The Nonagon Association - Science and Technology Park of São Miguel,organized, from May 17 to 19 the fourth edition of Startup Weekend Azores, in the building of Nonagon, in the city of Lagoa.

This edition had about fifty participants, ten students of them from the entrepreneurship group from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Participants were guided during the workshop by local mentors, Sandra Faria and Flávio Tiago, from the University of the Azores, Lázaro Raposo from Cereal Games, Venicio Ponte from the Custom Project and Luís Nunes from AzoresGetAways and foreigners, Catherine Curran Kelly and Jacqueline Einstein of UMass Dartmouth, Nuno Couto of Optimal Partners Consulting and Eric Palson of Babson College.

The judges of this fourth edition was composed of three Business Angels, namely Tim Vieira, Ricardo Luz and Basílio Simões, who awarded four prizes.

The Legends Augmented project, that aims to create through augmented reality characters associated with local legends, deserved the 3rd Prize.  The second place was awarded to VISITrue, that aims to be a platform that connects the tourist to the local resident and guarantees unique experiences through their day to day life. Finally, the first place was delivered to WorkINAzores, which developed a platform that links companies to job applicants. The Café Awaken team earned an honorable distinction with a project aimed at reducing food waste and valuing ugly fruits and vegetables.

With the presence of Marisa Toste, Administrator of the Azores Business Development Society, explained the objectives and the application process of the Regional Entrepreneurship Competition.

Startup Weekend is a dynamic and interactive workshop that allows participants, with the support of coaches and mentors (experienced entrepreneurs, business consultants and academics) to work on business ideas, to make them a reality.