EDP Starter arrives in Brazil in search of Brazilian startups
Program aims to incubate the most innovative projects in the areas of Smart Data and Customer-Focused Solutions. Registration opens on June 14th
Success in Europe since 2012, the EDP Starter development program has now arrived in Brazil to assist startups at an early stage with innovative ideas capable of being adapted to the electricity sector. Registration will be open from next Wednesday (14), via the website www.edpstarterbrasil.com.br.
Promoted by EDP Brasil, a company that operates in the areas of generation, transmission, distribution, marketing and energy solutions, the Program will offer a comprehensive package of opportunities to develop startups projects in the initial stages. Benefits for incubators include a specialized acceleration and development process, mentoring with EDP and market experts and technicians, and a broad global network of partner relationships that foster new business. EDP Starter will also offer a coworking space in WeWork, in S‹o Paulo, one of the largest shared offices in the world, which will open two units this year in the country.
"Starting from the concept of Open Innovation, the focus will be to identify innovative projects with broad development potential, that can to be applied to the energy sector through a collaborative relationship and direct support to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, "says the area manager in Innovation of EDP Brasil, Livia Brando. "In this moment of intense transformation in the electric sector, the approach with the startups will be essential to bring innovative solutions to the reality of large-scale companies, "she adds.
In this first edition in the country, EDP Starter looks for projects focused on two verticals: Customer-focused solutions and Smart Data which encompass innovative solutions developed to meet the B2B and B2C markets, with a deep understanding of the needs of its users; and the intelligent use of data generated through numerous technologies capable of adding value, generating competitive advantage and/or innovation for organizations. Entrepreneurs from anywhere in the country can participate in the selection of the program, one of the only ones focused on startups at an early stage.
The registration period runs until July 14th. From then on, 10 startups will be selected for the first phase of project organization which consists of a Bootcamp, mentoring process for structuring the business and a Pitchfest, presenting the solutions for the Company and its partners.
Based on the presentation and involvement of the team, five groups will be chosen for the second stage of the program, which integrates the startup consolidation with the development of a prototype. In December, participants will have the opportunity to present their proposals to possible investors in a DemoDay.
In addition to providing a rich spectrum of legal, administrative, accounting, business and design services, entrepreneurs who will be incubated at EDP Starter Brasil will have access to the Company expertise throughout its value chain.
EDP Starter Brasil is partnering with Kyvo Design-Driven Innovation, a Brazilian innovation consultancy that uses Service Design as an approach to improve people experience, whether in the consumption of services or in the use of digital systems such as websites and apps. The company will participate directly in the selection and development process of startups, in addition to providing its team of specialized mentors who will assist the teams throughout the program.
Ecosystem of innovation: a success story
In Portugal, where it was first implemented, EDP Starter has already evaluated more than 550 projects and supports around 30 startups in different areas. In total, the group invested 21 million euros in the projects it assisted, with incubated businesses already generating 40 million euros in revenue and more than 300 jobs created.
EDP Starter is part of EDP innovation ecosystem, which has already identified and accelerated several projects in the electricity sector chain An example of this is the Brazilian Delfos Intelligent Maintenance, winner of the EDP Open Innovation award in 2016. Currently, the team collaborates with EDP Inova‹o and with EDP Renov‡veis in the development of a pilot project to test the application in a real environment. Originally from Fortaleza, Delfos has created a solution that monitors, analyzes and anticipates in real time possible problems in wind power equipment.
To learn more, visit: www.edpstarterbrasil.com.br
