Lusophone startups dominate 929 Challenge finalists in Macau

‘Startups’ from the Portuguese-speaking countries integrate six of the eight finalists of the company category of the sixth edition of the Sino-lusófona competition 929 Challenge in Macau, announced today the organization.

The eight selected projects include four from Brazil, two from Portugal and two from mainland China, revealed on social networks the organization of the competition, which will take place on December 4.

Portuguese finalists include Azores Life Science, which produces cosmetics with natural resources from the Azores archipelago, and ByonLink, which creates advanced processors for robotic prostheses.

Other candidates are Complete, which helps digital health companies meet regulators' requirements, and Scubic, which seeks to improve energy efficiency in public buildings.

Dermamatica, which uses artificial intelligence (IA) for three-dimensional skin cancer screening, returns to Macau, where in June it had already been distinguished in another entrepreneurship contest, for companies from Brazil and Portugal.

From Brazil they come to Manycontent, which uses AI for social media marketing and sales, and Phycolabs, which turns algae into textile products, while Mozambican Xa Nene uses fly larvae to turn organic garbage into animal food.

Rizzolio highlighted the strong presence of biotechnology projects, an area where Portugal and Brazil stand out, something that “is very good because China is one of the strategic sectors.”.

The Portuguese finalists include HydroAI, a platform measures, predicts and monitors every albufeira from space, using satellites and Artificial Intelligence (IA), and TWEVO, which provides video solutions with AI to control industrial processes.

From Brazil they come to Arkmeds, which develops equipment and programs for clinical engineering, the Dadosphere, which uses AI to help small and medium-sized companies in data management.

Other candidates are Hagelab, specializing in solutions for tracking, monitoring and managing fleets and temperature, and Musique, which creates ambient music for stores.

Among the eight teams of students one is from the University of Beira Interior, five from Macau and two from mainland China.

The 16 finalists will have 10 minutes to convince the 929 jury Challenge and potential investors in the final, December 4th.

The finalists will also have the opportunity to visit innovation poles, not only in Macao, but also in nearby Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

The competition attracted a record number of 511 teams this year. For the second year in a row, Lusophone ‘startups’ were mostly involved in projects from all nine Portuguese-speaking countries.

The competition is co-organised by the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao Forum) and several institutions in the Chinese special administrative region, including all universities.