Start & Scale Porto leverages technology to empower the vulnerable

The Start&Scale 2018 in Porto is in full swing. For the third consecutive year, the city organises this major event in the context of ScaleUp Porto, with the fundamental goal of promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and technology based in Porto.

For the entire weekend, the event takes place at the Palácio dos Correios, with the hackathon Hack For Good 2018 (5 and 6 May), organised by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, with the purpose of developing social added-value and innovative technology solutions to address real social and economic challenges.

Government representatives were present at the opening of this edition, which takes place for the first time outside Lisbon.

This Hack For Good consists of three challenges:

- the well-being of the elderly person;

- the well-being of children and youngsters;

- integration of migrants and refugees.

Participants work throughout the weekend to come up with solutions, supported by mentors and technological partners, but most importantly, interacting with the various recipients of the projects being developed.

Thus, 15 seniors (aged between 68 and 80) will visit the workplace, youngsters (aged between 15 and 17) and refugees and migrants as well, so that the teams can work closely with real needs.

This first edition of Hack for Good in Porto draws over 150 participnts from all over the country, organised in 36 teams, one of which originates from Germany.

The startups Uniplaces and TonicApp also take part in this event with their own teams.

The three winning teams will be awarded a prize money and support to develop their projects after the event.

Later, also at Palácio dos Correios, there will be the opening party of the Start & Scale week.

See here the full programme of the ScaleUp Porto.