About to celebrate its 15th year of existence, BET - Bring Entrepreneurs Together remains firmly committed to fostering, promoting, and energizing entrepreneurship within the CATÓLICA-LISBON student community. This year, there are many projects in the pipeline. However, the focus is already set on 2025 for another edition of BET24, the most emblematic event organized by this entrepreneurship club.
Rita Dargent Braz de Oliveira, 19 years old, discovered BET shortly after enrolling in the Management and Business Administration course at CATÓLICA-LISBON. Here, she quickly found the space she was looking for to share ideas, get inspired, be inspired, and of course, to undertake entrepreneurial endeavors. "After two months of meetings, I realized that the challenge would be demanding, but the enthusiasm and motivation that this project provides me greatly outweigh the difficulties," says Rita Braz de Oliveira, current president of BET.
Driven by this motivation and enthusiasm, Rita Braz de Oliveira, along with the BET team, is executing a dynamic, intense, and innovative activity plan. "We are finalizing the Technovation Girls project with BNP Paribas, planning a hackathon, developing a startup as a team, and participating in various entrepreneurship events, such as the 'SIM Circuit' by Startup Portugal," she reveals. Additionally, team-building activities and expanding the network of contacts and partnerships are also among the priorities.
Also in preparation is another edition of BET24, one of the club's highlights, which will take place in 2025. "BET24 started as a 24-hour event dedicated to entrepreneurship. When the club was created about 15 years ago, entrepreneurship was still not widely discussed in Portugal, so we can almost say that this event was then a kind of 'Web Summit' in our country," declares the BET president.
According to Rita Braz de Oliveira, "the new edition of BET24 will be even more impactful." One of the wonders of BET24 is related to the format, which is being restructured. "For the first time, we will have two events in one: a startup ideas contest for young entrepreneurs and a public conference with lectures, startup booths, and numerous networking opportunities. We want this to be an even more dynamic, inspiring event that reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of our generation," she says.
The BET24 program will also include workshops with mentors, pitches, and lectures with business leaders, among other formats, but will also feature new and strengthened partnerships and collaborations with organizations and companies in the business and entrepreneurial ecosystem, in order to enhance the reach and influence capacity of the event. "We want to offer a unique experience that inspires and empowers participants to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams," she emphasizes.
For Rita Braz de Oliveira, "Entrepreneurship in Portugal is undergoing dynamic evolution, with an increasingly favorable ecosystem and emerging opportunities in various sectors." But she highlights, particularly, the role of young people in the national ecosystem, acknowledging "a growing desire to start their businesses and influence the country's economic future." These young people, "by having less fear of taking risks and with disruptive ideas, contribute not only with new approaches to the market but also promote a culture of innovation and resilience, essential for Portugal's sustainable growth."
The BET president also honors CATÓLICA-LISBON, which, in her view, "plays a fundamental role in the success of the club and the future professionals and entrepreneurs of the country by providing and facilitating contacts with alumni and companies.