Winners of the Forward! programme present projects at the Católica Rectorate

The winning teams of the 5th edition of Forward!, the pre-acceleration programme of the Católica-Lisbon Entrepreneurship Centre (CLEC), presented their projects at the Rectory of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa on 27 February.

Forward! supports early-stage entrepreneurs in validating their ideas and preparing for the market, offering structured support, expert mentoring and regular project presentation sessions.

The session included a meeting with the President, Isabel Capeloa Gil, and the Pro-Rector for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Céline Abecassis-Moedas, reinforcing institutional recognition for the work carried out by the teams.

According to João Cotter Salvado, Academic Director of Forward!, “Forward! supports entrepreneurs in transforming an initial idea into a validated business opportunity, promoting connection to the ecosystem and providing tools that enable the development of projects with growth potential”.

The four startups distinguished in this edition were:

NanoMax Lab (Católica Medical School) – intelligent nanorobot technology to detect and treat blood clots, reducing the risk of haemorrhage.

AuraNet Limited (Católica Lisbon School) – digital marketplace for the circular hair economy, transforming waste from hair salons into new materials.

WillChair (Católica Lisbon School) – accessible hybrid wheelchair that generates energy from the movement of the wheels.

Team Vlower (Católica Lisbon School) – software that helps electricity network operators manage and plan low-voltage networks using artificial intelligence and centralised knowledge management.

The Forward! programme continues to establish itself as a strategic platform for promoting entrepreneurship at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, celebrating talent, innovation and entrepreneurial skills.