Prototyping Fund Spring 2026: Prototyping to learn fast, to iterate and collaborate
On April 28th, 2026, we hosted the Spring 2026 Prototyping Fund Showcase featuring projects by the sixth cohort since we launched the Prototyping Fund in Fall 2023.
The Prototyping Fund is an initiative led by the DESIS Lab @ Nova SBE (within the ERA Chair in Social Innovation), in partnership with the Haddad Entrepreneurship Institute, which aims to support students’ ideas addressing social and environmental issues. It provides them funding (up to 600 euros in phase 1, and up to 1,500 euros in phase 2) to build hardware, software or service prototypes, and connects them with the resources, tools, and mentors they need to bring their ideas to life.
This Spring 13 teams participated in Phase 1, and 3 teams in Phase 2. Teams represented multiple Master’s at Nova SBE as well as two teams of undergraduate students, and one who partnered with a local social entrepreneur.
Their projects ranged across a variety of domains: health, wellbeing, aging, sustainability, education, community and inclusion. Make sure to read the list provided below to learn about all the projects.
It was great to see students sharing their work to various visitors – representatives of Nova various departments and knowledge centers, faculty from Nova and visiting faculty, professionals and students. Showing their prototypes, explaining their ideas, allowed them to clarify their projects but also to get useful feedback and sometimes access to resources or connections. A few projects were able to secure potential opportunities to test their prototypes.
Some learnings from this Spring 2026 Cohort:
- Prototyping to learn what might not work
“It’s only when we built the table, that we realize the problems we needed to figure out.” Neotile
- It’s about the process and you always learn something.
“At first, we were disappointed because not many people came to our workshop, but in the end we had a great conversation and we learned a lot.” TMT-The Music Thing
- It’s an iterative process and ideas evolve
“We built the physical prototype which was for the elderly people but as we did more research, and talked with people, we realize, the “problem” was the young people so we radically changed our idea.” Ela companion
- As you built, the questions become more specific
“Now that we have the prototype built, we start doing some experiments to test some particular variables.” Algenyx
- With a prototype you can start collaborations
“As I started building the prototype, I invited volunteers to give feedback, but some became really involved and we have been working together on the prototype.” Luca Te Lo Dice
“I am joining forces with Oikos Environmental Sustainability Club as they have a similar initiative. I also have a partnership with a MIEI student who is going to Tanzania this summer to volunteer….” PassIt On
And as the showcase was ending, a potential collaboration with the Ohana team emerged as they developed an automated lock that might be useful for the pick-up issue faced by PassIt On.
I have been organizing quite a few Prototyping Fund Showcases since we launched the Proat the Design Lab @ NYU MakerSpace in collaboration with the New York University Entrepreneurial Institute back in Spring 2014. Yet, I never get bored to see participants experimenting, building to learn and learning a ton, even if that’s not what they expected. Each showcase is also an opportunity for me to learn.
Anne-Laure Fayard (ERA Chair in Social Innovation, DESIS Lab coordinator)
Acknowledgement: The Prototyping Fund was supported by the ERA Chair in Social Innovation, which is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 95135
Nova Bridge Asia
A platform connecting Nova students interested in Asian culture with Asian students seeking local guidance, fostering inclusion, cultural exchange, and smoother adaptation.
How we built it
We conducted two interviews to validateneeds and used AI tools to build a simplewebsite prototype matching students forcultural exchange and local support.
Top lesson learned
There is strong mutual demand: localstudents seek Asian cultural knowledge,while Asian students need support toadapt, showing value in structuredconnections.
Team
*Junfeng Huang - Management, 2026
*Yifan Wang - Management, 2027
Menocare
A simple digital tool that supports women during menopause through daily symptom tracking to increase awareness, identify patterns, and improve communication with healthcare professionals.
How we built it
Built with a computer science student, wedeveloped a basic local prototype with login,consent, symptom tracking, and a weeklydashboard to test usability.
Top lesson learned
Users value simplicity and clarity. Even withhigh digital literacy, many prefer intuitive,low-effort tools over complex features.
Team
*Sofia Torrado – Masters in Management, 2026
*Sara Leal - Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 2026
Bootloop
It is a digital platform that helps consortia coordinate textile waste flows, matching with recyclers and tracking processes to enable efficient, transparent, and scalable circular management.
How we built it
We developed a video prototype of a digitalplatform for textile waste matchmaking,targeting recycling consortia to improvecoordination, tracking, and communication.
Top lesson learned
Consortia lack digital tools, making themkey leverage points to scale, and thatdeveloping a pilot prototype is essential tovalidate and refine the solution.
Team
*Agnese Bortesi - Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation,
*Francesco Beligi - Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation,
*Gianmarco Bastone -Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Ifloss
Modern, user-friendly flossing device with replaceable pods that makes oral care effortless, hygienic, and appealing, helping users build a consistent flossing habit.
How we built it
B3D-printed prototype using PLA, withmanually wound floss pods. Designsupported by CAD modeling; tested withstudents to validate usability and userexperience.
Top lesson learned
User feedback showed the main barrier isn’tawareness but convenience – design and ease ofuse are key to making flossing a consistent habit.
Team
*Felix Carl Kossack - Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation
*Viktoria Hönig - Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation
LolaStories
Screen-free AI audio platform using loved ones’ voices to create personalized, pedagogical stories that foster language skills and bridge the gap between physical and digital learning
How we built it
Built on Vercel via Claude Code; integratesGemini API for logic & ElevenLabs for audio.Targets kids 2-8 to provide personalized,screen-free educational storytelling.
Top lesson learned
Personalizing education through AI-voiceincreasing engagement and focus forchildren but new technology comes withconcerns and needs convincing work.
Team
*Leon Gruchmann – Management, 2026
*Agnes Enterman – Management, 2027
NOVAExchange
A centralized platform helping students discover exchange destinations, trackavailable slots, read authentic reviews, andconnect with alumni buddies to make thebest mobility decisions.
How we built it
A full-stack web app built with Python (Reflex)and Supabase. Designed for students to simplifymobility by centralizing data, reviews, and abuddy system in one place.
Top lesson learned
It’s better a product that a few people lovethan a product that a lot of people like, asthose can become the engine for massive adoption.
Team
Francisco Santos – Management, 2026
PassltOn
A Nova staff/student-only platform enabling renting, buying, selling, and donating items on campus through trusted pickup hubs, reducing waste and making student life more affordable.
How we built it
Developed a campus marketplace usingHTML, Tailwind CSS, and Firebase (Auth,Firestore) to enable secure item sharing,selling, and lending among students/staff
Top lesson learned
Users will try to bypass the platform, sodesigning systems that create trust andkeep interactions inside the app isessential.
Team
Océane Bort-Aponte – Master in Business Analytics 2027
Mindmatch.ai
AI-powered marketplace connecting patients with local psychologists in Lisbon. Features conversational AI matching, session packages with swap protection, and a mobile-first PWA experience.
How we built it
Built as a Progressive Web App using pureHTML, CSS and vanilla JavaScript. 13interactive screens, 56 practitioner profilesand a simulated AI matching chatbot.
Top lesson learned
Building a high-fidelity prototype firsteliminates design ambiguity and enablesreal user testing, validating the full journeybefore investing in backend code.
Team
*Tomás Batalha, BSc Management, 2021
*Marta Botelho, PhD Economics, 2028
neotile.
An adaptable, glue-free furniture system using cork and handcrafted tiles to counter disposability by offering unique, evolving pieces that combine individuality with Portuguese heritage.
How we built it
From scratch, we built the wood frame anddesigned a 2D-modeled cork grid. Using theFabLab’s laser cutter, we created a preciseinlay for handcrafted Portuguese tiles.
Top lesson learned
Handmade tiles vary in size, challengingmodularity. Validation showed our usersvalue the unique story and artisanalheritage over industrial, mass-producedperfection.
Team
*Joshua Welsch - Impact Entrepreneurship & Innovation
*Johannes Staffa - Impact Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Ela companion
Screenless wrist device with Al assistant, sim-card, SOS & health tracking. Enables family calls and enhances safety – reducing helplessness and supporting elderly people at home or in care.
How we built it
From scratch, we built the wood frame anddesigned a 2D-modeled cork grid. Using theFabLab’s laser cutter, we created a preciseinlay for handcrafted Portuguese tiles.
Top lesson learned
The generational gap showed us thatelderly users perceive and use technologydifferently, so we need close, ongoing exchange to build a solution together.
Team
*Greta Saul - Impact Entrepreneurship & Innovation
*Xaver Weidner - Impact Entrepreneurship & Innovation
*Luis Große - Impact Entrepreneurship & Innovation, 2027
TMT – The Music Thing
Community-driven music incubator helpingemerging artists grow, collaborate, andaccess real opportunities by building theircareers as entrepreneurs.
How we built it
Built through interviews with musicians andvenues, then tested via a small communityand workshops to enable peer learning,collaboration, and real opportunities.
Top lesson learned
Talent alone isn’t enough—artists needskills, network, and structure. Peer learningand community can unlock realopportunities more effectively thanplatforms.
Team
*Vittoria Niero – Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation
*Letizia Pomatto – Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation
*Lorand Eross – Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation
*Valentin Bloch – Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation
AgriAi
AI-powered drone platform that detects crop diseases before they spread, helping farmers protect yields, reduce losses, and cut pesticide use for a more sustainable agriculture.
How we built it
Built a disease recognition software usingimage analysis to identify crop diseases forfarmers and agronomists, as the foundationfor a future AI-powered platform.
Top lesson learned
Validating with real farmers early is morevaluable than building the perfect product.User feedback shapes both the technologyand the go-to-market strategy.
Team
*Riccardo Polli - Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 2027
*Fulvio Marelli - Computer Engineering, 2026
*Maria Kafrouni - Agricultural Engineering, 2026
Luca Te Lo Dice
An ed-tech platform helping Latin American migrants build a better life in Italy, breaking down language barriers and cultural isolation to turn a foreign country into a place they can call home.
How we built it
Community interviews and surveys, I shaped aplatform around migrants’ real needs, goingbeyond language lessons, with personallyselected certified tutors at its core.
Top lesson learned
Every major pivot was driven by direct userfeedback, proving that listening to yourcommunity is the most valuable compassfor product decisions.
Team
*Luca Lioce – Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 2026
*Alessio Volponi – Marketing and Digital Communication, 2025
PlastNatur® Smart Circular System
An integrated circularity system combining Smart Bin v1.2, QR‑trackedreusable‑compostable cups and data capture, supported by an ESG/LCA‑ready platform that makes sustainability visible and engaging.
How your prototype evoked
Evolved from a simple bin mock‑up to an integratedcircularity system: Smart Bin v1.2, QR‑enabled cups, data pipeline, impact dashboards and real‑world
How we built it
Built as a wooden structure with smart sensors, QRreading, and data flow connected to an impactengine that turns real use into impact metrics and ESGreports..
Top lesson learned
Circularity is not just materials — it’s behaviour.Visibility, intuitive design and real‑time feedback arewhat drive correct disposal, engagement and measurable impact.
Team
Ana Soares – Medicine, 2010
João Tomás Silva – Management, 2027
Juan Tobar – Business Analytics, 2027
Johann Kohlweyer – Management, 2027
Gabriel Pérez – Management, 2025
Claire Herzig – Management, 2027
Ohana Rentals
Smart locker system enabling the community to rent sports &leisure equipment on campus through a rental system.
How your prototype evoked
We found a way to generate PINs via API despite thefirewall, added items, started experimenting with RFIDand launched the first rental flow on campus for realfeedback.
How we built it
Built a locked shelf fitted with a smart padlock andvarious leisure items. Testing with RFID tags for accesscontrol and n8n-based automation for rental flows.
Top lesson learned
Key blockers: Campus firewall blocks Wi-Fi bridge, n8n/lock API integration is complex, and RFID needs a shielded enclosure, which is harder and costlier than expected.
Team
*Moritz Meyer – Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 2026
*Gabriele Inama – Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 2026
*Zita Merle – Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 2026
ALGENYX
A living panel that naturally purifies polluted air by growingmicroalgae that absorb pollutants and release fresh oxygen.
How your prototype evoked
The new prototype is a more robust version of theolder one, featuring a welded frame, better seals, abetter air distribution and a liquid-outlet.
How we built it
In this phase, we focused on improving the prototypeand starting up experiments to assess its air-purifyingpotential.
Top lesson learned
We learned that precision is key; perfecting even the smallest details requires thorough effort, testing, and iteration.
Team
*Senne Delanghe – Management, 2027
*Eliott Cloetens – Business, 2027
Thank you!
