From the North of Portugal, Nanotechnology is key in this new program designed by INL, CeNTI, with the support of Startup Braga and University of Minho. Startup Nano has just kicked off and Easy Biopsy, Go Clean, Best Health and Graphenest – the first winners of the initial stage of the program – are moving into the second stage: acceleration. 2017 also comes with a second edition of Startup Nano.
Startups are supported from the idea until reaching the global market, with access to unique laboratories and expertise in nanotechnology. Furthermore, incubation is based on a unique international infrastructure and expertize for nanotechnology built by Portugal and Spain governments in Braga.
“99% of the startup communities are focused on IT because that was the most active field in the past. This program –specifically focused on nanotechnology –is unique. It’s new, not only here in Braga, but it’s unique and new in the whole world”. Volodymyr Khranovskyy, CEO of Go Clean, joining from Sweden.
The process for the first focused nanotechnology startup accelerator is quite simple: there is a Launchpad stage –teams present their ideas so that technologies and markets are validated –and the winners then enter the so-called nanotechnology acceleration program. During four intensive months, they will use the prizes to develop the product and the business with international mentors and experts, before joining an immersion program in USA and UK. In this first edition, applications came from four different countries and several technologies were selected for Launchpad, a first stage of validation: Onol with a microencapsulated cannabinoid food supplement; Nesto with an IoT system for gas distribution; Alkosense with an alcohol monitoring wearable; Easy Biopsy with a point of care system for cancer metastasis detection; Go Clean with a filter for the removal of heavy metals in water; and Best Health with a glue-free adhesive. Graphenest –Portugal Ventures funded company that provides graphene-based solutions at an industrial level-entered the acceleration stage directly, and will also join the Launchpad winners – Easy Biopsy, Go Clean and Best Health – as the four chosen startups to be accelerated. Focused on becoming a global ecosystem, and based on the North of Portugal, the promoters are undertaking several missions to connect with startups, companies, investors and experts across Europe, Asia and America: Israel and the United States are two of the last visited countries.
A new edition is about to arrive in 2017 and is already looking for the most exciting and promising nanotechnology-based ideas in the world.