Blended Intensive Programme ID
2025-1-PT01-KA131-HED-000338460-5
Organizer: Thiago Vieira | Helena Gonçalves | Marco Lamas
Full Partners: CyberX; CyberTech Acceleration by Incubou; Fontys
The programme is an intensive in-person experience in Vila Nova de Gaia focused on creating new cybersecurity startups directly connected to real market needs rather than abstract theory. Over five immersive days, participants visit cybersecurity and infrastructure organisations, tackle concrete business challenges, and work alongside international mentors to design solutions for European and Brazilian companies. Each team develops an initial prototype and a validation plan with pilot customers, aligning technological innovation with clear business impact and startup creation within the Porto-Gaia ecosystem. The programme is built around three fundamental objectives: Real-Market Cybersecurity Ground learning in current threats, frameworks, and real incidents through technical visits and hands-on risk mapping. Startup Creation & Validation Develop solutions around three core challenges, define target customers, and plan validation with pilot companies. Crisis & Resilience Mastery Develop capabilities in incident response, digital forensics, and orchestration of cyber crises with business and regulatory focus. This is a transformative five-day experience connecting cybersecurity expertise with entrepreneurship, guiding teams from problem definition to prototype and market validation within the Porto-Gaia ecosystem.
Monday, April 13
00:00 – 12:00 Cook Pressure Setup – Working Session with Mentors
09:45 – 10:00 Check-in
10:00 – 10:15 Official Kick-Off
10:15 – 10:30 Weekly Assignment Presentation & Discussion
12:00 – 13:30 Lunch Break
13:30 – 15:00 Workshop: Offensive Techniques
15:00 – 16:30 Workshop: Crisis Management & Digital Forensics
Tuesday, April 14
09:00 – 13:00 Company Visits & Workshops
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 – 18:00 Social Visits
Wednesday, April 15
10:00 – 12:30 Defensive Techniques: Pentesting, Red vs. Blue Teams, Digital Forensics, Hands-on Vulnerability Analysis
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch Break
13:30 – 16:00 Prototyping and Initial Testing of the Proposed Challenge
Thursday, April 16
10:00 – 12:30 Pitch, Fundraising & Global Expansion Strategy
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch Break
13:30 – 16:00 Project Pitching Sessions with Toastmasters Facilitator: Sergio Aguia
Friday, April 17
10:00 – 12:00 Project Development, Finalization and Preparation
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch Break
13:00 – 15:15 Dragon’s Den – Startup & Scaleup Presentations
15:15 – 15:30 Coffee Break
15:30 – 16:45 Dragon’s Den – Startup & Scaleup Presentations (Continuation)
16:45 – 17:30 Awarding Ceremony & Closing Speech Overview of key takeaways and highlights from the competition
20:00 – 23:00 Farewell Dinner
