Beta-i
Beta-i was established in 2010 as a Portuguese accelerator, incubator and event organizer to boost the Portuguese tech ecosystem. Beta-i is well-known for organizing some of Portugal's most successful accelerators and the annual tech startup event Lisbon Investment Summit. In 2019, it made its first investment in a startup Didimo by joining the seed round for the 3D digital twin designer platform.The company's best known acceleration program Lisbon Challenge is a twice yearly event open to all tech sectors, attracting around 10 participants based in Portugal and overseas. Its two-month programs have accelerated more than 200 startups, with about 75% coming from abroad. Beta-i also organizes the international energy accelerator Free Electrons, with EDP as one of its sponsors. Free Electrons has already accelerated 27 startups and is now running its third edition with 15 startups, five of which are Portugal-based. All the selected participants will have the chance to work for one year with at least one of the 10 global energy utilities that form the Free Electrons consortium. Another Beta-i event is The Journey, the first accelerator in Portugal dedicated to tourism tech startups from all over the world. Launched in partnership with the government's Portugal Tourism in 2017, the Lisbon-based program is part of the national Tourism 4.0 plan. The five-month program is now in its third edition and gives successful applicants the opportunity to develop pilot projects with Portuguese companies like the Vila Galé hotel chain, Barraqueiro transport company and Parques de Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
