Seven startups have been announced as finalists for this year’s Algarve Tech Hub Summit Startup Showcase, which will take place on November 6 in Lagos.
The announcement was shared exclusively with Portugal Startup News, revealing the selected companies: Svaito, AuroraMed, Simplifyer, Bio1OneHealth, QXote, Nutrition from Water (NXW), and SkillYay. The finalists were chosen from more than 40 applications representing startups in the Algarve and beyond.
Founded in 2024 by Dave Williams, a seasoned global entrepreneur, investor, and mentor, the Startup Showcase is part of the two-day summit scheduled for November 6-7, which is open to the public.
Williams, who moved to the Algarve from the United States in 2017, has more than three decades of experience founding and leading internet startups from the early dot-com era through Web 3.0. He is known for helping bootstrapped entrepreneurs find success by exploring niche opportunities that larger companies often overlook.
The Showcase offers startups at different stages – from idea to expansion – the opportunity to pitch live to investors, mentors, and tech leaders while helping position the Algarve as one of Europe’s emerging technology ecosystems.
This year’s jury includes Laurent Horowitz, investor and advisor at COREangels Algarve; Sven Olof Kulldorf, board professional and investor; Damarys Zampini, CEO of Sustrategy; Isabel Pereira, fundraising strategist and startup mentor at Kayron Partners; and Dasha Kichuk, startup coordinator at Web Summit and CEO of effa brush.
Below are more details about each of the seven selected startups, provided by the organizing team.
Svaito
Founded by Vitaly R., Svaito is an AI-powered bookings and communications agent for golf clubs. It automates tee time management across email, chat, and social platforms, checking live availability, handling payments, and sending multilingual confirmations. By integrating with existing systems, Svaito helps clubs save time and deliver consistent service.
AuroraMed
Founded by Sérgio Pina, AuroraMed is a healthtech startup developing AI tools that streamline hospital workflows and support healthcare professionals. Its solutions assist with coding, translation, and imaging data management while ensuring compliance with the EU AI Act and GDPR standards.
Simplifyer
Founded by Isabel Carapeta, Simplifyer turns everyday receipts into personal finance insights using proprietary receipt-reading technology. Its analytics tools help consumers track spending while offering brands and retailers data on real buying behavior. The startup aims to become Europe’s leading “receipt-intelligence” platform.
Bio1OneHealth
Led by Márcio Moreira, Bio1OneHealth focuses on smart aquaculture health monitoring through biosensors and predictive modeling. The company aims to reduce fish mortality and waste while improving productivity in species such as sea bass and turbot.
QXote
Founded by Sunamita Borges da Costa, QXote is a social enterprise promoting ecological, social, and economic regeneration. The company designs education programs and “living-lab” initiatives that connect sustainability, community development, and innovation, with partnerships across Portugal and the Netherlands.
Nutrition from Water (NXW)
Founded by David Sousa, Nutrition from Water (NXW) develops microalgae-based nutritional solutions that provide a complete amino profile with a low environmental footprint. The company, which has secured funding of up to €1 million, is partnering with global food corporations to scale its “marine whey” protein technology.
SkillYay
Created by 13-year-old founder Francisco Barroca, SkillYay is a community-driven learning platform enabling people to share and learn skills in person. The project, which began at Techstars Startup Weekend in Albufeira in 2024, promotes experiential and social learning rather than passive online instruction.
The summit is organized by a coalition of innovation bodies, including Algarve Evolution, the University of Algarve, and Algarve STP.
According to Williams, the Startup Showcase aims to give visibility to local founders and attract investors to the region.
“We want the world to see that the Algarve is more than sun and surf. It’s a serious startup region with serious talent – and this event gives our entrepreneurs the stage they deserve,” he said.
Featured image: The Algarve Tech Hub Summit in Lagos gathers founders, mentors, and industry experts to discuss innovation and the region’s growing startup scene. (Photo courtesy of The Algarve Tech Hub Summit Startup Showcase)
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