Imagine monitoring environmental disasters through a device or maximizing carbohydrate in livestock feed. Did you imagine? These are some of the projects created by university students who participated in the Academic Working Capital (AWC) Investment Fair, a TIM Institute program that encourages entrepreneurship in universities. The Fair took place on December 8, in São Paulo, in partnership with Armando Alvares Penteado Foundation (FAAP), and had the participation of investors, university students and businessmen.
“It was a unique experience to participate in the Investment Fair! Turning the TCC (Final Degree Project) into a product and presenting it to the world was amazing! We had a lot of feedback and made very interesting contacts! We know stories of those who have participated in previous editions, being able to understand and identify with their trajectory and being able to see possibilities for the future has awakened in us an entrepreneurial flame that will be difficult to put out.”, says Clara Gadelha, responsible for the Ambialert project, which developed a device with humidity sensors for monitoring landslides in the inserted environment.
Over the past six months, the seventh edition of the AWC has offered a learning trail through mentorships with renowned professionals in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship, workshops and financial support. The focus of the initiative is for university students selected by the program to transform their Final Degree Projects (TCCs) into technology-based products or services, ending graduation with the possibility of starting an innovative business. The result is presented in a “pitch” format at the AWC Investment Fair, where potential angel investors get to know the students’ projects.
“Since 2015, the AWC has been encouraging university students to think of technology as enabling important changes in society, in addition to transforming their innovation into a career opportunity. Startups are an important part of the business world in the country and entrepreneurship needs to be encouraged in school environments. Therefore, we have already supported more than 400 university students from all over Brazil with this program, which allowed the creation of 66 startups”, comments Mario Girasole, president of TIM Institute.
In addition to exhibiting the startups created in 2022, the Fair had a program focused on the theme of entrepreneurship and innovation with more than 30 participants in the pitch stand with renowned presences in the area such as Márcio Lino, head of ESG at TIM, Marco Poli from ClosedGap, Amanda Graciano from Fisher Venture Builder, Silvia Takey from Caos Focado, Henrick Santana from Cubo Itaú and Tânia Gomes from Ibrawork.
