The Future of Travel was Built Here > DEMO DAY 🚀⛰️
What a ride! We’ve officially reached the grand finale of the 7th Edition of the Madeira Startup Retreat. On March 18th, the ecosystem was buzzing for the long-awaited Demo Day, where bold ideas met Madeira’s world-class hospitality.
Here’s the breakdown of the days that proved the future of tourism is already happening.
AI, Sustainability, and the Startup Spotlight
The afternoon kicked off with energy, with the main event – the Pitch Sessions. Our ten startups took the stage to showcase how they are redefining the travel industry:
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Apollo: Turismo Outdoor, Ciceru, eTrilhas, HotelBuddy, Passabot, Simplifyer, The Regenerative Tourism, Tripio.co, Tripnly, and volvero. From outdoor adventures and shared mobility to AI-driven hotel management and regenerative travel, the talent on stage was next-level!
Following a deep dive into the 7th edition’s milestones by the Startup Madeira team, we plunged into the world of Agentic and Physical AI with Eliano Marques (Datamentors) The takeaway? AI agents aren’t just code anymore, they are becoming our physical reality.
Golden Insights from Industry Leaders 💡
After a quick coffee-break to recharge, the stage welcomed visionaries who are drawing the roadmap for tomorrow:
- Maximizing Potential: Carlos Bleck de Siqueira (FRANK) showed us how to stop wasting time and start scaling human potential using AI.
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Sustainability & Impact: Lígia Gomes (Amplify:Good) reminded us that tech only truly matters when it drives social and environmental good.
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Visitor Experience: Sergio Guerreiro (Turismo de Portugal) brought the strategic vision on how to keep raising the bar for global travelers.
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Innovation Challenges: Carla Portela (Nova SBE Haddad Entrepreneurship Institute) challenged us all to think about the “next big thing” in entrepreneurship.
To wrap up wednesday’s sessions, CEO of Startup Madeira Carlos Soares Lopes introduced the Madeira Living HUB!, cementing our island’s reputation as the ultimate destination for those who want to live, work, and create here. The night ended the best way possible, Happy Hour at Three House Hotel where networking was made over smiles and toasts.
The Road Ahead > What’s Next?
Today, March 19th, was all about the “Afterglow.” Micaela Vieira led the session on life after the Retreat. While the formal program might be wrapping up, the connection to Madeira’s global community of mentors and founders is just beginning.
We’re leaving with bags full of inspiration, strengthened partnerships, and the absolute certainty that Madeira remains the premier stage for startups ready to change the world.
Check up the video: HERE
Check the photos: HERE
See you at the next edition! 👋✨