeley
  • Sarah Zavala, California Lutheran University
  • Tiana Zhou, UC Berkeley
  • Gao Xinyan, Chinese University of Hong Kong

 

Voyella

Problem: Women feeling unsafe when travelling alone. 

Solution: Voyella is an interactive app inspired by women for women. Built to create a safer, more supportive travel environment for female solo travellers.

 

Team:

  • Carolyn Pyun, UC Berkeley

  • Chris Nicdao, Southern Alberta Institute Technology

  • Eva Rivera-Nesrala, Virginia Commonwealth University

  • Megan Sacyat, UC Berkeley

  • Shiuan Kai Hsu, Feng Chia University

 

DriveBac

Problem: There is an increasing prevalence of alcohol-impaired driving among younger generations.

Solution: DriveBAC is designed to offer a quick and reliable assessment of your impairment through a simple, user-friendly interface. Our app simulates key aspects of a field sobriety test, giving users valuable insights into their impairment levels. By enabling drivers to check their impairment levels before getting behind the wheel, we aim to reduce the number of accidents and ultimately save lives.

Team:

  • Douglas Cohen, Washington University in St. Louis

  • Sarah Stepehen Foshee, University of Alabama

  • Timothy Nicholls, University of Colorado Denver

  • William Conway, University of Richmond 

  • Tzu-Hsuan Chuang, Feng Chia University

 

Nitelight

Problem: Nightlife environments often pose safety risks, making ​it difficult for individuals to quickly locate friends or get ​help in emergencies.

Solution: Nitelight uses proprietary location technology to ​achieve two simple functions: friends easily stay ​connected. Ensuring ​that you are always ​with those you trust. In times of crisis ​Nitelight transmits ​your location to staff, ​guiding them ​directly to you.

Team:

  • Brian B Vargas, UC Berkeley

  • Seán Breen, Technological University Dublin

  • Simon Chow, Singapore University of Social Sciences

  • Yan Wa Wong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

  • Yu-Chen Tseng, Feng Chia University

 

Sayfe

Problem: The problem of difficulties finding places to dine at in new areas that accommodate food allergies and restrictions.

Solution: Our product aims to function as an intermediary to resolve the language barrier and miscommunication experienced by consumers with dietary restrictions/food allergies in unfamiliar environments (when traveling, moving to a new city, experiencing new restaurants, etc.)

Team:

  • Aaron Nicor, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

  • Catarina Costa, University of Porto

  • Francisco Magalhães, NOVA University of Lisbon 

  • Rasya Bollu, University of Berkeley

  • Sarah Goody, University of Berkeley

Bubbl3s

Problem: Air pollution commonly occurs in urban areas with excessive outdoor pollution and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation such as homes, schools, offices. Irritants such as cigarette smoke, pollen, pet dander, mold, plastic, paint, or aerosols can exacerbate symptoms.

Solution: Bubbl3s, an innovative zero waste solution to purify the air.

Team:

  • Jerry Capote Muebaque, Sevilla University

  • Marina Romero Benítez, University of Seville

  • Munirah Fulani, Virginia Commonwealth University

  • Pedro Martins, University of Coimbra

  • Yun-Jung Tsai, Feng Chia University

Tutorberry

Problem: The traditional learning process for K-8 students is currently inefficient and does not cater to individual needs. When a student has no personal connection with their teacher, their motivation to continue learning decreases. Vice versa, tutors who don’t feel passionate or personally connected with their students may lose motivation to teach.

Solution: With our thoroughly curated assessments, students will receive a selection of tutors who are compatible with their specific personality types and learning styles.

Team:

  • Amy Beanblossom, Washington University in St. Louis
  • Chak Kwan Tse, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Jubeen Park, UC Berkeley
  • Leyla Zwolinski, Grove City College
  • Margarida Cordeiro, University of Coimbra

Special Prizes by Nixon Peabody

AnkleWise

Problem: Ankle sprain injuries in high-performance athletes.

Solution: A wearable device that measures the usage (angle, stress, etc) of muscles in the ankle and acts on the data received to change the ankle posture to prevent injury before occurrence.

Team:

  • Luca Gusella, Instituto Superior Técnico
  • Miguel Joaquim Roque Fernandes, Instituto Superior Técnico
  • Ming Kong Chu, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Yi Jun Loh, Singapore University of Social Science
  • Emilia Oblites, The University of Alabama

 

Pipify

Problem: Students do not have access to teachers and educational tools in the United States for exhaustive personalized instruction and avenues for improvement.

Solution: With our product/solution, consumers can access individualized feedback and improve in their classes on their own time. It can expand to help accommodate the variety of lifestyles that high school and college students experience.

 

Team:

  • Patrick Haughey, UC Berkeley
  • Elli Parsons, St.Lawrence College
  • Katerina Werkhaven, The University of Alabama
  • Daniella Spero, Technological University Dublin
  • Henning Lichtwald, Nordakademie

 

Bluuzone Bottles

Problem: In modern society, the demands of daily life often lead us to rely heavily on single-use water bottles. In the United States alone, over 50 billion plastic water bottles are sold annually. These widely used plastic bottles are known to leach microplastics into the water they contain. Microplastics can be ingested unknowingly when drinking from these bottles. Once inside the body, these harmful toxins can be absorbed into tissues, potentially leading to severe health conditions. The pervasive use of plastic water bottles thus presents a significant public health concern, highlighting the need for alternative solutions.

Solution: Bluuzone Bottles solves the critical problem of micro and nano plastic contamination in drinking water from plastic water bottles by using 100% natural materials that prevent harmful substances from leaching into the water. Health conscious consumers want the convenience of plastic water bottles while being free from the serious health risks associated with microplastics, such as cancer, infection, and infertility. 

Team:

  • Allison Pine, California Lutheran University
  • Gursimran Grewal, Mount Royal University
  • Robert Ballentine, University of Maryland
  • Julia Babun, North Greenville University
  • Ryan DeSantis, UC Berkeley

 

Winners of the CityExperiment by the Municipality of Porto

Teams:

  • Anklewise
  • Droptech Solutions
  • PortoPursuit
  • EcoWind Dynamics

 

 
Individual winners:

  • Sarah Zavala, California Lutheran University
  • Marta Pina Ortega, Seville University
  • Enes Berkay Koca, Eindhoven University of Technology
  • Nico Kuntjoro, UC Berkeley

 

Do you want to be part of the Top Teams next year? Apply now for EIA 2025!

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