The email announces the upcoming Grand Finale event for the 2nd edition of the ISCTE-IUL MIT-Portugal Venture Competition. The event will feature presentations from 4 finalist startups, success stories from entrepreneurs and investors, and networking opportunities. Speakers will discuss supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in Portugal. Registration is open until tomorrow with an early bird discount.

1. ISCTE-IUL MIT-Portugal Venture Competition is an international innovation & Is this email not displaying correctly?
entrepreneurship initiative launched by ISCTE-IUL & MIT entities. Caixa View it in your browser.
Empreender+ Awards supports annually 4 tech based startups with up to €1M.
7 days to go the 2nd edition Grand Finale!
On the 28 February, an enthusiastic audience of judges, catalysts, technology scouts and
exciting, most importantly, emerging start-ups will be gathering together to celebrate a
new breed of tech-based entrepreneurs.
Early bird registration ends tomorrow! Register now and benefit for a 35% discount on
registration (free for students with ID).
What can you expect from the event?
1. Be inspired by success stories, failures and achievements from proven
entrepreneurs and investors
2. Listen from the 4 deck pitches from the 2nd edition finalists and 16 semi-finalists,
including 4 Honorable Mentions
3. Get to know how Portugal is kick-starting evidence-based innovation and
entrepreneurship methodologies
4. Share experiences and passion, networking with a highly vetted group of
individuals that have walked the talk
Check the program here.
Together we are strengthening the foundations of Portugal's international technology
hub. Portugal is changing, what about you?
Register now - seats are limited.

2. Meet Our Speakers
Carles Cooney, Deshpande Center (USA) Established at the MIT
School of Engineering to increase the impact of MIT technologies in
the marketplace, Deshpande Center has awarded $11 million USD in
Ignition and Innovation Grants to support more than 80 MIT faculty-led
projects. Accomplished results: 23+ projects spun out of the center
as independent startups, having collectively raised more than $220M
in outside financing from top-tier venture capital firms and other
investors.
Ilya Dubinsky, Skolkovo Institute (Russia)
In the innovation city of Skolkovo is being created one of the most vibrating centers of
research and innovation. At the center of the ecosystem is the Skolkovo Foundation
launching the Institute of Science and Technology with 15 research centers under 5 tech
programs. The bridge with innovation and entrepreneurship is established by the Centre
for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, with approved grants over $64 million USD.
Soumodip Sarkar, IIFA - University of Évora (Portugal)
The Institute for Advanced Studies and Research is creating and
implementing an integrated research activity, as well as promoting
advanced studies. The Doctoral School is leading in the development
of synergies between the supply of the advanced studies and the
scientific capacities installed in its R&D Units. Currently, includes 11
research Units, 34 PhD Programs, 3 ERASMUS-MUNDUS Masters
Courses and 2 Endowed Chairs.

3. Have your say on the most innovative start-ups
We bring you 4 Finalist Startups from this editions venture competition. Following a 10 min
live pitch, we want to tap into the wisdom of the crowds by asking you to vote on the start-
up that, in your view, is the most innovative and has the highest potential!
Thanks to last year's Grand Finalist - Around Knowledge - we will be testing live a great
app they've just developed.
Meet out start-up guests
Beyond our 16 semifinalist you will be meeting 5 tech-based and promising start-ups from
our maturing ecosystem. These will be joining us in the networking session.
Register and meet these start-ups CEO's. Let's talk collaboration and make business.
Are you a start-up that fits these criteria? If so, we are interested to hearing from you to fill
our last vacancy! Register now using the code: I-am-a-Startup. And if you just got

4. yourself a free entry!
Do you want to know how Caixa is leading the way in fostering a
high-tech culture that's already creating new jobs and economic
impact?
Listen to how far we have come - Register now - seats are limited.
Caixa Empreender+ Awards was created to financially support this international
Competition finalists and grand finalist with up to €1,000,000 annually. This financial
award provides a significant contribution to start-ups in order to validate value propositions
and scale them up in Portugal and beyond. We are greatly indebted to:
Want to be involved in other ways or contribute to our cause? Find out more about giving
to this unique venture competition that's already Building Global Innovators.
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Copyright © 2012 ISCTE-IUL MIT-Portugal Venture Competition,
All rights reserved.
You are receiving our invitation because you are a VC's guest.
Our mailing address is:

5. Av das Forças Armadas, Ed ISCTE
1649-026 Lisboa
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