UPTEC Startups Selected for Vodafone Open Innovation Program 2.0

Verbo and Nilg.ai, startups incubated at UPTEC – Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, have been selected to participate in the Vodafone Open Innovation Program 2.0. This initiative, promoted by Vodafone, challenges startups and SMEs to develop innovative solutions using 5G technology and other cutting-edge tools.

Verbo is developing an intelligent voice communication platform for teams operating in the field and demanding environments. Its next-generation Push-to-Talk technology transforms voice into a tool for task execution and process automation. Nilg.ai, on the other hand, focuses on artificial intelligence to extract knowledge from unstructured data, offering solutions that help businesses make data-driven decisions faster and more accurately.

The program provides selected startups access to Vodafone Boost Lab, a state-of-the-art technology infrastructure, and direct support from sales, marketing and strategy experts. Participants also benefit from connections with companies like Capgemini, Ericsson, and other ecosystem partners.

Verbo Brings Smart Communication to Emergency Services

For Verbo, this selection represents a strategic opportunity to collaborate with a global leader in the telecommunications sector. “At Verbo, we’re reimagining how frontline teams communicate in a hyper-connected world. Vodafone’s challenge resonated with our mission to bring intelligent, real-time voice collaboration to enterprises,” said Greg Jones, Executive Director of the startup.

A pilot focused on emergency and rescue services will test Verbo’s solution. The team aims to demonstrate how its technology can enhance operational response in high-pressure environments. The platform offers contextual assistance, multilingual support, automated clinical data transmission, and geofencing alerts.

In one of its current pilot projects, the technology is being used by emergency teams to coordinate responses to road accidents, enabling dynamic group communication, automated reporting, and centralized supervision.

“We were told that what we’re building isn’t just an improvement, it’s a leap forward,” Jones added.