Prototyping Fund 2023-2024
A collaborative program offered by the DESIS Lab @NovaSBE and Nova SBE Haddad Entrepreneurship Institute, created under the project Shaping the World by Innonexus, funded by the European Union. This program awards teams of students up to €600 or €2000* to be used to build hardware, software prototypes or prototype engagement activities, and connects them with the resources, tools, and mentors they need to bring their ideas to life. All applications are welcome, but every team should have at least one NOVA University (any school) or LSE student in the group. We are prioritizing multi-disciplinary, multi-program, or multi-school team applications.
This program consists on 3 cycles – Prototyping Fund (PF) Fall 2023, PF Spring 2024 and PF Fall 2024.
*For projects that were previously awarded in the first cycle and are now seeking to reapply to further develop the initial prototype.
Who It’s For
This program is for NovaSBE and LSE students as well as other School students who are passionate about building new products or services and have an idea or want to contribute for an innovative and impactful hardware or software technology.
- Funds must be used for tools and materials to build the prototype (not to pay someone else to build it for you).
- All NovaSBE and LSE students (undergrad and grad) are eligible to apply as well as other School students if they have in their team at least one NovaSBE or LSE student.
- Teams will be given preference (individual applicants from NovaSBE or LSE will be considered. Students from other Schools cannot apply individually).
- Multi-school collaborations will be given preference.
- All teams must have at least one NovaSBE or LSE student but may also include members from outside the University as well.
Resources and Events
Awarded teams have access to:
Workshops: two workshops focused on best practices in prototyping.
Equipment: Teams will be given access to key partners who can provide access to equipment and tools.
Showcase: All funded projects will participate in a presentation event at the end of the semester to showcase your prototypes to the NovaSBE community.
Key Dates – Fall 2024, 3rd cycle
Applications for the Fall’24: Wednesday, September 25th at 1pm
Revising application and Jury’s meeting: From September 26th to 27th
Communication to selected projects: Monday, September 30th until 11:59pm
Mandatory Workshop 1: Monday, October 07th, 10am – 11.30am
Mandatory Workshop 2: Monday, October 28th, 10am – 12pm
Final Showcase: Monday, November 25th, 12:30pm to 2:30pm
How to participate
About the participants:
- Teams or individuals are welcome.
- Individual participants must be NovaSBE or LSE students.
- Teams must have at least 1 member from NovaSBE or LSE.
- We encourage diverse, multidisciplinary teams from different schools.
Program Essentials:
- Thoroughly review our funding system details and program dates.
Active Participation:
- Selected teams must actively engage in all scheduled workshops and events.
Minimum Participation Requirement:
- The program proceeds only if we have a minimum of 5 selected projects/teams to fund.
Funding process
- Applicants can apply for up to €600 in prototyping funds.
- ALL receipts must be saved and be presented to the coordination team for review at the end of the cycle.
- To receive the funding, at least one member of the team must be present at the 2 mandatory workshops and the final presentation. Please check the key dates and times before applying.
- More information about the payment process will be given during the first mandatory workshop on October 3rd, 2023.
**Please note, we can not support the hiring outside assistance, this includes gifts for testing and/or feedback.**
Partners
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