The Rocket Booster program was designed to accelerate and empower early-stage startups within the tourism sector. The primary goal was to foster innovation by providing startups with the necessary tools, mentorship, and resources to develop their businesses and prepare them for market entry and investment readiness. The program aimed to identify and support innovative solutions that could enhance the tourism industry in Portugal, aligning with the strategic goals of Turismo de Portugal.
The program successfully brought together a diverse group of startups from various countries, each at different stages of development. Over a period of several months, the program provided 112 mentorship sessions, 11 workshops, and 5 masterclasses, totaling 70 hours of personalized guidance and 25 hours of intensive training. The program's structured approach included networking events that connected participants with key players in the tourism and startup ecosystems.
It culminated in a Demo Day, where the top-performing startups had the opportunity to pitch their ideas to investors and industry leaders. The winners of the Demo Day were awarded monetary prizes to further their development, and five startups were selected to continue in the Investment Readiness phase. Although direct investment was not secured during the program, the groundwork was laid for future investment opportunities, with ongoing support provided to help startups refine their business models and investor pitches.
The overall satisfaction among participants was high, with an average session rating of 9.2/10 and an NPS score of 80, reflecting the program's success in meeting its objectives.