Pollination Fueld by Ideas
by Ana Duarte
Colmeia (hive, in English): /haɪv/ (also beehive) [countable] a structure made for bees to live in (Oxford Leaner’s Dictionaries). Bees are fascinating creatures that work tirelessly and live within a highly organized society. They are also incredibly valuable due to their crucial role in maintaining the health and balance of ecosystems on our planet, primarily
through pollination.
Colmeia also serves as a social innovation and social entrepreneurship program, powered by Galp and Câmara Municipal de Matosinhos, designed to bring local ideas, startups, and projects to life.
The primary objective of this initiative is to drive the transition towards sustainable energy in the city of Matosinhos. The program consists of two distinct initiatives:
● IN.COMUNIDADE - this initiative aims to foster the development of ideas from individuals residing in Matosinhos, providing project mentorship to help bring these ideas to fruition. The application deadline is September 12, 2023.
● IN.STARTUP - A social innovation program tailored to connect applicants with leaders from the energy industry, enabling them to develop pilot projects.
The application deadline is also September 12, 2023.
More than Honey and Pollination
IN.COMMUNITY
Open to all residents of Matosinhos.
A panel of judges will select the top 10 ideas to advance to the acceleration phase. This phase involves a two-day bootcamp where participants can delve deeper into and refine their ideas. At the end of the bootcamp, each team will present their pitch, and three teams will be chosen as winners. These winning teams will receive prizes to help turn their ideas into reality:
● First place — 12.500€.
● Second place — 7.500€.
● Third place — 5000€.
All winning teams will also gain access to the IN.STARTUP program, allowing them to compete alongside other teams for the opportunity to receive up to €50,000 to develop a pilot project in Matosinhos. For the complete regulations, please refer to this link.
IN.STARTUP
Open to both national and international startups.
Similar to IN.COMMUNITY, this initiative involves a two-day bootcamp with mentorship and pitching sessions. The final presentation phase will feature the seven selected startups and the three winners from IN.COMMUNITY. The 10 pre-finalists will present proposals for pilot projects related to their solutions within the Matosinhos area. A jury will then select five finalists to participate in a public vote to determine the winners. The prize structure for the winners is as follows:
● First place — €50,000.
● Second place — €15,000.
● Third place — €10,000.
These monetary awards are intended to support the development of pilot projects within the Matosinhos territory. For detailed regulations, please refer to this link.
Unleash the Colmeia Energy
Just as a beehive thrives on the collaborative energy of its inhabitants, the Colmeia initiative beckons you to join a vibrant ecosystem of innovation and change. Whether you’re a Matosinhos resident nurturing local concepts through IN.COMMUNITY or an aspiring startup wanting to connect with industry leaders via IN.STARTUP, these programs offer the nectar of mentorship, resources, and prizes to help turn your vision into reality.
Apply now and let your ideas soar amidst the inspiring hum of Colmeia’s
transformative journey!
Ana Duarte is a writer, reader, and constant learner with a background in Communications and a strong drive for all things tech. She holds a BSc and a Master’s degree from Universidade da Beira Interior, and Universidade do Porto. She has further honed her skills with an Executive degree in Entrepreneurship, Management, and Innovation from the Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics. She’s currently a Senior Technical Writer at Talkdesk, specialising in API/developer documentation.
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