Applications are open until August 23 for the third edition of the “Tourism Advance”, an innovation program by the Fábrica de Startups.
This year, the focus is on solutions that help hotel sector companies become more sustainable, efficient, intelligent, and centered on the customer experience.
The program, which has the support of Turismo de Portugal, aims to connect startups with companies in the hotel and tourist accommodation sector in the country.
In a press release, the accelerator says that this year’s edition brings together hotels, resorts, and hotel groups of different sizes and segments, such as the Sheraton Lisboa Hotel & Spa, the Marriott International group, the Vilalara Grand Hotel Algarve, Eurosol Hotels, and other industry players.
The program seeks startups with a product, MVP (Minimum Viable Product), or a validated solution, ready to “adapt their technology to concrete market challenges,” according to Fábrica de Startups, which says that the “Tourism Advance” is “an opportunity for direct proximity to the hotel sector.”
“The selected teams work directly with companies that face concrete challenges, receive feedback from potential customers, and explore opportunities to implement their solutions, with potential to evolve into pilots, partnerships, contracts or other forms of collaboration,” details the accelerator.
The program includes bootcamps designed to support teams in preparing pilots with greater likelihood of implementation, mentoring, and ongoing support from Fábrica de Startups. Startups are guided in defining the practical application of their solution, aligning expectations with the companies, and structuring a pilot plan oriented toward results, the accelerator says.
In previous editions, the “Tourism Advance” engaged more than 30 companies, promoted more than 130 matchmaking sessions, and generated more than 50 matchings between startups and companies.
