Fábrica de Unicornios de Lisboa joins forces with José de Mello and Sonae to promote youth entrepreneurship – Executive Summary

Unicorn Factory Lisboa, in partnership with José de Mello and Sonae, enhances its innovation holiday program offer to students with a two-week programme, aimed at creating an innovative idea that solves real problems.

The programme, which will include 3 training camps in Lisbon and Porto, places youth entrepreneurship as a priority and aims to support new generations, in this case, high school students, to develop knowledge in the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship and teamwork. Essential for professional success in a world in constant transformation.

Innovation Summer School is a summer vacation program that aims to complement secondary schools in training young talents and bringing them closer to the world of entrepreneurship, providing important opportunities and skills for the future, in an informal and fun environment. The program also has an important social element as it provides exclusive, free places for young people from families from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.

For two weeks, during office hours, young people aged 14 to 18 from all over the country and from any school or type of education will have the opportunity to learn first-hand how to develop an idea and create a business model that they will present at the end of the programme, consisting of a product or service that solves Real-world problems or business challenges, identified in collaboration with the program's partner companies – Sonae and José de Mello.

The first edition will be held in Lisbon, from June 17 to 28, from Monday to Friday; Followed by the version in Porto from 1 to 12 July, with a return scheduled from 15 to 26 July in Lisbon, for the version in Portuguese.

“Following the success of last year’s holiday program, this year we were able to expand the Innovation Summer School to three editions to increase the number of students we can equip with essential innovation skills that are not yet taught in schools.” Gil Azevedo, CEO of Unicorn Factory Lisbon.

The official added, “One of the goals of the program for us and our partners is to ensure that the program enhances the social lift, and in this way it is accessible to all young people, and that is why we have made 20% of the available places available to support students from socio-economically disadvantaged groups so that they can benefit from the curriculum.” And enhance their future.”