Co-creation & Development

Selected startup–SME pairs work side by side to co-create and develop real AI-powered solutions.

Apr 15 – Jul 1

Once startups and hospitality partners agree to move forward, the real work begins.

Over the course of approximately 3 months, you will collaborate closely with your selected partner(s) to design, develop, and test real-world pilot projects. This is your opportunity to validate your solution in a live business environment and demonstrate tangible impact.

From Matchmaking to Demo Day: Building Your Pilot

By the end of this phase, your pilot will be ready to showcase—demonstrating not just your technology, but its real-world application and impact.

  • As a startup in the program, you are not limited to a single collaboration.
    You may develop pilots with more than one hospitality partner, maximizing your exposure and increasing your chances of success.

  • During this period, you and your partner(s) will:

    • Define clear pilot objectives and success metrics

    • Co-develop and implement your solution

    • Test and refine based on real operational feedback

  • You won’t be doing this alone. Our organizing team will actively support you by providing:

    • Access to mentorship moments with industry experts from our network

    • Help navigating challenges and accelerating progress

    • Access to the Haddad Entrepreneurship Institute’s co-working space at Nova SBE

  • Some startups will also have the opportunity to engage Nova SBE students to support your startup on specific challenges, from research to execution—bringing fresh perspectives and additional capacity to your team.

  • To ensure steady progress and meaningful outcomes, we will hold regular check-ins with your startup. These sessions are designed to:

    • Track development milestones

    • Address blockers early

    • Ensure alignment with your partner(s)

    • Keep you on track for a strong Demo Day presentation