The 8th Academic Working Capital (AWC) 2023-2024 Investment Fair was a success! The event brought together startups and mentors participating in the program, as well as investors and experts in the field, in an environment of innovation and entrepreneurship. Held on April 17 at FAAP (Armando Alvares Penteado Foundation) in São Paulo, the fair celebrated the transformative potential of technology and presented creative solutions to various contemporary challenges. More than 40 students showcased their 15 projects in exciting pitches. The young entrepreneurs captured the public’s attention and demonstrated the potential of their ideas to transform the market.
One of the standout startups was Ideia Tech, led by Ana Flávia de Sousa Freitas, from the Federal Technological University of Paraná (PR). The team developed an innovative solution to predict non-conformities on production lines, using artificial intelligence and machine learning. Ideia Tech stood out for its adaptive approach and ability to overcome challenges during the development process.
Another project that stood out was Nauplius, led by José Cláudio Pereira da Silva, from the Federal Institute of Education Science and Technology of Ceará (CE). The team created an artificial intelligence application to count shrimp larvae, automating a process that was previously manual and laborious. Nauplius demonstrated the positive impact of technology on aquaculture and its potential to contribute to the sustainability of the sector.
“It’s an app that provides a better user experience, in addition to counting nauplii, the app allows users to save all the information about the samples,” explained José Cláudio.
The presentations also included an energy drink and a cereal bar whose key ingredient is coffee husks; high-frequency ultrasonic waves and ultraviolet light powered by renewable energy to improve the water quality of cattle watering troughs; a tool that uses interactive data visualization and artificial intelligence to improve the scheduling of surgeries in hospitals; and an innovative approach to preserving idle green areas, the tokenization of areas and the creation of a brokering platform that can contribute to environmental conservation.
The fair also featured inspiring talks by experts in the field, such as TIM’s Talent Development manager, Fernanda Cardoso, who spoke about professional opportunities at the company. The AWC’s academic coordinator, Professor Marcos Barretto, reflected on the significance of this edition of the program, emphasizing the crucial importance of initiatives that boost technological development.
For Anna Carolina Meireles, TIM’s Corporate Social Responsibility manager, one of the AWC’s differentials is precisely to give a “useful life” to the ECW (End of Course Work) and allow it to be a gateway to the competitive and disruptive startup market: “Most university students in the country still don’t see entrepreneurship as a career path. On the other hand, they see the ECW (End of Course Work) as a mere formality for completing their degree. Our aim is to change this reality. Brazil has challenges in many areas – such as health, education, income generation, mobility, the environment – and change can come from innovation in universities,” she says.
The event demonstrated the potential of university students to transform the market and the positive impact of the AWC on their lives, proving that investing in young talent is investing in a better future for everyone.
