Building Global Innovators (BGI)

The Building Global Innovators (BGI) program is a global technology transfer accelerator developed by the University Institute of Lisbon, MIT, and the MIT Portugal Program that targets ambitious entrepreneurs and global startups.

BGI brings to Cambridge, Massachusetts, a group of leaders from selected companies. For 10 days, these leaders will be immersed in the Boston/Cambridge entrepreneurial ecosystem. They will meet, pitch, network, receive mentoring, and participate in workshops. The immersion program is delivered by Boston entrepreneurs and investors from leading academic, industrial, and investment organizations. During the program they will share their experience and wisdom, as well as personal accounts of challenges, successes, and failures.

During the immersion program, the 11 selected companies working in four verticals (Medical Devices and Health Information Technology; Smart Cities and Industrial Tech; Enterprise Information Technology; and Smart Data and Ocean Economy) will attend an intensive, hands-on training in the Cambridge area, delivered by thought-leaders, entrepreneurial practitioners, and established entrepreneurs.

This immersion training is structured as a series of interactive workshops, first-hand testimonials, and advice from seasoned entrepreneurs and investors; it differs from many similar programs by its one-on-one and group mentoring sessions with venture angels and other investors.