We understand the responsibility we bear, as many of the Projects that come to us are just taking their first steps in the Ecosystem, still discovering themselves, figuring out who they want to be and where they want to go. Our priority is to give them the tools they need so this initial experience becomes a pivotal moment in their long-term journey.

Among all the methodologies, masterclasses, topics covered, discussions held, and feedback from so many projects that have already participated in Casa do Impacto’s Bootcamps, we didn’t want to leave out practical examples and real testimonials from those who, like them, started from scratch. No one can truly understand that mix of excitement and apprehension about entering the Impact Entrepreneurship Ecosystem with just an idea like someone who has been in that same place, that starting point, full of doubts, goals, and challenges ahead.

Thank you to Daniela Sanabria, Founder and Director of Impact at Equivalence World; Catarina Medeiros, Social Support and Employability Coordinator at Reshape; Francisca Crespo, Director of Product and Design at ubbu; Inês Duarte, Marketing Coordinator at Café Joyeux Portugal; and João Boavida, Founder and CEO of Afrikanizm Art, for your honesty in sharing your stories and for the generosity with which you brought your projects and journeys to inspire this group. This personal, tailored, and authentic perspective from those who truly embody the cause is what sets Impact apart, and for us, it was essential that those demonstrating this spirit be the people who embody it every day in our halls.

During the Bootcamp, we covered topics such as an introduction to the Impact Economy, Problem Definition, Value Proposition, Theory of Change, Solution Design, Communication, and Pitch Development, all applied through workshop sessions and exercises. The projects also benefited from individual Mentoring and Pitch Training to prepare for their presentations at the Bootcamp’s Demoday, and, once again, we brought in people on the ground who know how to ask and answer the right questions.

Thank you to Ana Martins, Founder of Mella Supply; Francisco Serralheiro, Founder of Ginásio do Empreendedor; Guilherme Soutelinho, from the Strategic Partnerships Team at Start Lisboa; Helena Costa, Head of Impact at Global Shapers; Inês Marques, from the Global Shapers Community; Maria Serrano, Recruitment and Selection Coordinator at Teach for Portugal; Nadine Alves, Communications Manager at MyPolis; Rita Oliveira, from Start Lisboa; and Telma Gonçalves, Program and Community Manager at Fledge Institute.

For those right questions that helped select the Projects that would move on to the next phase, we relied on a multidisciplinary panel of judges who left no stone unturned: Rita Pinhol, Founder of GreenDash, Finalist in the 6th edition of RISE for Impact; Inês Pestana, Chief Operating Officer at Pedalar Sem Idade Portugal​, incubated at Casa do Impacto; Sandra Fernandes, Project Manager at Universidade Nova de Lisboa; Frederico Fezas-Vital, Executive Director of the Yunus Social Innovation Center at the Portuguese Catholic University; Nuno Comando, Director of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Social Economy and of Casa do Impacto; and Joana Mercier, Director of the Operations and Partnerships Unit within the Department of Entrepreneurship and Social Economy.

 

These are the ten projects moving on to the Acceleration phase, our Cohort for the 7th edition of RISE for Impact:

 

• > AR SmartVision: An assistance system based on Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality for people who are blind or have low vision. It provides auditory and haptic guidance, increasing independence and safety while moving around.

• > fore: A digital platform for Child Development screening that helps Families detect potential developmental challenges in Children early on and access appropriate support.

• > Born to Be Wild: A digital platform and perinatal Health Community that helps families find specialists in pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period through a recommendation-based directory.

• > Gaya Mana: An association that supports Vulnerable Youth, particularly those from foster care in their transition to adulthood and entry into the workforce. It combines personal development, mentoring, training, and internships in sectors such as hospitality and tourism. 

• > Minded: An AI-based educational platform that provides a personalized digital tutor for each student. It supports adaptive learning, enables Schools and Teachers to monitor progress, and promotes more inclusive, personalized education.

• > Habitat Platform: A platform that supports the creation and management of Housing Cooperatives. It facilitates Community organizing, access to financing, and the development of affordable housing projects. 

• > Telos Care: An AI-powered platform for managing and coordinating Home Care. It connects Organizations, Caregivers, and Families to improve the efficiency and continuity of care. 

• > The Family Door: A perinatal health platform that offers integrated support to Families from pregnancy through the early years of parenthood, through a specialized multidisciplinary team. It focuses particularly on populations with limited access to support networks. 

• > VEM – Mobility with Dignity: An assisted mobility service for People with temporary or permanent physical limitations. It provides door-to-door transportation to medical appointments, essential services, and social activities, thereby enhancing autonomy and inclusion. 

• > ZeloCare: A digital ecosystem that connects Families, Caregivers, Volunteers, and Social Organizations to coordinate support for Older Adults and Vulnerable Individuals. It fosters more collaborative and efficient care delivery.

The Acceleration phase starts this week, and we know they’re more than ready to get started. For us at Casa do Impacto, there’s no greater motivation than seeing Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurs ready to roll up their sleeves, so it’s easy to imagine how we’re feeling.

Our commitment is unwavering; the work begins long before Bootcamp and, in fact, never ends. Even after the Program ends, we keep a close eye on them; no matter how far they go, we continue to support them, believe in them, and cheer them on. It’s always nice to come back here a few months later and look back to the beginning, to when they decided this was the path to take. For now, until we get there, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work together.