The Católica-Lisbon Entrepreneurship Centre (CLEC), part of the Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, has launched the 4th edition of Forward!, a free pre-acceleration program that this year is open to all current and former UCP students who are creating startups. This pre-acceleration program is designed to help startups move from the ideation phase to the prototype phase and continue their journey towards creating something that attracts investors.

In 2024, two teams from FCH participated, and one of them came second in the ‘Marketing’ category.

"My journey at FORWARD! was without a doubt one of the most enriching projects I have been part of during my academic career. It is a project that allows us to truly connect communication with entrepreneurship. I often thought that the field of communication was very specific and closed off, but throughout this project I realised that it can be applied in many other ways. The training we receive and the development of the startup have allowed me to acquire soft skills that will undoubtedly accompany me throughout my professional and academic career,‘ says Salomé Sardo, a student who participated in the previous edition of FORWARD!.

The program combines practical workshops, expert guidance and intensive presentation practice. With a strong focus on prototype development, the sessions will be a mix of face-to-face meetings at UCP and interactive online sessions, providing flexibility and promoting strong community ties among entrepreneurs.

Applications are now open and will run until 30 September.

Find out more here.